Uppsala U niver sity log otyp e SAMINT-HDU 21032 Degree project 30 credits June 2021 Cultural sustainability and resilience in the tourism context A case study of Hue, Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong Lam Maste r’s Pro gra m in S ustain able D estina tion D evelo pme nt Master’s Program in Sustainable Destination Development Uppsala U niver sity log otyp e Cultural sustainability and resilience in the tourism context A case study of Hue, Vietnam Nguyen Thi Hong Lam Abstract Cultural heritage confronts the notion of change, both in the development process and in the tourism context. In the tourism context, as being used as a unique selling point, it is unavoidable that cultural heritage facing commercialisation and commodification, or even vulgarisation due to being forced to change to meet the market demand and tourists’ expectations. Hence, the question is that, if change is inevitable, what are the potential risks that cultural heritage might face in the tourism context, and how to maintain its significance, which are attractions for tourists in the first place? The overall aim of the study was to use the notion of change as a lens to investigate the concept of authenticity as well as the relation between sustainability and resilience in culture. The study’s objectives approached based on a qualitative method, with semi-structured interviews focusing on the perspective of the cultural heritage community – a group of people who work closely with cultural heritage - local community, practitioners, researchers, authorised agency, and tourism stakeholders. Concerning cultural heritage's interpretation based on its existing definition, the intertwined and interdependent relationship between the tangible and intangible aspects of cultural heritage was investigated. An authentication process was introduced. Resilience thinking in culture was given as proposals. In this study, a case study in Hue, Vietnam with two examples – Nhã nhạc (the court music) and áo dài (long dress or tunic) were examined regarding the notion of change in relation to the concept of authenticity, sustainability and resilience. Faculty of Scie nce and Tec hnolo gy, Up psala Unive rsity. Plac e of public ation Vis by. Sup ervis or: Error! Re feren ce so urce not f ound. , Subjec t r eade r: An na Ka rlströ m, Exa mine r: Ulrik a Pers son -Fisc hier Faculty of Science and Technology Uppsala University, Place of publication Visby Subject reader: Anna Karlström Examiner: Ulrika Persson-Fischier Table of Contents Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................... 1 List of Figures ......................................................................................................................................... 4 List of Tables .......................................................................................................................................... 5 1. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 6 1.1. Statement of Interest ................................................................................................................ 6 1.2. Statement of Purpose ................................................................................................................ 8 1.3. Outline of the Thesis ................................................................................................................ 9 1.4. Methodology .......................................................................................................................... 11 1.4.1. Research approach .......................................................................................................... 11 1.4.2. Research design .............................................................................................................. 12 1.4.3. Research process ............................................................................................................ 16 1.4.4. Ethics ............................................................................................................................. 17 1.4.5. Data analyse ................................................................................................................... 18 2. Cultural heritage ............................................................................................................................ 20 2.1. Defining cultural heritage ....................................................................................................... 20 2.1.1. Existing definition .......................................................................................................... 20 2.1.2. Redefine ......................................................................................................................... 25 2.1.3. Intangibility .................................................................................................................... 29 2.2. Authenticity ........................................................................................................................... 31 3. Cultural heritage in the tourism context .......................................................................................... 38 3.1. Authenticity in tourism discourse ........................................................................................... 39 3.2. Authentication process ........................................................................................................... 45 3.2.1. Knowledge transfer ........................................................................................................ 45 3.2.2. Value cognition .............................................................................................................. 46 3.2.3. Authenticity judgment .................................................................................................... 47 3.3. From tourists’ perspective ...................................................................................................... 49 3.3.1. Knowledge transfer ........................................................................................................ 49 3.3.2. Value cognition .............................................................................................................. 50 3.3.3. Authenticity judgment .................................................................................................... 51 3.4. From local community’s perspective ...................................................................................... 52 3.4.1. Knowledge transfer ........................................................................................................ 52 1 3.4.2. Value cognition .............................................................................................................. 53 3.4.3. Authenticity judgment .................................................................................................... 54 4. Sustainability and Resilience.......................................................................................................... 56 4.1. Sustainability and Resilience .................................................................................................. 57 4.1.1. Sustainability .................................................................................................................. 57 4.1.2. Resilience ....................................................................................................................... 62 4.1.3. Sustainability and Resilience .......................................................................................... 64 4.2. Can culture be resilient? Or needs to be resilient? ................................................................... 69 4.2.1. Merit .............................................................................................................................. 70 4.2.2. Demerit .......................................................................................................................... 72 5. Case study ..................................................................................................................................... 76 5.1. Nhã nhạc cung đình Huế (Vietnamese Court Music) ............................................................... 77 5.2. Áo dài (long dress or tunic) .................................................................................................... 79 6. Findings and discussion ................................................................................................................. 83 6.1. Intangible aspect of cultural heritage ...................................................................................... 83 6.1.1. In terms of language ....................................................................................................... 83 6.1.2. Intangibility .................................................................................................................... 86 6.1.3. Elements constitute heritage ........................................................................................... 88 6.2. Cultural heritage in the tourism context .................................................................................. 92 6.2.1. Authenticity.................................................................................................................... 92