Industrial heritage

Exploring Vietnam's industrial heritage provides an insight into the country's transformation from an agricultural society to an emerging industrial nation.

During the French colonial period (1858-1954), industrial infrastructure began to take shape with the construction of railways, factories and ports, including the Hanoi-Saigon railway and ports in Haiphong and Saigon. After independence, North Vietnam promoted industrial projects under the influence of the Soviet Union, focusing on heavy industries such as metallurgy and chemicals, notably the Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Works and the Vinh Phu Fertilizer Plant. Since Doi Moi in 1986, Vietnam has industrialized rapidly, attracting foreign investment and expanding industrial zones such as Binh Duong and Dong Nai. Key sites of Vietnam's industrial heritage include Hai Phong, an important maritime trade center, and the Hanoi Railway System with its iconic Long Bien Bridge. Ho Chi Minh City is home to the remains of old factories such as the Ba Son Shipyard, part of the city's maritime history. Thai Nguyen Iron and Steel Complex is a great testament to Vietnam's aspiration for innovation and industrial development.

Explore Vietnam’s rich industrial heritage including visiting colonial buildings and factory layouts that reflect European influences adapted to the Vietnamese context and examining how industrial sites have been repurposed or preserved. Key sites such as the Ba Son Shipyard, the Ho Chi Minh City Tobacco Factory, the former phosphate mines of Phu Quoc Island and Long Bien Bridge will provide visitors with unique insights into Vietnam’s industrial development and journey towards modernisation.