Following the brainstorming session held in July in Siem Reap, Cambodia, the first experimental workshop was organised at the Thang Long Citadel Site Museum in Hanoi, Viet Nam, with the participation of 9 museums relating to cultural sites of the three countries.

This project is funded by the UNESCO/Japanese Funds-in-Trust for the Preservation of World’s Cultural Heritage.

The First Workshop dealt with five distinct but interconnected fields of study and produced mini exhibits as a preparation for the joint project, which were  developed in 2012 and 2013. The team of trainers was composed of leading specialists of heritage conservation, museums, history of Southeast Asia, and participatory cultural industry. The five modules of the Workshop being: 

1.    Re-scoping challenges of World Heritage Site museums in the context of growing international heritage tourism and their institutional mandate in terms of the preservation of the  site, interpretation, and the increasing benefits for local communities and the revitalisation of their living heritage

2.    Building a sub-regional historical narrative through an innovative cross-cutting research and production of museographical materials

3.    Designing participatory cultural industry through World Heritage Site museums with the participation of local communities

4.    Developing museum education programme

5.     Reviewing basic collection conservation methodology and practices

World Heritage Sites to which the participating museums are affiliated:

Kingdom of Cambodia

• Angkor (1992) 
• Temple of Preah Vihear (2008) 

Viet Nam

• My Son Sanctuary (1999)
• Central Sector of the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long - Hanoi (2010) 
• Citadel of the Ho Dynasty (2011) 

Lao People's Democratic Republic

• Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape (2001)

Dates: 14 November-3 December 2011

Responsible Officer: Nao Hayashi Denis

Responsible Unit: UNESCO Museums Section, UNESCO Office in Hanoi, UNESCO Office in Phnom Penh, UNESCO Office in Bangkok 

Contact: Nao Hayashi Denis ; Hanh Duong Bich ; Minji Song