Conservation and Valorization of Coal-Related Architectural Heritage in Quảng Ninh (Vietnam): Industrial Archaeology and Industrial Heritage in a Transitional Context

ĐINH Thị Thùy Hiên

The architectural heritage of the coal industry in Quảng Ninh, Vietnam’s principal mining region, represents a critical yet overlooked dimension of the nation's modern history. From the colonial period to the present, these industrial structures and infrastructures serve as tangible records of extractive technologies, regional urbanization, and profound socio-economic transformations. This paper employs an industrial archaeological framework, integrating field surveys, archival research, and architectural analysis to argue for the significance of these sites. Despite their importance, these structures are largely excluded from Vietnam’s national conservation framework, which has traditionally prioritized pre-modern monuments. By analyzing current preservation practices, this study identifies a critical gap between the region's industrial identity and its formal heritage management. It evaluates the challenges of this neglect, including physical decay and lost historical context, alongside the potential for integrating this heritage into sustainable local development. Ultimately, the case of Quảng Ninh demonstrates the urgent need to expand Vietnam's heritage discourse beyond conventional paradigms. The study advocates for recognizing coal-related architectural complexes not merely as relics, but as integral components of the nation’s modern heritage landscape, proposing a conceptual basis for their future conservation and valorization.