On March 24, 2023, the International Francophone Institute - VNU (IFI) collaborating with the Embassy of the Kingdom of Morocco to Vietnam, the Francophone University Agency (AUF), and the Institute for African and Middle East Studies (IAMES) held a launching ceremony of the virtual tour of Morocco Gate (Ba Vì - Hanoi).

Speaking at the opening, H.E.Mr. Jamale Chouaibi, the Ambassador of his Majesty the King of Morocco to Vietnam expressed his delight: “This historical monument is a symbol of the strong and traditional friendship between Vietnam and Morocco and a reminder of the importance of preserving our shared history and memory. Moroccan soldiers, along with their brothers and comrades from different nationalities, some of whom were captives or deserters, were treated with dignity, given a farm and allowed to get married and pursue a normal happy life. The building of the Gate was a tribute to and an appreciation for this great leader (Hồ Chí Minh), for the Vietnamese people, and for the country that adopted and embraced them. The Morocco Gate testifies to such precious human values. Its symbolism has sublime meanings. In conclusion, we hope that this historical site will not remain unknown, but become a pilgrimage site for both locals and foreign tourists. The magnificent story behind it is worth knowing and sharing”.

Mr. Phùng Danh Thắng, the Director of IFI, stated: “The virtual tour of Morocco Gate is one of the projects in the Digitalized Cultural Heritage Program that has become an identity of IFI lately. This product was made in favor of the celebration of the 62nd anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Morocco (March 27, 1961). The project of Morocco Gate is an accomplishment of cultural, historical, and technological combinations, thanks to the cooperation between IFI and the Embassy of Kingdom of Morocco to Vietnam, the Francophone University Agency (AUF), the Institute for Africa and Middle East Studies (IAMES), with IFI's partners. This project was released as a result of joint endeavors of all sides over a long time, especially during the Covid-19 period”.

IFI is one of the typical university organizations of the Francophone community in the Asia Pacific region. IFI, known as the unification of IFI (1993) and PUF (2006), currently focuses on its strengths, including training, research, and transfer. With a background of training and research on information technology, IFI is now opening 4 international Master's programs in information technology, digital communication, and financial technology. In the near future, IFI is planning to train for Bachelor's and Master's degrees related to information technology and interdisciplinary. Besides, IFI is proud to be a major contributor to VNU's internationalization index with hundreds of students from more than 20 countries around the world.

Besides training, the products of research and transfer have been a great strength of IFI. IT-based as they seem, these products are fairly distinguished thanks to their cultural values. The IFI's Digitalized Cultural Heritage Program is claimed to be one of the few research programs in Vietnam transferable into a commercialized product, namely the project virtual tour of Hanoi Opera House, Hưng Yên Museum, The Banyan Tree and La Tiến Temple, etc.

Mr. Ngô Tự Lập, the Former Director of IFI shared about the historical values behind the Morocco Gate in Ba Vì. This Arab-style gate is a symbol of international amity against colonialism, a unique relic located at the base of Ba Vì mountain, about 40 kilometers away from Hanoi, but few people know about it. The project aims to raise people's awareness of the mutual history of the two countries, the Vietnam-Morocco cooperation relationship as well as the Moroccan culture through the promotion of bilateral relations and tourism development in the setting of the Fourth industrial revolution. The Gate is a remnant of Việt Phi Farm - Ba Vì, a historical proof of Hồ Chí Minh's humanitarian ideology. It was built by soldiers from more than 20 European and African countries, all of whom were converted by the righteousness and generosity of the Vietnamese government and people, then chose to stay and live in Vietnam. The Morocco Gate was restored in 2016 with a partial donation from the Embassy of Kingdom of Morocco to Vietnam.

The virtual tour of Morocco Gate was designed as a unique multimedia audiovisual product, in which the advantages of digital technology are added by highly aesthetic cultural content, including music, images, text, and dialogue in 3 languages: Vietnamese - French - English. At the ceremony, after the launching protocol, the attendants were shown a part of the virtual tour of the Morocco Gate.

The launching ceremony of the virtual tour of the Morocco Gate took place successfully at Vietnam National University, on Friday, March 24, 2023. The virtual tour serves as a bridge to bring historical and cultural relics closer to the community by providing an immersive and interactive experience, actively contributing to the process of conserving and promoting cultural values, transferring cultural heritage into a product of tourism, socio-economic development, and promoting the image of Vietnam and Morocco.