Factors influencing the utilization of traditional performing arts heritage in the development of the night-time economy in Hanoi capital: A delphi and ethnographic approach

The development of the night-time economy, which is generally based on heritage resources and particularly traditional performing arts heritage, is increasingly playing a crucial role in national and local growth strategies. In the context where the night-time economy has been identified by the Vietnamese government as a new driver of economic growth, Hanoi—despite possessing significant advantages with a rich repository of 79 traditional performing arts heritage forms—continues to face numerous challenges in transforming these cultural resources into effective economic products. Moreover, systematic studies aimed at clearly identifying the influencing factors remain limited. This study aims to identify, analyze, and evaluate the factors affecting the utilization of traditional performing arts heritage, thereby proposing feasible solutions to optimize the effectiveness of nighttime economic development in Hanoi. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study applies the Delphi technique through two rounds of surveys to achieve expert consensus, combined with ethnographic fieldwork methods, including in-depth interviews and participant observation. As a result, eleven key influencing factors were identified and quantified. These factors are categorized into six groups: heritage resources, human resources, the policy and legal framework, tourist demand, technology and communication, and the ecosystem and security. Notably, human resources (artisans and creative teams) and tourist demand achieved absolute consensus among experts (CVR = 1.00). The findings provide important scientific evidence to support policymakers in formulating strategies that balance economic benefits with heritage conservation, thereby ensuring sustainable development for the capital city of Hanoi.