The year 2024 marked an explosion of cultural products and large-scale, widely embraced, high-quality art programs. The effective exploitation of traditional culture, plus innovation in culture, is paving the way for Vietnam’s culture industry to develop.

2025 is the first year that Vietnam has implemented the National Program for Cultural Development in the 2025-2035 period. Accordingly, cultural industries strive to contribute 7 percent to the country's GDP (gross domestic product). 

8 cultural industries

The year 2024 highlighted the important shift in cultural industries, from policy to practice. Cultural industries are recognized as an essential and sustainable factor contributing to the country's growth.

Many famous art performance programs were organized last year, such as the Creative Design Festival, the first HCM City International Film Festival, "Anh Trai Vuot Ngan Chong Gai" (Call Me By Fire) TV show, Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, and the third Ninh Binh Festival themed "Flow of Heritage," and the Four Seasons Festival in Hue.

Three cities in Vietnam have been recognized by UNESCO (The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization): Hanoi as a Creative City in design; Da Lat as a Creative City in music; and Hoi An as a Creative City in folk crafts and arts.

HCM City, considered the cultural and entertainment hub of the nation, has made impressive strides over the years.

Implementing the strategy on developing Vietnam's cultural industries by 2020, with a vision towards 2030, the city focused on eight sectors: Film, Performing Arts, Fine Arts, Photography, Exhibitions, Advertising, Cultural Tourism, and Fashion.

Management agencies consider the city's cultural industries as "soft power" of the locality, contributing to a breakthrough in socio-economic development.

People's Artist Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Culture and Sports, said that HCM City has been pioneering cultural industry development for many years, bringing significant value to society.

This can be seen in recently organized programs such as the Ho Do International Music Festival, HCM City International Film Festival (HIFF), and concerts by individual and group artists. These efforts are just the beginning, and more solutions are needed for long-term expansion.

Large-scale music nights and events produced by Vietnamese producers with participation from organizers, managers, support industries, artists, and the community have drawn attention of the public, media, managers, and leaders at all levels.

Many large art events, including concerts "Anh Trai Vuot Ngan Chong Gai" and "Anh Trai Say Hi” (Brothers Say Hi), have positively impacted Vietnam's entertainment industry.

Large, professional music events with significant investment in international-standard cultural activities are expected to further propel HCM City’s development.

These events have once again affirmed the importance of HCM City as a music and film center and cultural industry hub, contributing to the city's development while meeting the cultural and spiritual needs of locals and international friends.

Vietnam's outstanding creativity

These series of music programs and events not only elevate the national position but also create a firm foundation for the development of cultural industries such as design, music, film, and tourism.

Vietnam's cultural industry is witnessing a boom in technology and creativity. Many heritage sites and famous cultural landmarks are using applied digital technology to attract tourists. 

Recently, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center launched an experiential area and introduced the Imperial Capital Archaeological Mark project, opening a model that highlights heritage values.

Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong, Director of the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies, said the cultural industry in the new era must develop more robustly than in previous years. To reach that end, it's necessary to reach the objectives outlined in the Strategy for the Development of Vietnam's Cultural Industries by 2030, with a vision towards 2045.

There must be changes or reforms in the legal framework relating to cultural industry development, such as financial issues, investment in culture, labor and human resources, cultural product and service taxes, and cultural enterprise development.

Cultural industries are projected to contribute 7 percent to the national GDP by 2030.

Tinh Le - Tuan Chieu