On behalf of the Politburo, General Secretary To Lam recently signed Resolution No. 80 on the development of Vietnamese culture. The resolution emphasizes that cultural and human development are foundational, intrinsic resources and powerful drivers for rapid and sustainable national progress. Culture is framed as a pillar and regulatory force guiding development across all sectors.

The Politburo affirms that cultural values must deeply integrate into all aspects of social life - from politics, economy, and society to environment, national defense, security, and diplomacy - serving as the nation’s soft power in a new era.

The resolution advocates developing culture as a means to perfect the character of the socialist individual and building individuals as a basis for developing culture. It calls for fostering a humane, healthy, civilized, and modern cultural environment, and a comprehensive development of Vietnamese people rooted in national, family, and human values.

A minimum of 2% of the state budget allocated annually for culture

Among its targets, the Politburo aims for all local governments at two administrative levels, and all armed forces, to be equipped with cultural institutions by 2030, enabling grassroots communities and service members to access and participate in cultural activities. By 2026, 100% of nationally and specially ranked cultural heritage sites are to be digitized, and 90% of grassroots cultural institutions are to operate regularly and effectively.

The resolution also calls for all students across the national education system to engage regularly and meaningfully in the arts and cultural heritage education.

A minimum of 2% of the annual state budget will be allocated for culture, with increases based on actual needs.

The resolution also sets forth a financial mechanism prioritizing three breakthrough areas: training and incentivizing cultural and artistic talents, applying science and technology and advancing digital transformation in the cultural sector, and commissioning high-value creative cultural works that reflect the nation’s intellectual and artistic stature.

Vietnam’s cultural industries are expected to contribute 7% to the national GDP. Between five and ten national brands in cultural industries will be developed in high-potential areas such as cinema, performing arts, cultural tourism, design, and fashion.

Additional goals include developing five international-standard cultural festivals in cinema, music, and visual arts, establishing one to three Vietnamese cultural centers abroad (with priority given to strategic partners), and securing five more UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage listings.

Vision to 2045: Culture as the soul of a modern and prosperous Vietnam

Looking ahead to 2045, the Politburo envisions a socialist-oriented Vietnamese culture where people are the center, subject, objective, and driving force of development. Cultural values will serve as the foundation and ethical compass, embedded across all spheres of society.

Vietnam is expected to become a hub for major regional and global cultural and artistic events and a dynamic center for cultural and creative industries. The cultural and creative economy is targeted to become a pillar of sustainable development, contributing 9% to GDP.

Ten international cultural festivals are projected, along with eight to ten new UNESCO cultural heritage listings.

Vietnam also aims to rank among the top three ASEAN countries and the top 30 globally on the Soft Power Index, with an emphasis on boosting the export value of national cultural products.

Recognition and incentives for cultural practitioners

To realize these ambitions, the Politburo outlines seven core tasks and solutions.

The first is a radical shift in thinking and a unified approach to developing culture in the new era. The second involves reforming legal frameworks to unlock resources for cultural development. A national cultural index and cultural industry economic contribution index will be developed in accordance with international standards.

The resolution also calls for appropriate incentives for artisans and artists, including fostering participation and excellence in prestigious international competitions and exhibitions.

Another key task is to build a fully developed Vietnamese citizen and a modern, humane cultural environment. Management of culture must evolve toward a service-oriented model that promotes innovation, digital transformation, and technological application.

Within this strategy, November 24 will be celebrated annually as National Culture Day, with full paid leave for workers, enabling greater public access to cultural experiences, inspiring creativity among artists, and fostering a national spirit of cultural appreciation and civilized living.

Building a thriving cultural ecosystem and creative economy

The Politburo stresses the importance of cultivating a vibrant cultural ecosystem that encourages innovation. In this ecosystem, businesses act as key drivers, and the people are both the center and the agents of cultural development. It calls for identifying and utilizing cultural resources appropriately.

The sixth task is to accelerate the development of cultural industries and cultural markets, creating globally recognizable Vietnamese cultural brands aligned with cultural tourism.

The resolution recommends piloting high-tech models across the cultural industry value chain - from creation and production to distribution and intellectual property protection. It also calls for building and promoting a national brand on the international stage that authentically reflects the essence of Vietnamese culture and identity.

The final task is to mobilize and effectively utilize all available resources, improve infrastructure, and enhance the quality of the cultural workforce to meet the demands of the new era.

Vietnam must also actively integrate internationally, sharing its cultural values with the world while absorbing global cultural excellence. In doing so, it will enhance national soft power and contribute to its global cultural footprint.

Tran Thuong