If implemented effectively, Resolution 80 could mark a turning point from a mindset of “preserving identity” to one of “shaping influence,” positioning Vietnamese culture as a source of strength as the nation enters a new era of development.

In recent years, competition among nations has unfolded not only in economic or military arenas, but increasingly in the cultural sphere.

Values, lifestyles, creative products and symbolic influence have become defining elements of national standing. Cultural industries and the creative economy are emerging as new growth drivers, while the rapid expansion of digital space presents both opportunities and complex challenges related to identity and cultural sovereignty.

For Vietnam, reassessing the role of culture has become an urgent task. After nearly four decades of doi moi, the country has achieved significant economic milestones, yet it also faces widening disparities in cultural access between regions, risks of heritage erosion, underdeveloped cultural industries and the multifaceted impact of the digital environment.

As the nation looks toward 2030 and 2045, culture is no longer the concern of a single sector. It has become a strategic national issue.

Against this backdrop, Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on the development of Vietnamese culture carries special significance. Culture is clearly defined as a foundation, an endogenous resource, a driving force and a pillar for rapid and sustainable development. This marks a pivotal shift in development thinking - from viewing culture as a supporting field to placing it on par with the economy and politics, making it a guiding axis for the country’s next phase of growth.

The 2026 - 2030 period: Laying foundations and creating breakthroughs

If Resolution 80 is seen as a two-stage strategic blueprint, then the period from 2026 to 2030 represents the phase of groundwork and momentum building. While five years may not be long enough to fundamentally transform the national cultural structure, this period is decisive for removing bottlenecks, unlocking resources and forming an initial ecosystem for long-term development.

First, the five-year vision is reflected in the requirement to complete cultural institutions and infrastructure. The Resolution emphasizes fully institutionalizing Party guidelines into concrete laws and policies; drafting legislation related to the arts, copyright and cultural industries; and introducing a national cultural index system.

This demonstrates a shift from campaign-style mobilization to governance based on standards and measurable benchmarks. With a clear set of indicators, culture is placed within a transparent evaluation framework with accountability.

Alongside institutional reform is the issue of resources. The goal of allocating at least 2% of total state budget expenditure to culture is not merely a financial matter, but a strategic signal of priority. In a context where the state budget faces multiple pressures, setting a minimum ratio reflects determination to reshape allocation structures. Ultimately, however, effectiveness will depend on targeted spending capable of catalyzing social participation.

Digital transformation stands out as a defining feature of this phase. The target of digitizing 100% of nationally recognized heritage; building digital cultural platforms; and developing online libraries, museums and performing arts reflects a clear awareness of the shift of cultural life into digital environments.

Digitization is not only about preservation. It expands access, generates resources for creativity and education, and helps safeguard cultural sovereignty in cyberspace.

On the economic front, the 2026 - 2030 period is identified as the time to create momentum for cultural industries. The target of contributing 7% of GDP and building five to ten national brands in film, performing arts, cultural tourism and design underscores the view of culture as a sector capable of generating high added value. This marks a transition from a consumption-oriented mindset to one focused on production and export of cultural products, tied to enhancing national standing.

Yet the Resolution does not focus solely on economics or infrastructure. It places people at the center. Ensuring that 100% of students regularly engage in artistic activities and heritage education reflects the aim of cultivating a generation of citizens with strong aesthetic foundations and cultural awareness.

Cultural industries can only thrive when there is an audience capable of appreciation and sophisticated consumption. The development of national values, family values and standards for Vietnamese people in the new context also strengthens the spiritual foundation for growth.

Overall, the 2026 - 2030 vision serves as a strategic launch phase. It concentrates on three pillars: institutional completion, strengthened resources and digital transformation linked to cultural industries.

If implemented with seriousness and resolve, this stage will lay a solid foundation for the long-term vision toward 2045. Conversely, without determined execution, quantitative targets will remain aspirational.

The next five years therefore constitute a crucial test of governance capacity and of the genuine priority accorded to culture within the national development structure.

The 2030 - 2045 period: Positioning the nation through culture

If 2026 - 2030 is about laying groundwork and generating momentum, then 2030 - 2045 is the phase of positioning and affirmation. This is no longer about addressing limitations, but about shaping the image of a developed nation with identity, influence and cultural appeal in a new global order.

The vision toward 2045 coincides with the centenary of national founding. Culture is not treated as a specialized field, but as a permeating foundation across all areas of social life.

The Resolution calls for building an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with socialist orientation, in which people are the center, the subject, the goal and the driving force of development. This reflects a shift from purely growth-driven objectives to comprehensive development, where human quality and spiritual life become key measures of national achievement.

A notable highlight is the ambition to elevate cultural industries and the creative economy into pillars of sustainable development, striving to contribute 9% of GDP. If the 7% target in the earlier phase is a launchpad, the 9% figure signals the ambition to place culture alongside major economic sectors.

This implies the formation of creative conglomerates, cultural industry clusters and value chains spanning creation, production, distribution and export of cultural products.

When culture becomes a robust economic sector, it not only creates jobs and attracts investment, but also stimulates innovation and drives structural shifts toward higher added value.

The 2045 vision also aims to enhance national standing through soft power. The goal of ranking among the top three in ASEAN and the top 30 globally in the Soft Power Index reflects the aspiration for Vietnam to be recognized not only for economic scale, but for cultural values and human image.

When culture becomes an effective diplomatic instrument, each film, festival and internationally recognized heritage site contributes to promoting the national image.

At the spatial level, Resolution 80 evokes a vision of heritage cities, regional creative hubs and internationally scaled art festivals. Culture is not confined to museums or monuments, but integrated into urban development, tourism and service structures. Heritage economy and cultural tourism, if professionally organized, can preserve traditional values while generating sustainable livelihoods for communities.

Another important dimension is digital cultural sovereignty. As life becomes increasingly intertwined with online environments, cultural data turns into a strategic asset. The standardization and comprehensive digitization of heritage, the building of national cultural data infrastructure and the application of new technologies in content production and distribution all underscore the imperative of mastering digital space.

The 2045 vision is therefore not only about developing culture, but about ensuring autonomous capacity in a deeply globalized environment.

Notably, this vision consistently centers on people. Culture permeates governance, education, business and community life. When national values are reinforced and human standards are shaped within a humane and disciplined environment, culture becomes a regulatory framework for development. An economy may grow rapidly, but it is only sustainable when supported by a strong cultural foundation.

Viewed across the arc of history, the 2030 - 2045 vision of Resolution 80 aims to shape a new development identity for Vietnam: a high-income nation with dynamic cultural industries and compelling values. It signals a shift from preserving identity to shaping influence, from defensive posture to proactive positioning.

The longer the vision, the greater the challenges. Yet setting clear goals through 2045 demonstrates determination to place culture at the center of national development strategy. If the next five years test implementation capacity, the following 15 years will measure Vietnam’s ability to position itself through cultural strength in the 21st century.

Culture as the development axis in a new era

Resolution 80 is not merely a document for the cultural sector. It is a strategic declaration on the national development model for the coming decades. For the first time, culture is explicitly defined as a pillar - a spiritual foundation, an endogenous resource and a regulatory framework for rapid and sustainable development. This represents a shift from growth-centric thinking to development grounded in values, creativity and human quality.

The two-stage design reflects a roadmap: laying foundations and creating breakthroughs in the first five years, then positioning the nation through cultural strength in the subsequent phase. If the initial stage tests implementation capacity, the long-term stage will gauge Vietnam’s ability to rise through soft power and identity.

The feasibility of this vision does not lie solely in figures such as 2%, 7% or 9% of GDP, but in policy coherence and execution resolve. Culture can only become a true pillar when it is adequately invested in, modernly governed and placed on par with other development priorities.

In a world where competition over values is intensifying, proactive investment in culture is no longer an optional supplement, but a strategic choice.

If effectively carried out, Resolution 80 could become the milestone marking Vietnam’s shift from preserving identity to shaping influence, enabling Vietnamese culture to serve as a source of strength as the nation steps confidently into a new era of development.

Dr. Trieu Quang Minh