In the age of deep globalization, cultural exchange is not just an opportunity - it is a pressing necessity for preserving national identity and enhancing Vietnam’s international presence.

Proactive international cultural integration

Since the establishment of the country in 1945 and throughout the resistance wars against French colonialism and American imperialism, the Party and State have consistently prioritized cultural diplomacy and international communication as key tools in the fight for national independence and unification. During the Đổi Mới reform era, beginning in 1986, international cultural exchange was identified as the gateway to global integration, gradually breaking the nation's isolation and sanctions while positioning Vietnam as a peace-loving, culturally rich, creative, and dynamic nation.

At the 7th Party Congress in 1991, the Platform for National Construction in the Transition to Socialism emphasized that international integration was not only a foreign policy but a strategic objective aligned with the essence of Vietnam’s socialist model. Later, at the 8th Party Congress (1996), the Party stressed the importance of expanding cultural exchange, especially with regional countries. Resolution from the 5th Plenum of the 8th Central Committee laid the groundwork for the comprehensive development of cultural policy in the new revolutionary period, highlighting the need to “expand international cooperation in culture.”

These forward-looking policies have guided the State in deepening Vietnam’s international cultural engagement. In 2005, Vietnam joined UNESCO's Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, opening new policy avenues for global cultural cooperation. Initially viewed as a supporting element of foreign affairs, international cultural exchange has now become a vital component of national cultural strategy.

Today, Vietnam maintains cultural partnerships with nearly 200 countries and territories, and has implemented hundreds of bilateral cooperation programs. Participation in international forums and Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization in 2007 have also boosted cultural promotion efforts.

The strategic elevation of cultural diplomacy is further supported by long-term national policies such as the Strategy for Cultural Development to 2030, the Strategy for Cultural Industry Development to 2030 (with a vision to 2045), and the Strategy for Cultural Diplomacy to 2030. These have generated significant progress and opened new opportunities for Vietnam's cultural engagement.

In recent years, Hanoi, Hoi An, and Da Lat have joined UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, reflecting a shift from simple promotion to co-creation of cultural values. Alongside active participation in international festivals and forums, Vietnam has hosted major global events such as ASEAN 2020, APEC 2017, and the United Nations Day of Vesak (held in 2008, 2014, 2019, and 2025). These events present a comprehensive view of Vietnam as a country rich in tradition and innovation. Since 2010, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ “Vietnam Days Abroad” program has consistently brought the Vietnamese image closer to global audiences.

Vietnam has also embraced digital transformation by leveraging social media, contemporary art, and creative design to promote its culture. In cinema, films like Glorious Ashes, Children of the Mist, Inside the Yellow Cocoon Shell, and Rain on Butterfly Wings have made international waves. Likewise, musical collaborations between Vietnamese and global artists, as well as international accolades for Vietnamese design, have heightened the nation’s cultural visibility.

Shaping Vietnam’s global cultural identity

According to Pham Thi Phuong Chi, Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), international cultural exchange not only promotes the image of Vietnam and its people but also fosters mutual understanding among nations and lays the foundation for sustainable development. However, these efforts remain modest compared to Vietnam’s vast cultural potential. Most Vietnamese cultural programs abroad are currently organized by overseas community associations.

While these initiatives play an essential role in preserving identity and connecting communities, they are often grassroots-driven and limited in scale and resources, lacking the lasting impact and widespread reach of coordinated cultural campaigns. Vietnamese cultural centers abroad continue to face constraints in infrastructure, staffing, and professionalism - limiting their capacity to execute systematic and long-term cultural promotion strategies. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung noted that the “Vietnam Days Abroad” program only takes place in a handful of countries annually, far short of a truly global initiative.

To address this, Minister Hung emphasized the need to expand the program to all countries with which Vietnam has diplomatic relations. Deputy Director of the Social Affairs Department at the Central Policy and Strategy Commission, Vu Manh Hung, added that cultural integration must be embedded in the nation’s long-term sustainable development strategy. A strategic approach requires clear objectives, detailed planning, and targeted implementation, including identifying specific cultural values and focusing on distinctive products that can leave a lasting international impression.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is currently collecting feedback on its draft proposal for the internationalization of Vietnamese culture and the localization of global culture. Notable proposed solutions include building a network of Vietnamese cultural centers abroad, developing high-value cultural export products, strengthening cooperation with international cultural institutes, connecting overseas intellectuals and global lovers of Vietnamese culture to co-create multilingual digital content, and organizing regular cultural festivals and weeks in major international cities.

A cultural current in global integration

Speaking at the national conference on this proposal, Professor and Doctor Dinh Xuan Dung, former Vice Chairman of the Central Council for Literary and Art Criticism and Theory, emphasized that alongside breakthroughs in science and technology, culture must also flow into the currents of international integration. He underscored the need for this proposal to be proactive, impactful, and aligned with the Party’s vision for cultural integration.

To ensure that cultural cooperation becomes a pillar of Vietnam’s soft power, experts recommend five key strategies:

First, develop a long-term national cultural branding strategy that defines core values representing the spirit of modern Vietnam. This brand must harmonize tradition with contemporary creativity to ensure global appeal.

Second, professionalize cultural diplomacy activities, mobilize private sector involvement, and commercialize cultural products with economic potential.

Third, invest in high-quality human resources to support international cultural integration.

Fourth, leverage the influence of over six million overseas Vietnamese worldwide as “cultural ambassadors,” aligning cultural diplomacy with national solidarity policies.

Fifth, embrace digitization, foster a cultural startup ecosystem, and encourage youth participation in creative industries to revitalize and modernize Vietnam’s cultural image on the world stage.

With strong determination, long-term vision, and coordinated collaboration, Vietnam’s international cultural integration is poised to make bold strides. Culture will increasingly stand alongside economy and politics as a foundational pillar of national development, strengthening Vietnam’s global brand and competitiveness.

Tien Phong