Brian Jeffrey
Vietnam’s Cultural Industry: A New Era
The year 2024 saw a remarkable growth in cultural offerings and prominent artistic programs across Vietnam. The nation is successfully merging traditional cultural elements with innovative approaches, significantly propelling the cultural sector forward.
As of 2025, Vietnam is set to launch its National Program for Cultural Development, aimed at enhancing the role of cultural industries to achieve a 7% contribution to the nation’s GDP by 2035.
This year marked a pivotal transition in the cultural sector, emphasizing the importance of these industries as essential and sustainable contributors to national development.
Numerous notable events graced the cultural landscape in 2024, including the Creative Design Festival, the inaugural HCM City International Film Festival, the TV show “Call Me By Fire,” the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival, the third Ninh Binh Festival focused on heritage, and the Four Seasons Festival in Hue.
UNESCO has acknowledged three Vietnamese cities for their cultural significance: Hanoi for design, Da Lat for music, and Hoi An for traditional crafts and arts.
HCM City has positioned itself as the nation’s cultural and entertainment epicenter, showcasing considerable advancements in this domain.
With a strategic plan for the development of cultural industries by 2020 and looking towards 2030, HCM City is prioritizing eight key sectors: Film, Performing Arts, Fine Arts, Photography, Exhibitions, Advertising, Cultural Tourism, and Fashion.
Local management agencies view these cultural industries as a form of “soft power,” aiding significant socio-economic improvements.
According to People’s Artist Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the HCM City Department of Culture and Sports, the city has been at the forefront of cultural industry growth, delivering immense societal benefits.
Recent initiatives like the Ho Do International Music Festival, HCM City International Film Festival, and various artist showcases signify the start of this journey, though further measures for long-term growth are vital.
Large-scale music events, coordinated by local producers and welcomed by media and public figures, have captured widespread attention.
Significant performances, such as “Brothers Say Hi” and “Call Me By Fire,” are reshaping Vietnam’s entertainment landscape.
High-quality music events with substantial investments are anticipated to elevate HCM City’s status as a major center for music, film, and cultural industry engagement, fulfilling the cultural and spiritual aspirations of both residents and visitors.
This series of artistic programs not only enhances national prestige but also lays the groundwork for advancing related cultural sectors like design, music, film, and tourism.
Vietnam’s cultural landscape is experiencing a surge in technological advancements and creative initiatives. Many cultural heritage sites are adopting digital technologies to attract more visitors.
Recently, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center unveiled an interactive space showcasing archaeological projects that emphasize heritage significance.
Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong from the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies asserts that the cultural sector must evolve progressively in the coming years. Achieving the goals of Vietnam’s Cultural Industries Development Strategy by 2030, with a long-term view towards 2045, is crucial.
Essential reforms in the legal framework governing cultural industry growth—focusing on financial support, cultural investment, workforce development, and taxation—are needed.
By 2030, it is projected that cultural industries will contribute 7% to the national GDP.
