 A performance in praise of the Hung Kings' merits (photo: VGP/ Nhat Bac) |
Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong concluded at the National Cultural Conference in November 2021 that culture is the fundamental and strategic force of the Vietnamese nation. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh told the just-concluded 4th session of the 15th National Assembly that cultural development has received special attention.
Cultural development has been enhanced
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that various traditional values and cultural heritages are inherited, preserved, and promoted through diverse cultural products. A number of role models in the national patriotic emulation movement and the “All people unite to build a cultural lifestyle” movement have been honored in order to replicate their good deeds. Cultural and sports mechanisms have been formed in localities, densely populated areas, industrial parks, and urban areas.
 Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the 4th session of the 15th National Assembly. (photo: VGP/Nhat Bac) |
Prime Minister Chinh said cultural development should be placed on a par with socio-economic development, politics, and environmental protection. People’s cultural life and social advancement and equality have been ensured to leave no one behind. It’s one of the 6 orientations in the Government’s socio-economic development plan in 2023.
Prime Minister Chinh said: “Attention should be paid to multiple culture sectors to ensure a harmonious connection between economic development and culture, society, social security, and people’s material and cultural life. It’s necessary to constantly promote the values of Vietnamese culture and people and develop culture on a par with economic, political, and social development. More effort should be made to the preservation, restoration, and promotion of tangible and intangible heritages and building a healthy cultural environment.”
Culture development serves as a momentum for socio-economic growth
In 2016 the Prime Minister approved the Strategy to develop Vietnam’s culture industries until 2020 with a vision to 2030. It identifies specific goals and tasks for the development of Vietnam's culture industry with the main goal of increasing cultural industries’ contribution to GDP to 3% and to generating more jobs.
In 2018 Vietnam’s cultural and creative industries became strong contributors to the national economy, with 7.5 billion USD, equivalent to 3.61% of GDP and generate jobs for about 3 million people, or 6.1% of the work force.
 A performance of people from the Central Highlands |
Experts and cultural managers said achievements of the Strategy are clear evidence that culture is both a goal and a driving force for socio-economic development.
Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Thi Phuong Hau, Director of the Institute of Culture and Development, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said that culture is a motivation for economic development. Developing cultural industries will contribute to rapid sustainable development of many countries, including Vietnam.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Cham, Director of the Institute of Cultural Studies, said that the link between culture and economic development will lead to multi-dimensional, comprehensive, and sustainable development.
Associate Professor Dr. Bui Hoai Son, a member of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture, Education, Youth, Adolescents, and Children, shared his view: “It’s necessary to turn cultural values and assets into economic potential and advantages to promote the national image. We are implementing the Strategy to develop culture industry for that purpose. We want cultural products that create economic benefits, give us soft power, and create national synergy and advantages in global competition."
Dr. Le Hai Binh, Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Communication and Education, said that cultural development should promote and exploit the strengths of all 100 million Vietnamese people. Documents of the 13th National Party Congress set out great strategic goals, including the extremely important task of exploiting the nation's internal strength.