The national conference on “developing Vietnam’s cultural industry” in 2023 was organized by the Government Office in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the morning of December 22 in two forms: directly at the headquarters of the Government Office and online connection to the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the headquarters of the People’s Committees of 63 provinces and cities. The conference was chaired and managed by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha. The event has a particularly important meaning in the development of Vietnam’s cultural industries in the period from now to 2030.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung reported at the Conference – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Reporting at the Conference, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said: Looking back at the 7-year journey of implementing the Strategy for the Development of Vietnam’s Cultural Industries (Strategy 1755), with the close leadership and direction of the Government, the Prime Minister, and the efforts of ministries, industry, locality, and the companionship of the people and business community, the development of Vietnam’s cultural industries has achieved a number of outstanding results:
– Regarding the contribution of cultural industries to GDP: In 2015, cultural industries contributed 2.68% of GDP. After 3 years (2016, 2017, and 2018) implementing Strategy 1755: in 2018, 12 cultural industries contributed about 3.61% of GDP. In the period from 2018 to 2022, the production value of Vietnam’s cultural industries contributed is estimated to reach 1,059 million billion VND (44 billion USD).
In the past 5 years, the average growth rate in the number of economic establishments operating in cultural industries reached 7.21%/year. In 2022 alone, statistics show that there are about 70,321 operating establishments related to the cultural industry and the average workforce attracts about 1.7 million to 2.3 million people, an increase of 7.44 million. %/year.
Comparing statistical data after 7 years with the general situation in the world, it can be seen that Vietnam is a mid-range country in terms of cultural industry development and still has much room for development.
– Regarding the contribution of cultural industries to economic restructuring:
+ With its creative and technological characteristics, the cultural industries are bringing changes in the structure of related industries, followed by a change in the structure of the economic sector.
+ The emergence of cultural industry centers and creative cities has been changing the structure of economic regions.
+ Cultural enterprises, including foreign-invested enterprises, are increasingly appearing.
This change has created remarkable results in all 12 industries (period 2018-2022: For architecture: average added value increased by 7.37%; For design: Added value of average value increased by 6.36%; For fashion: average added value increased by 7.3%; For cinema: average added value by 7.94%…)

At the Conference – Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

– Regarding the contribution of cultural industries in promoting image and identity and increasing the attractiveness and persuasion of Vietnam’s cultural soft power:
+ Hanoi, Da Lat, Hoi An are 03 Vietnamese cities that have joined UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, of which Hanoi became a creative city of design, Da Lat – a creative city of music and Hoi An – the city of crafts and folk arts.
The appearance of 03 creative cities on the map of global creative cities is a solid basis for Vietnam to determine its goal in the next stage of becoming an attractive cultural industry center. and converging creativity in Southeast Asia.
+ UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions was adopted in 2005, effective from March 2007. As a responsible member of UNESCO, it has demonstrated positive contributions through action through the promulgation of the 1755 Strategy; was elected and successfully assumed the role of Vice Chairman of the Intergovernmental Committee and Vice Chairman of the General Assembly of the UNESCO Convention for the term (2011-2015). Most recently, on November 22, 2023, Vietnam was elected a member of the World Heritage Committee for the 2023-2027 term with a very high number of votes.
+ Vietnam was honored as the World’s Leading Heritage Destination for the 4th time at the 2023 World Travel Awards Ceremony after 2019, 2020, 2022. That shows outstanding global values and the attraction of cultural tourism – one of 12 cultural industries to the international community.
The above outstanding results come from the close attention and direction of the Government and the Prime Minister, the initiative, close coordination, and active implementation of tasks of ministries and local branches in The process of organizing and implementing Strategy 1755:
– Regarding the work of perfecting institutions, mechanisms and policies: In the period 2018 – 2022, ministries and branches have reviewed and proposed the National Assembly and the Government to promulgate mechanisms and policies to remove difficulties. , problems in the process of managing cultural industries in Vietnam; Improve business conditions for cultural products and services, promote the development of cultural industries in Vietnam: Law on Tourism 2017; Architecture Law 2019; Amended Construction Law 2020; Cinema Law 2022, Intellectual Property Law 2022…
– Regarding promoting communication and raising awareness: Ministries, branches and localities have actively deployed dissemination, guidance, propaganda and awareness raising for officials and people about the meaning and importance of the Strategy for the Development of Vietnam’s Cultural Industries. A number of provinces and centrally run cities have issued thematic Resolutions on cultural industry development, such as Hanoi City, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang City…
– Regarding training and human resource development: A number of training organization models related to cultural industries have been implemented in a professional and methodical manner. Many training programs and textbooks are increasingly being improved to suit the level of study. Policies for lecturers and teachers participating in training, especially specific arts fields, are gradually receiving attention…
– Regarding the application of science and technology: Ministries, branches and localities have been building and completing the basic data framework to serve the activities of cultural industries. At the same time, organizations and businesses have flexibly applied many advanced technologies to develop diverse and modern cultural products and services and deeply participate in the global cultural value chain.
– Regarding the development of the cultural industries market: Many localities have built and completed infrastructure and facilities to serve activities related to cultural industries at heritage sites. , special national monuments, museums, cultural houses, traditional craft villages, entertainment areas…
– Regarding international exchange and cooperation activities: Cultural diplomacy activities, programs and projects on connection, exchange and international cooperation on culture are held annually, promoting these activities. Introducing, promoting and promoting cultural industry products, attracting interest and investment sources for cultural industries, thereby strengthening the connection and cooperation between Vietnam and partners and businesses. foreign industry.

Besides the achieved results, the development of cultural industries still has many shortcomings and challenges such as:
– Currently, there is no legal document (law, decree) regulating the implementation of state management of cultural industry. At the same time, there is a lack of specific and appropriate mechanisms and policies on attracting capital and developing resources to support and promote the comprehensive development of cultural industries across the country in general and in each country. locality in particular.
– Investment resources are spread out, there is no focus or focus, and there is no focus on developing a number of specialized fields with advantages and potential to create key products and focus on developing industries. cultural industry.
– Human resources in cultural industries are lacking in quantity and quality. Policies on remuneration and attracting human resources in cultural industries have not really encouraged and attracted human resources into this field.
– There is no statistical index on the cultural industry in the national statistical indicator system. Statistics from ministries, branches, localities, and relevant agencies only meet reporting requirements to serve management, and have not been implemented comprehensively and fully, leading to proposals for development solutions. of each field is not timely and realistic.
– The content and form of products and services in cultural industries (software, handicrafts, design, architecture, fashion…) have not really exploited all cultural characteristics. to create uniqueness and uniqueness in products and services, thereby enhancing product value, creating competitive advantages, and attracting domestic and international customers.
– Some businesses and people are not really interested in the issue of copyright and related rights protection, so violations and infringements in recent times have directly impacted creators and co-workers. This creates obstacles for businesses and investors in the cultural industry sector.
– The coordination mechanism between ministries, branches, localities, and between organizations and individuals operating in the field of cultural industry is not regular, tight, and synchronous.

Online conference at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Inadequacies, limitations, and difficulties come from many objective and subjective causes and limitations such as:
– The cultural industry has a large scope, including multi-sectors and many fields with broad connotations but has not been specified, so it faces difficulties in the implementation process. Many agencies and units participate in management, so there is no overall development solution.
– Cultural industries are an industry group that is easily affected by external factors. Many of Vietnam’s cultural industry products and services today do not fully embody the core values and national cultural identity. Many Vietnamese businesses have not emphasized building brand value for products, services and legal factors related to copyright protection.
– Attracting businesses to invest in cultural creative activities and the production of cultural products and services has not received much attention from many investors, because the amount of capital spent on creative investment is large but the potential Capital recovery is slow, small and carries many potential risks from mechanisms, policies, management methods, to community and social behavior towards each cultural industry product.
– Vietnam has a potential domestic market with a young, open, and easily accessible population, however this population has not yet formed habits and awareness in respecting, protecting, and developing products and services. service of Vietnam’s cultural industry in a complete manner, exploiting and using products and services in compliance with the provisions of intellectual property law.
– Financial investment in culture, including cultural industry, has gradually increased but is currently lower than demand.
Speaking at the Conference, Minister Nguyen Van Hung hoped that with the Prime Minister’s profound guidance and the presence of representatives of ministries, branches, localities, state management agencies, and international organizations, international organizations, researchers, businesses, creative communities, and media agencies to find solutions and initiatives to accelerate the development of Vietnam’s cultural industries in an effective and efficient manner. sustainability and integration. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism proposes a number of key goals:
Firstly, Develop Vietnam’s cultural industries to become an important economic sector, focusing on the focused and key development of a number of cultural industries with potential and advantages to achieve the goal. Cultural industries contribute 7% of GDP and continue to contribute to the socio-economic development of the country.
Second, Build and develop diverse and high-quality cultural industry products and services based on innovation, creativity, traditional culture and respect for copyright; enhance the value of products, meeting the cultural enjoyment and consumption needs of domestic and export people; contributing to promoting the image of the country and people of Vietnam; Establishing brands for cultural products and services.
Third, Identify key areas and key areas for cultural industry development based on Vietnam’s existing advantages, capable of competing regionally and internationally.
Form key cultural industry centers, such as in the city. Hanoi, City. Da Nang and City. Ho Chi Minh; Shaping, expanding and developing the network of creative cities across the country (Quang Ninh, Quang Nam, Kien Giang, Hue, Da Lat…).
About some solutions:
Firstly, it is necessary to deeply grasp the Party’s viewpoints and policies and the State’s legal policies to raise awareness of all levels, sectors, localities and the entire society about the role and position of industry. culture in socio-economic development.
Second, continue to research and improve the legal framework to create a legal basis and “unlock” resources to promote cultural industry development in the period of international integration such as preferential policies on capital, Encourage creativity for artists, start-up businesses…
Third, develop cultural industry and cultural services on the basis of effectively applying new values and achievements of culture, science, engineering and technology of the world through exchange activities. , cooperation, joint venture, and association with countries with developed cultural industries such as Korea, Japan, China…
Fourth, focus on building a network of creative, branded businesses that are competitive in areas where Vietnam has potential and strengths such as software, handicrafts, performing arts… produce many high-quality cultural products to participate in the domestic and international cultural market.
Fifth, focus on training human resources to develop cultural industries through schools, through links with businesses, and cooperation programs with international partners.
Sixth, add the Statistical Index on the cultural industry to the national statistical indicator system, so that on the basis of this data, there will be appropriate investment policies and development roadmaps for the entire industry. cultural industry in general and each cultural industry in particular.
Minister Nguyen Van Hung affirmed that the implementation process requires proactive, regular, and close coordination between ministries, branches, localities, and between sectors in planning and building programs. , schemes and projects to develop cultural industries. Therefore, at the Conference, delegates need to have suggestions and exchange opinions frankly and positively, especially the instructions of the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister on key issues. essential for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and other ministries, branches and localities to organize and implement and maximize the role, position and mission of cultural industries in national development./ .