Vietnam strives to have at least five other tangible and intangible cultural heritages honored by UNESCO and win from eight to 10 ASEAN Literary Awards by 2030. Revenues from the cultural industry are also expected to reach 7% of the GDP at the beginning of the next decade.

Those are the goals of the “Vietnam Cultural Development Strategy until 2030” and the “Tourism Development Plan, period of 2021 – 2025” released by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at an online conference that took place on June 29.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Chu Xuan Dung attended the event on behalf of Hanoi that was aimed at collecting ideas contributing to the draft of a national strategy on culture and tourism development. 

The delegates of the "Vietnam Cultural Development Strategy until 2030" and the "Tourism Development Plan, period of 2021 – 2025" conference. Photo: The Hanoi Times

In order to achieve the aforementioned goals, 12 tasks and solutions have already been put forth at the conference. For instance, total investment for cultural development will reach 2% of total annual budget expenditure, meanwhile, enterprises that work in the field of culture will be supported in the form of tax and fee reductions.

The strategy also has incentives to attract domestic and foreign investments in the field of culture and art, facilitate a strong cultural industry market, and improve the public’s access to cultural products and services.

“During the past years, investment in culture is still low. Besides, the role of culture in human development has not been properly defined,” Chu Xuan Dung said at the conference.

On behalf of Hanoi, Dung proposed six solutions to enhance the role of State management on cultural development. He emphasized that strengthening and expanding international cultural exchange and cooperation are among the key tasks.

A performance of Ao dai (traditional dress) organized in Hanoi in 2020. Photo: The Hanoi Times

"Vietnam is willing to selectively absorb and refine cultural traits from other countries, and at the same time embrace national cultural heritages," he said.

Provinces and cities need to host-specific cultural events and turn them into prestigious and annual activities in the region. “Hanoi has successfully organized the Monsoon Music Festival, the Cherry Blossom Festival; Ho Chi Minh City often decorates Nguyen Hue Street with flowers on the occasion of Lunar New Year, and Da Nang organizes the International Fireworks Festival to celebrate Revolutionary and May Day holidays,” Dung gave examples.

Strengthening the application of science and technology in the process of creating, producing, and preserving cultural products and improving the quality of cultural services are also measures proposed by Hanoi representatives.

In addition, in the “Tourism Development Plan, period 2021-2025”, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also identified seven key tasks contributing to the success of the program, which includes capitalizing on the application of digital technology in tourism; supporting tourism enterprises recover and develop after the Covid-19 pandemic, facilitating the training of qualified human resources in tourism; and shaping a sustainable travel industry in the future.