Traditional costumes add a distinctive cultural touch to the festival. — VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam has set targets for cultural industries to contribute 7 per cent of GDP and for Việt Nam to develop five to 10 national cultural-industry brands in promising sectors such as film, performing arts, cultural tourism, design and fashion by 2030.

The goals are part of the Politburo’s Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW, dated January 7, 2026, on developing Vietnamese culture in the new era.

This is the first time a Party document has set specific quantitative targets for cultural brands and cultural industries. With thousands of tangible and intangible heritage assets and the rich cultural life of 54 ethnic groups, Việt Nam has a strong foundation for achieving these goals. However, turning cultural resources into recognised brands requires determination and systematic approaches.

Turning culture into brands

A national brand represents the distinctive image, reputation and values that a country builds in the eyes of the international community. According to Brand Finance, Việt Nam's national brand ranking has improved in recent years, supported by economic growth and efforts to improve the investment environment. However, in terms of soft power, where culture plays a central role, Việt Nam still has room to improve. In the Global Soft Power Index released by Brand Finance in January, Việt Nam ranked 52nd among 193 countries and ninth in Asia.

Experts say the country’s challenge is not a lack of cultural resources, but a shortage of cultural products capable of creating a distinctive national identity. Japan has transformed manga, anime and popular culture into sources of global influence, while the Republic of Korea (RoK) has developed an ecosystem spanning music, cinema, fashion, cosmetics and tourism, creating the Hallyu, or Korean Wave, as a systematic soft-power strategy. In 2025, the RoK's cultural-content exports reached nearly 14.9 billion USD, while the sector's total value approached 38 billion USD.

Việt Nam has also seen encouraging signs. The Huế Festival, Đà Nẵng International Fireworks Festival (DIFF), Đà Nẵng Asian Film Festival (DANAFF) and contemporary art events in Hà Nội and Hồ Chí Minh City have demonstrated the potential to connect heritage, tourism and creative industries. However, experts note that such events need distinctive identities and continuity to become effective branding tools.

Phan Minh Thu, CEO of Senplus JSC, said Việt Nam has abundant cultural resources but remains limited in its ability to tell brand stories that resonate with international audiences. Culture can become an economic driver only when it is transformed into experiences, products and services capable of reaching markets.

Removing bottlenecks

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Huy Dung said the cultural industry value chain remains fragmented, from creativity and intellectual property to capital, production, distribution and reinvestment. He noted that about 80 per cent of investment capital in Vietnamese game startups flows to Singapore, while more than 60 per cent of domestic animation studios mainly provide outsourcing services for foreign projects rather than owning their own intellectual property.

Following Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW, the National Assembly adopted Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16 on mechanisms and policies for developing Vietnamese culture. A draft Law on Cultural Industry Development is expected to be submitted to the 16th National Assembly for consideration in October.

The draft law aims to establish the position of cultural industries in the national economy, connect value chains, increase exports and strategic investment, and promote Vietnamese cultural identity and soft power internationally.

The Government also approved a communication strategy on promoting Việt Nam’s image abroad for 2026-2030, with a vision to 2045, aiming to place Việt Nam among the top three ASEAN countries and the world’s top 30 in the Global Soft Power Index.

With the policy framework gradually taking shape and political determination in place, the focus now is on implementation, from selecting the right products and markets to telling the right stories. The outcomes will depend on how ministries, agencies, businesses and cultural practitioners work together in the years ahead. — VNA/VNS