Vietnam Accelerates Legal Framework for Cultural Industry as New Growth Engine

More than six months after the Communist Party Central Committee issued Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on January 7, 2026, regarding the development of Vietnamese culture, the drafting of a Law on the Development of the Cultural Industry has been included in the legislative program. This move signifies the Vietnamese government's strong commitment to positioning the cultural industry as a new engine for growth. The Law on the Development of the Cultural Industry aims to establish a legal framework to foster innovation within the country's cultural sector. Of particular note is the proposed introduction of a sandbox mechanism. This system will allow for the trial implementation and testing of new technologies and business models under a certain degree of regulatory relaxation, potentially boosting novel initiatives in the creation and distribution of cultural content. Furthermore, as a concrete measure to accelerate the development of the cultural industry, the establishment of a trading system (platform) for cultural industries has been proposed. This is expected to facilitate smoother and more transparent transactions of cultural content, thereby promoting better revenue returns for creators and related businesses. The law is anticipated to be enacted through an expedited process. This can be seen as a strategic decision for Vietnam to maintain and enhance its competitiveness in the rapidly evolving global cultural market. Under Vietnam's one-party system, state-led industrial development tends to be effective. The cultural industry is expected to become a new pillar, following manufacturing and services, in Vietnam's economy, which has achieved remarkable growth. The government is strongly committed to promoting this sector. In its relationship with China, while economic ties are strong, maintaining cultural distinctiveness and enhancing soft power through cultural outreach are also important goals. The development of the cultural industry could also contribute to raising Vietnam's international presence in these diplomatic aspects.