Vietnam Seeks to Leverage Cultural Heritage for National Development

Vietnam is actively pursuing strategies to transform its rich cultural heritage into a new engine for national development, reflecting a strong governmental drive to position culture as a wellspring of innovation, economic growth, and soft power. Digitizing cultural heritage is identified as a pressing priority. Experts note that digitizing Vietnam's folk culture, including oral literature, beliefs, customs, festivals, and ancestral arts, serves as a crucial lever for national cultural development in the new era. This initiative aims to broaden public access to heritage, both domestically and internationally, and to enhance research activities. For instance, historical sites like the My Son Sanctuary offer invaluable archives engraved on stone, enabling scholars to unravel the history of the ancient Champa kingdom. Digitalization holds the potential to open new avenues for smart tourism, expanding public access to heritage and bolstering research. Cultural industries are recognized as a new driver for economic growth and national branding, with AI expected to play an increasingly significant role in strengthening their competitiveness. The implementation of Resolution No. 06 alongside the cultural diplomacy strategy sends a clear message: by combining its rich cultural heritage with proactive diplomacy, innovation, and digital transformation, Vietnam seeks to bolster its competitiveness on the global stage. Hanoi has launched a series of initiatives to realize its vision of becoming a "Civilized – Distinctive – Creative" capital. These include a creative infrastructure development program and a creative space design competition, encouraging architects, designers, and creative communities to revitalize former industrial sites and traditional craft villages through innovative design solutions. Furthermore, Vovinam – Viet Vo Dao, a traditional Vietnamese martial art, is steadily gaining international recognition. In France, it has a strong foothold with over 10,000 practitioners and around 50 clubs operating under the French Vovinam Federation, demonstrating the successful internationalization of Vietnamese culture. However, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam has stressed the need to address bottlenecks hindering the transformation of culture into an endogenous resource, soft power, and a driver of national development. The appeal and reach of positive cultural values in the digital environment have yet to keep pace with the rapid growth of digital platforms and content. While addressing these challenges, Vietnam aims to harness its cultural heritage as an indispensable component for strengthening national identity and economic prosperity. Source: VietnamPlus English