(VOVWORLD) - The documents of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam affirm the Party’s strong political resolve to place culture and people at the center of Vietnam’s development strategy. On January 7, 2026, the Politburo adopted Resolution No. 80 on the Development of Vietnamese Culture, underscoring culture’s central role as the spiritual foundation of society and a vital endogenous resource, serving as a driving force and a regulatory system for rapid and sustainable national development.
 (Illustrative photo: VGP/Minh Anh) |
Positioning culture at the heart of the national development strategy is the Party’s consistent viewpoint throughout different periods, but now reflecting a new advance in strategic thinking arising from the requirement of fast, sustainable development in a changing global context.
New strategic thinking
In the Party’s documents, the mindset on cultural development has been elevated. Culture is no longer viewed solely as the spiritual foundation of society, but is defined as an important “regulatory system” that helps shape behavior, balance interests, and harmonize relationships throughout the development process. Culture is expected to be present in all spheres, from policymaking to implementation, from real life to the digital environment.
 A Xam singing performance at the first World Culture Festival in Hanoi (Photo: Le Chi/VOV5) |
The documents strongly emphasize developing cultural industries. Culture is recognized for its spiritual value and as a key economic sector capable of creating high-value-added products and services, enhancing soft power and national standing. This is a fundamental shift from a mindset of “subsidizing culture” to one of “investing in culture to generate wealth and national strength.”
The documents also stress the task of preserving and promoting national cultural identity amid international integration, and safeguarding and spreading traditional values, cultural heritage, the Vietnamese language, and customs, while absorbing aspects of global culture to enrich national identity and enhance Vietnam’s soft power and image globally.
 Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung presents a paper “Promoting the intrinsic strength of Vietnamese culture and people - the foundation for rapid and sustainable national development in the new era” at the 14th National Congress of the Party. (Photo: VOV) |
Addressing the 14th National Party Congress, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that because of competition in knowledge, science, technology, innovation, and cultural values, harnessing the power of culture has become a prerequisite for securing a long-term development advantage. He stressed the need to build a new generation of Vietnamese people with all-round development in ideals, resilience, intellect, ethics, lifestyle, and creative capacity; develop culture in harmony with the economy, politics, and society; and regard culture as a pillar of soft power and modern creative industries. All these are fundamental orientations for positioning Vietnam more firmly in the new global value chain.
Implementing comprehensive strategic orientations and solutions
To realize the aspiration for prosperity, happiness, and enhanced national standing, Vietnam is rolling out a range of breakthrough strategic orientations and solutions during the 14th National Party Congress term and beyond.
According to Minister Nguyen Van Hung, the first priority is to unify awareness and place building a new generation of Vietnamese people at the core of the development strategy for 2030, with a vision to 2045, while fostering a cultural environment that promotes creativity, innovative thinking, and social adaptability. This will be followed by improving institutions and policies to unlock cultural and human resources, and equating investment in culture and people with investment in development.
 Hue Festival draws a lot of tourists (Photo: Vinh Thong/VOV-Central Vietnam) |
Minister Hung said: “Cultural industries and the creative economy should be vigorously developed as a new growth driver and pillar of national soft power, while promoting links between the State, enterprises, the creative community, the market, and digital technology to position the Vietnamese cultural brand on the global creative map.”
Provinces and cities are also tapping cultural resources for development. Nguyen Chi Tai, Deputy Secretary of the Hue municipal Party Committee, said Hue will focus on developing its night-time economy and distinctive cultural brands, while applying technology and digital transformation to promote heritage values.
“The city will concentrate investment to make Hue a leading cultural and tourism destination in Southeast Asia. To do so, it’s necessary to improve service quality, develop new tourism products, strongly advance cultural industries and the creative economy. We will form creative spaces, performance centers, digital museums, and open libraries, while encouraging businesses, organizations, and individuals to create high-value cultural products, thereby generating jobs, fostering economic growth, and preserving cultural identity,” said Tai.
Vietnamese culture has a major opportunity to break through and affirm its vital role in national development. Exploiting cultural soft power will strengthen national resilience and promote Vietnam globally.