Economic impact and soft power gainsOver the past five years, Vietnam’s cultural industries have posted strong gains. The number of cultural businesses expanded at an annual rate of 7.2%, while employment in the sector grew 7.4% per year. Elevated technical standards and refined storytelling brought local cinema closer to international benchmarks, transforming it into one of the country’s most competitive creative industries. The Government rolled out the Cultural Development Strategy for 2021–2025 with a vision to 2030, the Strategy for Cultural Industry Development to 2030 with a vision to 2045, and the National Assembly approved the National Target Programme on Cultural Development for 2025–2035. Turning potential into “soft power”Looking ahead, the draft Political Report of the 14th National Party Congress sets a clear course toward a new growth model, highlighting “cultural industries and heritage economy” and calling for an accelerated expansion of cultural industries and services to meet rising public demand.
