‘Using culture to sustain culture': A path to economic growth and heritage preservation
Vietnam’s heritage has increasingly contributed to local economic development. However, long-term strategies are essential for preserving, restoring, and promoting cultural landmarks while boosting tourism.
The Giong Festival, a unique cultural event in Viet Nam, is recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. (Photo: Anh Tuan/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA)♛ - The 2024 Hanoi Creative Design Festival recently brought urban heritage sites like the University of Natural Sciences, the Government Guest House, and Gia Lam Locomotive Factory into the spotlight. Crowds of visitors highlighted the potential of these locations to serve as cultural and creative hubs, forming a strong foundation for cultural industries and tourism.
According to Associate Professor Dr Do Van Tru, President of the Viet Nam Association of Cultural Heritage, Viet Nam has over 10,000 provincial relics, 3,621 national relics, 130 special national relics, and around 7,000 intangible cultural heritage elements documented. Several of these have earned UNESCO recognition, including nine world cultural and natural heritage sites, 15 intangible cultural heritage elements, and 10 documentary properties.
Associate Professor Dr Do Van Tru, President of the Vietnam Association of Cultural Heritage. (Photo: Minh Thu/Vietnam+)
Viet Nam is also home to 127 public museums and 70 private museums, collectively housing over 4 million artefacts. Among these, 294 objects have been designated as National Treasures.
Associate Professor Nguyen Quoc Hung from the Viet Nam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies highlighted that heritage sites such as the Complex of Hue Monuments and Ha Long Bay made substantial contributions to local budgets, generating revenues of over 350 billion VND (13.8 million USD) and 790 billion VND (31.1 million USD), respectively, in 2023.
Hue Imperial Citadel, recognised as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1993, is one of Viet Nam's most iconic landmarks. (Photo: Quoc Viet/VNA)
Despite growing recognition of heritage’s value, experts believe heritage tourism still underperforms. Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Quoc Hung stressed that poor preservation could erode authenticity, undermining its educational and economic significance.
Professor Dr Trinh Sinh suggested learning from countries like Japan and China, which have managed to preserve cultural identity while pursuing economic growth.
A sacred ritual performed at Hang Bac Street, Hanoi’s Old Quarter. (Photo: Minh Thu/Vietnam+)
Meanwhile, Associate Professor Dr Bui Hoai Son, a standing member of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Education, proposed creating a Cultural Heritage Conservation Fund. This fund would establish legal frameworks and policies to address challenges in preserving heritage.
On November 23, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh issued Decree No. 65/SL on "the preservation of relics across Vietnam," a milestone now commemorated as Viet Nam Cultural Heritage Day.
By November 23, 2024, the National Assembly is expected to pass the revised Law on Cultural Heritage. This updated legislation will provide a modern legal framework to protect and promote Viet Nam’s heritage, ensuring sustainable development and cultural preservation./.
A series of activities themed “Culture in You - Cultural fulcrum, Artistic bridge" has been underway in several schools across Hanoi with musical exchanges involving leading artists from Australia such as Philip Quast, Ann-Maree McDonald, and Nicholas Gentile.
The World Police Band Concert - Vietnam 2025 is an important opportunity to enhance cultural and artistic exchanges and mutual understanding between Vietnam’s public security force and law enforcement agencies worldwide.
Young people are no longer seeing heritage as something distant. They are actively engaging with it, for example, photographing it, performing it, and making it part of their everyday creative expression.
Demonstrating their superior form, the Thai women’s team cruised to a straight-sets victory, winning 25–16, 25–16, and 25–21. With this result, Thailand remains unbeaten across both legs of the tournament so far.
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Accessible via //a80.hanoi.gov.vn and a mobile app, the platform serves as the official information hub for parades, cultural events, exhibitions, and public services. It offers real-time updates on schedules, traffic, security, healthcare, and live broadcasts, as well as behind-the-scenes stories and community-shared moments from across the country.
Vietnamese language is now officially taught at four high schools and is one of eight optional second foreign languages in the national university entrance exam of the RoK.
Coach Masahiko Okiyama asked his Vietnamese side to step up a gear after the break, and it took only three minutes to double their lead thanks to an individual effort from Y Za Luong, who finished crisply into the bottom corner.
More than 150 images on display highlight the National Assembly’s 80-year development and the performance of the HCM City delegation of NA deputies during the 2021–2026 term.
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The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to display up to 150 posters at Ho Chi Minh Square in Vinh for the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution on August 19 and National Day on September 2.
The competition offers a meaningful cultural and educational platform, serving not only as a creative space for Vietnamese and international children living in Hanoi but also as a forum to inspire patriotism, a love for peace, environmental awareness, and the aspiration to build a humane and sustainable world.
Taking a journey to the Cham Museum — the modest building in Phan Rang –Thap Cham, Indian writer Ankita Mahabir said that the museum might not boast size but it brims with pride for the local community, featuring carefully preserved sandstone sculptures, portraits, and rare artifacts.
For years, the Vietnamese community in many countries rarely had the chance to experience Vietnam’s traditional arts and culture actitivies organized by the Vietnam government, except the annual event “Vietnam Day Abroad” that has been organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2010. But the year 2024 marked a turning point.
In the context of international integration and globalisation, culture and art education plays a vital role in promoting the all-round development of Vietnam's young generation.
Vietnam shared the top podium with the Philippines in the medal tally with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals at the last SEA Games in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
The “Vietnam – Colours from the Tropics” Cultural Festival in Moscow, Russia, has wrapped up after drawing 968,000 local residents and visitors, surpassing expectations and surprising organisers with the vibrant interest it sparked in the Russian capital.
Numerous commemorative activities highlighting the national remarkable achievements will be held nationwide in celebration of the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945 – 2025) and National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2025).
