The event was organised by the Institute of Innovation and Digital Transformation in collaboration with the National Digital Transformation Authority, under the auspices of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Viet Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations. It offered a fresh perspective on culture, highlighting that culture is not merely a set of values to be preserved, but also a resource for developing cultural intellectual property (IP), products, brands, and new business models. When combined with digital technology, AI, and intellectual property rights, cultural resources can fuel the creative economy and enhance Viet Nam’s soft power.
In his opening remarks, Associate Professor Hoang Huu Hanh, Deputy Director of the National Digital Transformation Authority, called 2026 a pivotal moment. Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW identifies science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation as top strategic breakthroughs. The Law on Digital Transformation has been enacted, while the National Digital Transformation Strategy for 2026–2030 and the National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence have been approved.
In practice, the convergence of culture, technology, and creativity is gaining unprecedented momentum worldwide. The rapid growth of technology and digital media platforms is reshaping the cultural landscape, creating a “new ecosystem” for culture. In this context, technology serves both as a tool and an enabling environment, empowering Vietnamese culture to reach global audiences more quickly, extensively, and effectively.
According to experts, cultural IP refers to creative works developed from cultural resources, such as characters, stories, works of art, performances, symbols, and local specialities, which are associated with specific intellectual property rights and clearly identifiable owners. With technological support, these assets can be commercially exploited repeatedly across multiple sectors, from entertainment, film, and consumer goods to tourism, transforming cultural identity into revenue streams and a source of competitive advantage.
Nguyen Thi Hoang Lan, Director of the Centre for Digital Transformation in Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said that for a cultural value to become an integral part of the creative economy, it must pass through a comprehensive and continuous value chain. This begins with the communities or individuals who hold the heritage, continues through the work of creative professionals and the support of technology, and draws on businesses’ management capabilities before ultimately reaching commercialisation in the marketplace.
The ultimate goal, however is not simply to inject technology into culture, but to establish a complete creative ecosystem in which culture provides the raw material for creativity and generates new value; technology expands its reach; businesses bring products to market and help them thrive; and the State acts as an enabler, connecting the various elements and sustaining the pace of development.
At the forum, a concrete step towards linking creativity with the market was announced: the official opening of nationwide registration for the 2026 Viet Nam Blue Dragon Culture Awards, under the message “Create Vietnamese experiences, live to the rhythm of the world.”
The awards’ assessment criteria focus on four pillars: creativity, technology, experience, and impact. They are open to projects of all sizes, from major initiatives with established brands to emerging ideas with strong potential.
The award categories aim to promote heritage preservation through technology, sustainable tourism development, the commercialisation of cultural products, the application of technological solutions, and the advancement of creative education. The highest honour, Blue Dragon Impact, recognises contributions that deliver far-reaching, sustainable benefits to communities and promote Vietnamese values to the world.
Applications for the 2026 Viet Nam Blue Dragon Culture Awards will be accepted October 8–November 8, 2026. The results announcement and awards ceremony are scheduled to take place in January 2027.
