Q: On the occasion of the International Day of Happiness, March 20, could you please tell us about the key focus areas in the nationwide communication efforts regarding family and happiness this year?
Deputy Director Nghiem Ha Hai: On the International Day of Happiness, we have determined that communication efforts regarding family and happiness need to continue to be implemented systematically, comprehensively, and in depth, closely adhering to the Party’s guidelines on building national values, cultural values, family values, and the standards of Vietnamese people in the new era. Based on that, the Department of Grassroots Culture, Family and Library Affairs advises the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to focus on several key areas. First and foremost is unifying the theme, message, and content direction of nationwide communication, linked to the Vietnamese family values of prosperity, progress, happiness, and civilisation.
Furthermore, it is necessary to promote innovation in communication methods towards a modern, people-centred approach, enhance the application of digital technology, and develop multi-platform communication products that are easily accessible, shareable, and suitable for each target group. At the same time, emphasis should be placed on in-depth communication, equipping family members with practical knowledge and skills, such as interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, child rearing, and elderly care.
In addition, we also request that localities adhere closely to the general direction, proactively develop plans and organise implementation in accordance with actual conditions, ensuring uniformity while still promoting flexibility and creativity. Through this, we aim to raise awareness and change behaviour to build happy Vietnamese families sustainably.
Q: In the context of localities implementing diverse activities in response, what mechanisms does the Department of Grassroots Culture, Family and Library Affairs have to guide, coordinate, and ensure uniformity so that messages are disseminated synchronously but in accordance with the specific characteristics of each region?
A: To ensure uniformity in implementation nationwide, the Department of Grassroots Culture, Family and Library Affairs has advised the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to issue guiding documents with key themes, messages, content, and a general framework of activities, serving as a basis for localities to organise synchronised implementation. At the same time, the Department has developed and provided sample communication products and guidance materials to support localities in implementing the programme smoothly and in the right direction.
In addition, we have strengthened monitoring, supervision, professional exchange, and experience sharing among localities, promptly addressing difficulties during implementation. Based on the general guidelines, the Department also requested localities to proactively develop plans and flexibly choose communication methods suitable to the cultural and social characteristics of each region, ensuring both consistency in messaging and the promotion of creativity and practical effectiveness, creating a nationwide but not rigid dissemination, adapting to each locality, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of communication about family and happiness.
In the current context, the structure and function of the family are changing, but family values are still highly valued.
Deputy Director Nghiem Ha Hai
Q: In the context of changes in the structure and values of the family today, in your opinion, why is the family still considered the “nucleus” of social happiness, and what is the biggest challenge in preserving and promoting the values of the Vietnamese family?
A: It can be seen that, although the structure and function of the family have changed in the current context, family values are still highly valued. The family is identified as the primary environment for shaping personality, educating morality and lifestyle, and maintaining the bond between generations, not only in the present but also in the past and future. The relationship between the nation and the home – the family and society – has been closely intertwined since ancient times. Family happiness is directly related to the stability and happiness of society, because the nucleus of society is the family.
Currently, we are also facing many challenges, especially the multifaceted impact of the market economy, rapid urbanisation, and the digital environment, which are changing the way we interact, the norms of behaviour, and the roles of family members, as well as the lifestyles and practices of these values.
Furthermore, while many families prioritise equipping their members with knowledge, they pay less attention to life skills education, especially skills for building and maintaining family happiness. This has led to an increase in divorce, separation, and domestic violence. This necessitates a more in-depth approach to communication, aiming to raise awareness and change behaviour, while simultaneously equipping family members with the skills and values necessary to build happy families.
Q: How is the “A happy family is the foundation of a happy nation” message being concretised to truly translate into real life, avoiding mere formality in current programmes and policies?
A: The message is not just limited to communication; we are concretising it through tasks and solutions directly linked to family life. First, the Department of Grassroots Culture, Family and Library Affairs has advised the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to continue improving mechanisms and policies on family affairs, especially effectively implementing legal regulations on preventing and combating domestic violence and building a safe and healthy family environment.
The current communication is shifting from “talking a lot” to “doing concrete things,” from communication to accompanying and changing behaviour, thereby gradually instilling the values of a happy family and spreading them sustainably throughout society.
Deputy Director Nghiem Ha Hai
Along with that, communication efforts are oriented towards practicality and relevance to each family member, such as interpersonal skills, conflict resolution, child rearing, healthcare for family members, and elderly care… thereby helping family members immediately apply these skills in handling specific situations in their daily lives.
Another important solution is to integrate the content of building happy families into models and movements at the grassroots level, linking it to community life, promoting the role of the government, organisations, and people; at the same time, requiring localities to strengthen inspection and evaluation, using tangible effectiveness as a measure, and promptly adjusting any superficial approaches.
It can be said that the current communication is shifting from “talking a lot” to “doing concrete things,” from communication to accompanying and changing behaviour, thereby gradually instilling the values of a happy family and spreading them sustainably throughout society.
Q: Could you please give us some assessment of the effectiveness of communication about family, and about International Day of Happiness on March 20, over the past period, as well as the criteria and tools currently being used to measure the actual impact of this issue?
A: In fact, over the past period, communication about family in general and the International Day of Happiness in particular has seen many positive changes. Messages about building prosperous, progressive, and happy families, and preventing and combating domestic violence, are increasingly being disseminated widely in the community and integrated into daily life. Awareness among all levels, sectors, and the people has gradually improved; many effective models and practices at the grassroots level have been developed and replicated.
However, effectiveness remains uneven across localities; some areas are still heavily focused on formality and have not created a clear impact on behaviour. Therefore, in the coming period, we will continue to direct the innovation of communication methods, strengthen the application of digital technology, and enhance interaction with the people, targeting specific groups.
A new development is the shift in approach to evaluating communication effectiveness towards a more substantive perspective, moving from measuring the extent of dissemination to assessing changes in awareness, attitudes, and behaviour. Along with this, the application of digital technology in data collection, analysis, and public feedback surveys is also being promoted, providing a basis for timely and appropriate adjustments to policies and communication activities.
Q: The message “Happiness will shine in a family free from violence” requires linking communication with action. What specific solutions do you have to improve the effectiveness of domestic violence prevention and control in the future? To ensure that the messages of International Day of Happiness don't just remain at the peak of activity, what approach do you think is needed to maintain them as a foundation for a series of activities leading up to the 25th anniversary of Vietnamese Family Day (June 28, 2001–June 28, 2026) sustainably and to reach young people, a crucial factor in spreading the message to all social strata?
A: Regarding the message “Happiness will shine in a family free from violence,” we have determined that it needs to be implemented with systematic and synchronised solutions, focusing on prevention; This includes continuously improving mechanisms, policies, and implementation guidelines, while simultaneously promoting communication and education on family-related behavioural skills.
Furthermore, it involves strengthening communication linked to education on family-related behavioural skills, raising legal awareness, and consolidating support, intervention, and protection services at the grassroots level. These solutions are implemented with a focus on early prevention, timely intervention, and effective support, ensuring tangible results.
We aim to place young people at the centre and as the creators of communication content, promoting communication on digital platforms and social media with short, visual, and easily shareable materials. Simultaneously, we will enhance interactive activities and family value education in schools, youth organisations, and associations. This will not only raise awareness but also create a natural and widespread dissemination throughout society, contributing to bringing messages about truly happy families into life.
Deputy Director Nghiem Ha Hai
To ensure that the messages of International Day of Happiness are not limited to a single point in time, we are orienting our implementation towards interconnectedness, continuity, and development, linking them to the regular tasks of family work and activities leading up to the 25th anniversary of Vietnamese Family Day. Accordingly, communication content will be maintained throughout the year, integrated into programmes and movements at the grassroots level, while replicating effective models to create sustainable dissemination.
Especially in the current context, reaching young people is very important. Therefore, we are orienting ourselves to place young people at the centre and as the subjects creating communication content, promoting communication on digital platforms and social media with short, visual, and easily shareable products; Simultaneously, we will strengthen interactive activities and family value education in schools, youth organisations, and associations, thereby not only raising awareness but also creating a natural and widespread dissemination throughout society, contributing to bringing messages about truly happy families into life.
Thank you very much!
