The Politburo’s issuance of Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on the development of Vietnamese culture on January 7, 2026, marks a new milestone in the Party's thinking on the position and role of culture in the new era.
For the first time, culture has been placed within a broader development framework, recognising the development of culture and people as the foundation, a vital endogenous resource, a powerful driving force, a key pillar, and a regulatory mechanism for the country's rapid and sustainable development.
To meet new development requirements, foreign affairs must place greater emphasis on leveraging culture. Cultural diplomacy must become a strategic instrument for generating soft power, strengthening Viet Nam's capacity for international integration, enhancing the country's global standing, and enabling Vietnamese values to play a more important role in international economic and political life.
As the world enters the twenty-first century, competition among nations no longer rests solely on the size of their economies, military capabilities, or scientific and technological prowess. In an increasingly interconnected and multi-platform world, a country's image, the appeal of its cultural heritage, and its ability to participate in the global flow of knowledge and creativity have become enduring sources of influence.
In this context, culture increasingly serves as a strategic resource that helps shape perceptions, build trust, expand opportunities for cooperation, and create sustainable competitive advantages for nations on the international stage.
Resolution No.80 affirms that during the process of leading the Vietnamese revolution, the Communist Party of Viet Nam has consistently prioritised the development of Vietnamese culture and people, while preserving and promoting the nation's traditional cultural values and selectively embracing the quintessence of world cultures. It also notes that Viet Nam's international cultural integration continues to expand, driving the country's growing capacity, international standing, reputation, and soft power.
Eighty years ago, at the First National Cultural Conference on November 24, 1946, President Ho Chi Minh declared: "Culture lights the way for the nation." This vision demonstrated that, from a very early stage, the State viewed culture as the guiding force for the nation's spirit, cultivate human character, strengthen national solidarity, and build the resilience needed to overcome challenges. Over time, the Party has institutionalised this principle through the Party's documents and resolutions.
Delegates attend the First National Cultural Conference in November 1946. (File photo).
Delegates attend the First National Cultural Conference in November 1946. (File photo).
Resolution No. 03-NQ/TW dated July 16, 1998, at the fifth Plenary Session of the eighth Party Central Committee on Building and Developing an advanced Vietnamese Culture rich in National Identity, defined culture as the spiritual foundation of society, serving both as a goal and a driving force for socio-economic development. The Resolution demanded the diversification and multilateralisation of international cultural relations, and the establishment of coordinated mechanisms and centralised direction for agencies and organisations engaged in cultural and information-related external affairs.
The Party further reinforced and expanded this thinking in Resolution No.33-NQ/TW, adopted on June 9, 2014 at the ninth Plenary Session of the eleventh Party Central Committee on Building and Developing Vietnamese Culture and People to meet the requirements of the country's sustainable development. The Resolution emphasised the need to proactively enhance international cultural integration, selectively absorb the quintessence of human civilisation, develop mechanisms and policies for cultural diplomacy, and support the international promotion of Vietnamese arts and the export of Vietnamese cultural products.
President Ho Chi Minh views a cast of the decorative motifs on the surface of a Dong Son bronze drum at the Viet Nam History Museum (now the Viet Nam National Museum of History) on February 13, 1961. (File photo).
President Ho Chi Minh views a cast of the decorative motifs on the surface of a Dong Son bronze drum at the Viet Nam History Museum (now the Viet Nam National Museum of History) on February 13, 1961. (File photo).
The documents of the 14th National Party Congress further underscore the imperative to proactively strengthen international cooperation while promoting Viet Nam's national image, cultural values, and people to the world, enhancing the effectiveness of cultural, defence, and security diplomacy.
Regarding state governance, the Strategy for Cultural Diplomacy until 2020, promulgated under Prime Minister's Decision No.208/QD-TTg of February 14, 2011, identifies cultural diplomacy, together with economic diplomacy and political diplomacy, as the three pillars of Viet Nam's comprehensive and modern diplomacy.
These three pillars are interconnected and mutually influential, collectively driving the implementation of the Party's and the State's foreign policy. In particular, political diplomacy provides strategic direction, economic diplomacy serves as the material foundation, while cultural diplomacy constitutes the spiritual foundation of the country's external relations.
Ten years later, the Strategy for Cultural Diplomacy until 2030, promulgated under Prime Minister's Decision No.2013/QD-TTg dated November 30, 2021, translated this vision into a more practical framework. It emphasises the pioneering role of foreign affairs in creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, mobilising external resources for national development, enhancing the country's international standing and reputation, promoting comprehensive human development, and building an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity. The overarching objective is for culture to become a genuine endogenous strength and a driving force for national development and the safeguarding of the Fatherland.
Resolution No.80 was issued building upon inherited values and a qualitative leap in strategic thinking. Previously, culture was defined as the spiritual foundation, goal, and driving force of national development. However, today, culture directly influences national competitiveness, soft power, cultural industry, creative marketplace, digital cultural sovereignty, and the country’s standing within an evolving international order.
The Resolution mandates the implementation of a close coordination mechanism among communication, cultural diplomacy, and the export of cultural industry products and services; develop national branding for Vietnamese cultural and creative products and services; and boost the export of globally competitive cultural products and services, including film, music, fine arts, cultural tourism, design, fashion, traditional handicrafts, video games, cuisine, and digital software and content. The Vietnamese national brand, goods, and products that embody distinctive cultural values, such as sustainability, quality, environmental responsibility, and humanism, must be actively built and shaped. The value of cultural heritage recognised and inscribed by UNESCO needs to be enhanced to promote the image of Viet Nam and its people, thereby contributing to strengthening the country's overall national power.
This marks a significant conceptual breakthrough. Culture is no longer merely preserved, promoted, and showcased. Instead, it must be systematically organised into a national brand, governed through modern institutions, and harnessed to generate international influence. Warmly welcoming the vision reflected in Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW, UNESCO Representative to Viet Nam Jonathan Wallace Baker said that at a time when many countries are rethinking the place of culture in development, Viet Nam has made a clear and timely statement: culture is a pillar of sustainable development, and a source of social cohesion, creativity and national identity.
Joseph S. Nye Jr., Professor of International Relations at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government and the scholar who laid the theoretical foundations of "soft power" in modern international relations, argued that a country's attractiveness through its culture, political values, and foreign policy can generate influence comparable to that derived from military or economic strengths that are often described as "hard powers".
In the digital age, this proposition is undeniable. A film released on a global streaming platform can attract hundreds of millions of viewers; a song can spark trends that transcend national borders; a signature culinary symbol can inspire new waves of tourism; and an international festival can reshape the way the world perceives a city, a region, or an entire nation.
For Viet Nam, cultural diplomacy rests on particularly strong foundations: a long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence, respect for justice, and humanistic values; resilience forged through thousands of years of national construction and defence; and a value system characterised by patriotism, community spirit, a will for independence, adaptability, and an enduring aspiration for progress. From "Nam Quoc Son Ha" (The Mountains and Rivers of the Southern Country) and "Binh Ngo Dai Cao" (The Great Proclamation upon the Pacification of the Wu) to President Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic thought in the modern era, Vietnamese culture has consistently embodied a distinctive identity — gracious yet never weak, open yet never assimilated, humane yet steadfast in safeguarding the nation's fundamental interests.
Professor Dr Ahn Kyong Hwan, Distinguished Professor at Chosun University (the Republic of Korea) poses for a photo at a memorial site dedicated to great poet Nguyen Du. (Photo: Professor Dr Ahn Kyong Hwan)
Professor Dr Ahn Kyong Hwan, Distinguished Professor at Chosun University (the Republic of Korea) poses for a photo at a memorial site dedicated to great poet Nguyen Du. (Photo: Professor Dr Ahn Kyong Hwan)
Having developed a profound understanding of the Vietnamese language and translated many of Viet Nam's literary classics into Korean, including President Ho Chi Minh's poetry collection “Nhat ky trong tu” (Prison Diary), Nguyen Du's “Truyen Kieu” (The Tale of Kieu), Nguyen Trai's “Binh Ngo Dai Cao”, and Tran Hung Dao's Hịch tướng sĩ (Proclamation to the Officers and Soldiers), Professor Dr Ahn Kyong Hwan, Distinguished Professor at Chosun University (the Republic of Korea), shared: “Through these works, I have learned a great deal about Vietnamese literature and history, and I have been deeply moved. Vietnamese culture is truly distinctive. While it has embraced and interacted with cultures from around the world, it has always preserved its unique identity."
Resolution No. 80 transforms these core values into an action strategy with clearly defined objectives, implementation mechanisms, and measurable outcomes. It stipulates that building and developing culture must truly become a solid foundation, an endogenous source of national strength, and a regulatory mechanism for the country's rapid and sustainable development, with a view to achieving the milestones marking the centenary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and the centenary of the nation. The Resolution also affirms the stature and standing of Vietnamese culture as befitting a developed socialist-oriented country with a rich and long-standing culture and civilisation, making meaningful contributions to the progress of human civilisation.
The concept of a "regulatory mechanism" is one of the Resolution's most significant innovations. It dictates that culture must actively shape the country's development trajectory, maintaining a balance between economic growth and humanistic values, between market forces and ethical standards, between international integration and national identity, and between technological advancement and social responsibility. From UNESCO’s perspective, Resolution 80 affirms culture strengthens social cohesion and resilience, while helping societies navigate change without losing their sense of direction – a model of development that is both self-sustaining and globally integrated, according to the UNESCO Representative to Viet Nam.
General Secretary To Lam delivers a keynote address at the National Conference on researching, studying, disseminating, and implementing Resolutions No. 79 and No. 80 on February 25. (Photo: NDO)
General Secretary To Lam delivers a keynote address at the National Conference on researching, studying, disseminating, and implementing Resolutions No. 79 and No. 80 on February 25. (Photo: NDO)
A performance at the Viet Nam Day in China.
A performance at the Viet Nam Day in China.
In the field of cultural diplomacy, initiatives to introduce Viet Nam to the world must therefore be grounded in a coherent system of values, reinforcing the country's image as a nation that is peaceful, culturally rich, humane, responsible, innovative, and trustworthy. Among the eight groups of tasks and solutions set out in Resolution No.80 is the task of "proactively and actively advancing international cultural integration; promoting the values of Vietnamese culture while selectively absorbing the finest achievements of world cultures; and contributing to the enhancement of the nation's soft power."
As Ambassador of Belarus to Viet Nam Uladzimir Baravikou said, Viet Nam can enhance its cultural diplomacy by integrating cultural dissemination with national development strategies, tourism promotion, and economic diplomacy, creating a unified and coordinated cultural diplomacy system.
Resolution No.80 has shaped a new development mindset.
=> First, beyond promoting the country's image, it underscores the imperative to actively build a strong national brand. Promotion may attract temporary attention, but a national brand requires consistency, depth, and lasting recognition.
=> Second, it demands a shift from mere cultural exchanges to active competition through cultural attractiveness. In an increasingly interconnected world, every country seeks to tell its own story. Those that can present authentic narratives, demonstrate distinctive characteristics, and effectively expand their influence will enjoy a competitive advantage.
=> Third, it champions a transition from stand-alone cultural activities to a comprehensive cultural diplomacy ecosystem. Within this framework, the State creates enabling institutions; businesses develop cultural products; artists, writers, and creative communities enrich cultural content; the media and digital platforms broaden outreach; and every citizen, including overseas Vietnamese, can become a cultural ambassador.
"The Resolution also links culture with international integration. This is very relevant as Viet Nam is increasingly contributing to international dialogue and multilateralism. Its active role in UNESCO mechanisms, its growing number of UNESCO-recognised sites and practices, and its initiative to promote a Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development all show a country that is becoming more confident in global cultural dialogue.”"
One of the most significant breakthroughs of Resolution No.80 is the transformation of culture from an unquantifiable field into a core component of the national development strategy with clearly defined objectives.
By 2030, the Resolution mandates that the cultural industries contribute 7% of GDP. It also targets the development of five to ten national brands in promising cultural industry sectors such as film, performing arts, cultural tourism, design, and fashion; the establishment of five internationally recognised arts festivals and cultural events in fields including cinema, music, and fine arts; the creation of one to three additional Viet Nam Cultural Centres overseas, with priority given to countries that are Comprehensive Strategic Partners; and the inscription of five more Vietnamese cultural heritages on UNESCO's lists.
The Resolution positions the cultural industries and creative economy as genuine pillars of sustainable development, contributing 9% of GDP by 2045. By then, Viet Nam aims to host 10 internationally recognised arts festivals and cultural events, secure the inscription of an additional eight to ten UNESCO-recognised cultural heritage elements, and rank among the top three ASEAN countries and the top 30 globally in both the Global Soft Power Index and exports of cultural industry products.
These targets are particularly significant because, once cultural industries are expected to contribute directly to GDP and strengthen the national brand, cultural diplomacy can no longer coast on ceremonial activities or play a mere supporting role. Instead, it must be closely linked to market demand, audience engagement, competitiveness, intellectual property protection, international communication strategies, and the ability to generate added economic value.
In recent years, Viet Nam's cultural diplomacy has achieved significant strides. In 2025 alone, the country deepened its engagement with UNESCO mechanisms, was elected Vice-President of the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference and received high praise from UNESCO for its initiative on the International Decade of Culture for Sustainable Development. These achievements demonstrate that Viet Nam is increasingly helping to shape the global cultural agenda, moving beyond participation to become a source of initiatives.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van delivers a speech at the Plenary Session of the 43rd UNESCO General Assembly.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van delivers a speech at the Plenary Session of the 43rd UNESCO General Assembly.
At the beginning of 2026, Politburo member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung gave an interview to the press outlining the key achievements of Viet Nam's foreign affairs and international integration.
Regarding cultural diplomacy, the Minister highlighted its systematic and effective implementation. Viet Nam successfully hosted the United Nations Day of Vesak celebrations, and secured recognition for seven additional UNESCO titles, bringing the country's total number of UNESCO-recognised designations to 77. External communications had become increasingly proactive, contributing to not only promoting Viet Nam's image but also safeguarding the Party's ideological foundation and the country's national interests in an increasingly complex global information environment.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung. (Photo: baoquocte.vn)
Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung. (Photo: baoquocte.vn)
"External communication work has become increasingly proactive, contributing to not only promoting Viet Nam's image but also safeguarding the Party's ideological foundation and the country's national interests in an increasingly complex global information environment."
Viet Nam possesses significant advantages: an international image as a country that is dynamic, innovative, and deeply integrated into the global community while remaining firmly rooted in its cultural identity; a rich and diverse culture encompassing both tangible and intangible heritages, and a vibrant contemporary cultural life; a large overseas Vietnamese community with enduring ties to the homeland; a diverse cuisine; and growing strengths in traditional arts and crafts, cultural tourism, design, fashion, and digital content industries. However, these advantages will only translate into national strength when harnessed by a coherent and well-coordinated strategy.
According to Director of the Japan Foundation in Ha Noi Yoshioka Norihiko, the implementation of Resolution No. 80 could create important opportunities for Vietnamese culture to be seen, experienced, and assessed through the eyes of the world. International audiences, critics, artists, and cultural institutions can offer different interpretations of Vietnamese cultural expressions and provide serious and constructive criticism. The interaction between these external perspectives and the discussions and practices of Vietnamese cultural professionals can become a powerful source of creativity and renewal.
Addressing the National Conference on the research, study, dissemination, and implementation of Resolution No.79-NQ/TW on the Development of the State Economic Sector and Resolution No.80-NQ/TW on the Development of Vietnamese Culture, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam emphasised: “A strong culture is measured not only by the depth of its traditions, but also by its capacity for creativity and its ability to produce high-quality cultural products with broad appeal and strong market competitiveness."
Resolution No. 80 forges vital connections between previously fragmented resources. In this context, cultural diplomacy enjoys a distinct comparative advantage, serving as a vital linkage among multiple sectors and helping to mobilise the nation's soft power in support of Viet Nam's breakthrough development in the new era.
"A strong culture is measured not only by the depth of its traditions, but also by its capacity for creativity and its ability to produce high-quality cultural products with broad appeal and strong market competitiveness."
Published: July 2026
Content: Hong Hanh, Phong Diep, Kim Linh
Photo: Minh Duy, NDO, baoquocte.vn, file photo, VNA