The second Cultures of the World Festival in Ha Noi 2026, scheduled for October 1-4, will bring together representatives from 50 countries and international organisations, offering a diverse programme spanning arts, cinema, fashion, cuisine, technology and heritage-inspired creativity.

The Asia-Pacific Dialogue on Heritage and Authenticity will take place from September 27 to October 1 in Ha Noi and Ninh Binh, bringing together around 250 Vietnamese and regional delegates, as heard at a press conference on September 22.

A tourist train service, “Phong Nha – Hue ancient capital: World heritage journey,” was launched at Dong Hoi station on August 28, connecting major heritage, historical, cultural and natural attractions in central Viet Nam.

In the current context, cultural identity, the quality of the living environment, tourism appeal and creative capacity are increasingly becoming the decisive factors underpinning a city's competitiveness. In other words, what was once regarded as the “heritage of the past” is gradually becoming the “resource of the future”.

The committee commended Viet Nam for fulfilling the commitments it has made since the citadel was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010, as well as for implementing recommendations from the committee and its advisory bodies. 

Against the backdrop of the rapid growth of the creative economy, cultural heritage is becoming an important source of competitive advantage. The “Following Community Heritage 2026” competition is expected to serve as a launchpad for young designers to bring traditional values into contemporary life while linking them with sustainable commercialisation.

Protecting and promoting heritage values is not only about preserving them in their original state, it also requires approaches that are suitable to new contexts.

In many Party documents on building and developing the Vietnamese culture and people, the task of preserving and promoting traditional artistic values has always been identified as a consistent, long-term requirement. Cultural heritage, including traditional arts, is not only “memory” but an important internal resource that helps nurture identity and create national soft power.

November 24 is set to be officially recognised as Viet Nam Culture Day and designated a fully paid public holiday under a draft resolution aimed at boosting the country’s cultural development and widening public access to arts and heritage.

When heritage is viewed not only as a memory of the past but also as a resource for development, the key issue is no longer simply how to exploit it effectively, but how to govern it so that its original value is not eroded in the process of generating benefits. Heritage can generate revenue, attract investment, and spur tourism and services. Yet without long-term vision and scientific control mechanisms, those immediate gains may end up undermining the very foundations of its appeal.

In the new development context, as the demand for green, sustainable growth driven by internal strength becomes increasingly clear, heritage is no longer viewed simply as a “memory of the past” to be preserved in its original state. It is gradually being established as a strategic resource for both the present and the future.

The Ha Noi Tourism Festival 2026, highlighting green tourism and digital experiences wrapped up on March 15 at Thong Nhat Park after three days of activities.

Launched at the beginning of 2026, the Space for Introducing Viet Nam’s World Documentary Heritage and Outstanding National Archival Documents under the State Records and Archives Department in Ha Noi is becoming a vivid visual classroom, contributing to bringing Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture into life through concrete experiences for the younger generation.

In mid-January, Bac Ninh comes alive with the festive season. The Lim Festival in the Year of the Horse 2026 has continued to attract large numbers of local residents and visitors from across the country, while also leaving its mark through increasingly civilised and modern organisation, particularly the effective use of digital media to promote and disseminate the values of quan ho heritage.

Recently, in the heart of Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, many historic sites, traditional craft spaces, ancient houses, and cultural centres have gradually shifted from static displays to becoming spaces that tell stories of heritage. Here, craft memories, artisanal excellence, and lifestyle are re-enacted through the language of experience, creativity, and cultural economy.

An exhibition entitled “Vietnamese cultural heritage – vitality from tradition to modernity” opened on December 25 in Ho Chi Minh.

After more than a year of research and implementation, four distinctive heritage tourism tours have officially been launched in Ha Noi, linking 28 representative heritage sites through journeys that integrate experiential activities and technology.

Director and producer Van Nguyen is among the artists deeply devoted to preserving and promoting Vietnamese cultural identity. He was recently honoured as the “Director for the Mission of Preserving UNESCO Cultural Values 2025” in Tokyo (Japan). For him, the way to “reach” young audiences is to blend heritage and tradition with modern technology.

Digital transformation is creating a strong shift in the methods of preserving and spreading heritages. From the national archives to the museum and relic system, management agencies are proactively applying technology to preserve cultural and historical values ​​and bring them closer to the modern public.

An exhibition on Vietnamese cultural heritage, landscapes and traditional handicrafts 2025 will take place from November 21 to 24 at the Hai Phong City Centre for Culture, Cinema and Exhibition in celebration of Viet Nam Cultural Heritage Day (November 23).