Hanoi (VNA) – Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW of the Politburo represents a significant milestone in the Communist Party of Vietnam's thinking on the role of culture and people in national development. It requires a transition from policy advocacy to concrete action through institutions, legal frameworks, and resource mobilisation, experts said at a national scientific conference in Hanoi on April 15.
The conference, titled "Developing Vietnamese culture in the new era: Theory and practice from Politburo Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW," brought together researchers, policymakers, artists, and business representatives to discuss ways to translate the resolution's vision into practical outcomes.
Associate Professor and Dr. Dinh Cong Tuan, Vice Rector of Hanoi University of Culture and head of the conference's organising committee, said the resolution provides a new strategic vision by placing culture at the centre of the country's development strategy rather than treating it as a supporting sector.
He noted that culture is recognised as linked with economic growth, technological innovation, education, tourism, diplomacy, and social governance, making it a key source of sustainable development.
According to Tuan, the current priority is not simply to reaffirm the importance of culture in theory but to institutionalise the resolution's major principles through effective legislation, policies, governance models, and investment mechanisms capable of producing tangible results.
Sharing a similar view, Associate Professor and Dr. Bui Hoai Son, Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Education, pointed out that cultural development has long faced a paradox, with investment often being among the first areas to suffer budget cuts during periods of financial constraint.
He said funding for culture remains limited and fragmented, making Resolution 80 a turning point that requires a shift from encouraging cultural appreciation to building a comprehensive legal framework that guarantees sustainable investment and development.
Rather than relying solely on calls to preserve culture, policymakers should establish practical mechanisms that determine how cultural activities are financed, protected, and promoted through legal and institutional instruments, he said.
Son identified five critical bottlenecks that need to be addressed to unlock the sector's potential. These include mobilising private investment, providing flexible planning and land-use policies for creative spaces, introducing tax and financial incentives to foster a healthy cultural market, expanding public-private partnership models for cultural institutions, and improving policies to attract and retain talented professionals.
He stressed that investing in the nation’s cultural talent should be regarded as a long-term investment in the vitality and competitiveness rather than simply a welfare policy.
Professor and Dr. Nguyen Van Kim of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under Vietnam National University, Hanoi, argued that cultural heritage should not be preserved in isolation but integrated into modern economic and social ecosystems to generate sustainable value.
He cited Trang An Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh province and Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province as examples of heritage sites that have created substantial economic benefits while enhancing Vietnam's international image. He added that the country expects cultural industries to contribute around 7% of GDP by 2030.
Kim said that heritage serves as a shared cultural language connecting Vietnam with the international community, which helps strengthen cooperation and enhance the country's soft power.
Participants at the conference highlighted the growing role of media in promoting cultural development. Associate Professor and Dr. Do Chi Nghia, a member of the National Assembly's Committee for Culture and Education, said Resolution 80 views communication not merely as a tool for information dissemination but as an integral component of cultural development itself.
In the digital era, he said, media platforms and social networks play a decisive role in bringing cultural values, artistic works, and heritage closer to the public while creating new cultural values through interaction and innovation.
Nghia also cited cooperation between the Cong Hien (Devotion) Awards, organised by the Vietnam News Agency's The Thao & Van Hoa newspaper, and the Music Awards Japan as an example of cultural diplomacy that promotes artistic exchange and creates opportunities for regional cooperation.
Closing the conference, Associate Professor and Dr. Le Hai Binh, Permanent Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, expressed hope that culture would be placed on an equal footing with economics and politics. This would enable every Vietnamese citizen not only to take pride in the nation's heritage but also to enjoy a richer and more humane cultural life in the new era./.
