Corporate culture drives innovation and sustainable growth

The forum was organised by Culture newspaper and the Hanoi Small and Medium Enterprises Association to mark the 22nd anniversary of Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13), ahead of Vietnam Culture Day (November 24) and the 70th anniversary of Culture newspaper. It brought together policymakers, experts, researchers and business representatives to discuss ways to integrate cultural values into business strategies and strengthen their contribution to long-term growth.

Corporate culture as a driver of sustainable growth

In his opening remarks, Dung highlighted the role of culture in promoting rapid and sustainable development for both businesses and the country. He cited a message from General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam at a recent national conference that “If the economy determines how fast we can move, culture determines how far we can go.”

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism is stepping up efforts to develop cultural industries, the sports economy and the tourism economy, Dung said, identifying three priorities to support these sectors.

The first is to strengthen the legal and institutional framework. The ministry has submitted a draft law on cultural industry development to the National Assembly. The second is the Politburo’s policy of allocating at least 2% of the state budget to culture from 2026. The third is to mobilise businesses to help address major challenges facing the cultural industries.

On October 12, the ministry launched the Cultural Industry Development Network, outlining key challenges and calling on businesses to propose practical solutions that can deliver measurable results in 2026.

Eight principles for corporate culture

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Huy Dung also outlined eight core principles for building corporate culture in the current development landscape.

According to him, businesses should uphold integrity, respect the rule of law and honour their commitments. They should focus on delivering genuine value to customers and maintain their commitment to service even after a sale has been completed and payment received.

Respect for people, talent development and capability building should form another pillar of corporate culture, alongside a commitment to innovation, continuous learning and adaptability.

As technology advances, businesses should make effective use of data and take a proactive, responsible approach to AI adoption, he said.

Leadership by example is equally important. Business leaders should keep their promises, take responsibility for their decisions and welcome constructive criticism within their organisations.

Companies should also preserve Vietnamese cultural identity while embracing the best of global culture and engaging confidently in international markets.

Finally, as businesses grow, they should look beyond commercial expansion and recognise their long-term responsibilities to the country and their communities, aligning their corporate missions with broader national aspirations.

Innovation, digital transformation and the role of people

Taking the floor, Nguyen Anh Vu, editor-in-chief of Culture newspaper, said corporate culture must be translated from intangible values into practical organisational capabilities. A company’s competitive advantage lies not only in technology, but also in how its people think, collaborate, make decisions and engage with customers, employees and partners.

He stressed that digital transformation requires cultural change alongside the adoption of AI, automation and new management platforms. A willingness to learn, share knowledge and experiment is essential to innovation, while technology can help businesses move faster, culture determines their direction and long-term development.

Vu also highlighted the importance of putting people at the centre of business development. Beyond salaries, employees value fairness, professional growth and a supportive working environment. Businesses must therefore balance discipline and efficiency with a humane workplace, shared values with respect for differences, and effective management with opportunities for employees to contribute to corporate culture.

The forum featured two main discussion sessions. The first examined corporate culture in the new era of development, including its role in digital transformation. The second focused on building corporate culture by linking organisational identity with brand value and competitiveness.

Participants discussed ways to establish core values, promote business ethics and social responsibility, strengthen leadership and place people at the centre of corporate development.

68 companies honoured for business ethics and corporate culture

VOV.VN - The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) on January 10 honoured 68 companies as “Cultural and Credible Enterprises 2025”, recognising firms that combine business performance with ethical conduct, transparency and social responsibility, amid the country’s push for more sustainable corporate growth.