VOV.VN - As global competition increasingly extends into culture, Vietnam’s iconic Phở has emerged as a widely recognised culinary symbol worldwide, yet its influence has largely spread organically, prompting questions about how it can be strategically developed into a true cultural ambassador and soft power asset.

By removing institutional barriers, accelerating heritage digitalisation, and forging stronger links with tourism, Ho Chi Minh City is moving beyond preservation to transform traditional theatre into a competitive cultural industry, leveraging the “soft power” of culture as Vietnam deepens integration into the world.

VOV.VN - In his address on a Politburo Resolution on cultural development at a national conference in Hanoi on February 25, General Secretary To Lam articulated a clear strategic repositioning of culture not as a secondary social sector, but as the human foundation of Vietnam’s long-term development model.

Vietnam aims to rank among the top three ASEAN countries and the world’s top 30 in the Soft Power Index by 2045, while becoming an attractive destination for tourism, investment, innovation and international cultural exchange, supporting its goal of becoming a developed, high-income nation.

The 2021–2025 period marked a turning point for Vietnam’s cultural industries as film, music, cultural tourism and video games surged into a new era of scale and sophistication, delivering billions of US dollars in revenue and while projecting a more confident, compelling vision of Vietnamese soft power to the world.

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on Vietnam’s diplomatic sector to enhance the country’s international standing and actively shape its role in global affairs, highlighting the importance of soft power in reflecting Vietnam’s growing stature and capabilities.

The draft documents to be submitted to the 14th National Party Congress have attracted strong public attention and feedback, particularly the draft report on the review of theoretical and practical issues in the 40 years of Doi Moi (Renewal) toward socialism in Vietnam.

Amidst global competition and shifting international order, cultural diplomacy is increasingly seen as a strategic instrument for nations to affirm their positions and bring into play soft power.

VOV.VN - Cultural industries boast great potential and opportunities for development, and they are increasingly playing an important role in the economy, becoming a driving force for sustainable development.

The strengthening of soft power through modern communication platforms was the focus of an international workshop held in Hanoi on December 11.