Protecting sovereignty with "soft power"

We need to take advantage of the "soft power" of culture to develop the economy, enhance the country's position, and contribute to the successful implementation of the goal of firmly protecting independence, sovereignty , unity and territorial integrity.

Many times I have asked myself and searched for the answer: If all 8 billion people in the world know about Vietnam and love the Vietnamese people, we will have "soft sovereignty" and "soft borders" with great power.

From stories at the Temple of Literature...

My story is at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam, where many parents want their children to visit once to pray for a smooth academic path. Tet comes, spring comes, this place is full of color and sacredness.

There are quite a lot of international tourists coming here to visit. Some foreign female tourists wear Ao Dai, enjoying the cultural beauty, the typical symbol of Vietnamese women. They immerse themselves in the unique culture of the beautiful and hospitable Vietnam.

Chiko, a Japanese female student, said that she looked forward to celebrating the Vietnamese New Year. By participating in Tet activities and customs such as wrapping Chung cakes, giving lucky money at the beginning of the year, and visiting the Temple of Literature, she understood more about Vietnam and hoped that the two countries would strengthen their good relationship. Coming to the first university in Vietnam, Chiko also prayed to the wise men to bless her with success like many other young Vietnamese girls.

Talking to other international tourists, they immediately said that the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam is the crystallization of the spirit of learning and progress in ancient times, now becoming a spiritual symbol to encourage many students on their path of study. This is a custom that is similar to some countries but has its own unique identity.

People lined up to pray, sincerely expressing their wishes to their ancestors. No matter what era, the studious spirit of the Vietnamese people is always something to be proud of, even for visitors from the West. John, a man who claims to love his homeland in America, only knew information about a country that was once invaded by America, but when he came here, he had a different view of the country, its people and its unique culture: "A beautiful country like this, with such lovely people, deserves peace and happiness."

What reflects the feelings of foreigners when coming to the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam? That is the cultural identity and the aspiration to rise of the Vietnamese people. It crystallizes into "soft power", expressing our national pride and self-respect.

Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam is an attractive tourist and cultural destination for domestic and foreign visitors.

... to street food

At work, I also come into contact with many international tourists. They come from many countries with different cultures but are all very interested in learning about the country, culture and people of Vietnam.

That is the wonderful feeling of many international tourists coming to Hanoi to experience the street food culture. A British tourist also expressed the view that this unique culinary culture must be preserved.

Or like the German tourist I met and chatted with in a "very Vietnamese" beer house. He said that drinking beer on the sidewalk in Hanoi is like going to a beer festival in his hometown. There is a happy, friendly and sociable atmosphere, regardless of whether it is locals or international tourists.

In the era of integration, cultural exchange is an indispensable part if we want to spread the image of a friendly and hospitable country like Vietnam. The fact that international friends appreciate the culinary culture of Vietnam also contributes to introducing the image of the country, culture and people of Vietnam to the international arena.

A Brazilian male tourist admired the delicious taste of Dak Lak coffee in Vietnam. He shared a lot about coffee in his hometown and said that he was lucky to know "another coffee paradise".

This is also true for countless products, specialties and dishes of our country. If they are better promoted and spread around the world, Vietnam's reputation will increase a lot and along with that, the revenue from tourism will return to help the economy develop more.

Culinary culture is also a "soft power" that we need to further promote.

Strengthening international cultural integration and exchange

Over the years, the Party and State have always attached importance to strengthening people-to-people diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges; promoting activities to promote the image of the country and people of Vietnam through cultural and tourism activities. Sometimes, just a smile on the lips is enough to make visitors feel respected and comfortable. That is the beauty of culture, the perfect piece in the tourism picture of our country. Over the years, the development of tourism associated with history and community culture has been exploited in depth by localities, making more and more international visitors understand and feel more deeply the cultural identity of our country.

Cultural exchange combined with economic integration has been helping us create a solid foundation to gradually build a self-reliant, self-reliant, and powerful Vietnam. Reality shows that in the process of cultural integration, famous landscapes, historical relics, cuisine, etc. play an important role in promoting economic development. We integrate but do not dissolve, but rather preserve, maintain and elevate the culture imbued with national identity.

Culture is the soul of the nation and also the "soft power" that we must further promote. As a country with a thousand years of civilization, we need to take advantage of the "soft power" of culture to develop the economy, enhance the country's position in the international arena, and contribute to the successful implementation of the goal of firmly protecting independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity.

Vietnam's "soft power" is built on historical and cultural traditions, especially the tradition of patriotism, solidarity, national pride and self-respect. The promotion of "soft power" has been and is being concretized in the Party's guidelines and policies, contributing to realizing the aspiration for a prosperous country.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/thoi-su/bao-ve-chu-quyen-bang-suc-manh-mem-20231118201249029.htm