Unlocking the potential for cultural industry development

As a land rich in cultural resources, poetic natural landscapes and artistic creative resources, Lam Dong has great potential to strongly develop the cultural industry. Thereby, the province can both preserve cultural values, enhance local status, and contribute to creating a driving force for sustainable development.

Lam Dong has the largest natural area in the country, a population of more than 3.8 million people, including 49 ethnic groups, ethnic minorities account for more than 18.6%. This land converges three ecological regions, including plateau, midland and coastal areas; the "forest-sea", "plateau-plain" levels create a rich and diverse ecosystem. Along with rich resources and lyrical natural landscapes, Lam Dong possesses many cultural heritages, creative art spaces, with Da Lat joining the UNESCO network of creative cities in the field of music ..., opening up opportunities for strong development of the cultural industry.

Director of Lam Dong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Loc informed that the province currently has 144 relics, including three special national relics, 59 national relics, 82 provincial relics; along with a system of cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO, such as the Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space, Nguyen Dynasty Woodblocks, Lang Biang World Biosphere Reserve, Cham Pottery Village, Da Lat Creative Music City; 10 national intangible cultural heritages and three national treasures; along with craft villages, traditional festivals, unique customs and practices of 49 ethnic groups creating rich and diverse cultural values and tourism resources. Among them, there are typical festivals such as Nho Lir bong (new rice celebration) festival, Nho Dong festival of the Co Ho people; Kate festival of Cham people, Cau Ngu festival of coastal residents... In particular, Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark has international scientific value, attracting the attention of many researchers and domestic and international tourists. Due to the diversity and richness of nature and archaeology, this geopark is known as "the land of melodies".

In recent times, the locality has focused on investing in facilities and infrastructure at heritage sites to facilitate visitors' visits and experiences. Along with that, Da Lat was listed in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of music, becoming a center of inspiration for artists, attracting many creative projects and cultural and artistic events that have made a big splash internationally. After the province's merger, to ensure the continuous implementation of commitments when joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lam Dong proposed that the Provincial People's Committee transfer the tasks of implementing the UNESCO Creative City of Music to the department.

Currently, the land of thousands of flowers, Da Lat has more than 40 music spaces, creative spaces with many famous domestic and international artists and singers performing, becoming a "meeting place" for many tourists when coming to the dreamy land. To maintain the title of creative music city in the period 2025-2027, Lam Dong continues to implement its commitments with UNESCO and one of the large-scale events that will take place in December 2025 is the Southeast Asian gong harmony program. Chief Representative of UNESCO Office in Vietnam Jonathan Wallace Baker said that this is an opportunity, responsibility and commitment to promote creativity, strengthen cultural industries and help music become a driving force for sustainable urban development.

Many experts assess that Lam Dong has a lot of potential and advantages to become an economy with a developed cultural industry in the fields of music, cinema, fashion, performing arts, cultural tourism, etc. However, the creative industry based on culture needs to be connected by advanced technology and strongly supported by preferential policies and development policies, only then can it bring to the land of "great forests and blue seas" great commercial efficiency and competitiveness in the region, aiming at the world.

"If we know how to promote the advantages of natural conditions, natural resources, culture, history, especially the diverse culture from the cultural foundation of the Central Highlands, Cham and Vietnamese ethnic groups..., Lam Dong can affirm its position in tourism and cultural industry, becoming a beautiful and humane destination, a health "charging station" for tourists."
Professor, Dr. Mai Trong Nhuan
Former Director of Hanoi National University

Despite its great potential, the starting point for building a cultural industry in Lam Dong is not high. It is easy to see that there is a shortage of quality human resources, limited infrastructure, lack of leading experts and professional art training facilities... Along with that, many folk festivals have not really become attractive tourism products; traditional craft villages are at risk of fading away and the title of Da Lat City of Creative Music is in an "unfinished" situation after the administrative unit arrangement; there are no practical policies for units and businesses in the field of creative arts... Professor, Dr. Eric Jose Olmedo Panal, Director of International Institute, University of Economics and Finance, Ho Chi Minh City, said that Lam Dong has a diverse culture with traditional cultural heritages of ethnic groups. These are valuable assets to form good tourism products and build a cultural industry. In the integration period, the cultural industry is not only an economic sector, but also the “soft power” of a land and a country. For Lam Dong, if it receives appropriate investment, the cultural industry will become a key economic sector, contributing to affirming the local brand on the global cultural map.

Article and photos: MAI VAN BAO

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/khai-mo-tiem-nang-phat-trien-cong-nghiep-van-hoa-402616.html