This event not only makes Ho Chi Minh City the fourth member of Vietnam in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) but also the first UCCN Cinema City of both Vietnam and Southeast Asia, opening a big door for the city named after Uncle Ho to affirm its position as the cultural and creative center of the region on the world cinema map.
Joining UCCN is a worthy recognition of the continuous efforts and great potential of the Ho Chi Minh City film industry. With 935 film enterprises and more than 100 film producers operating regularly, the city's film industry has generated an impressive revenue of 500 million USD, contributing 0.43% to GRDP and accounting for 40% of Vietnam's film screening market share.
The city has a strong cinema infrastructure with 10 cinema systems, 52 cinema complexes, 295 screening rooms and 184 professional creative spaces, along with diverse community cultural spaces. These numbers have created a vivid and attractive picture, demonstrating the city's commitment to putting culture at the heart of development.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay stressed: "UNESCO Creative Cities demonstrate that culture and creative industries can be concrete drivers of development. By welcoming 58 new cities, we are strengthening a network of creative places that support local initiatives, attract investment and promote social cohesion."
Ho Chi Minh City being honored after nearly 8 months of submitting the application, along with 57 other cities on World Cities Day 2025, shows international appreciation for the city's commitment to promoting innovation for sustainable urban development.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City commented that joining the UCCN network is of key significance. She shared: "Joining the UCCN network helps Ho Chi Minh City promote the development of the film industry, expand international cooperation, attract investment and train high-quality human resources." This comment has clearly oriented the role of the new title, not only as a source of pride but also as a lever for action.
Becoming a "City of Cinema", Ho Chi Minh City has set a big goal of becoming a place to connect Vietnamese cinema with international cinema, contributing responsibly to the common development of regional cinema. This title is a driving force for the city to effectively implement professional and modern cinema development projects, enhance training and exchange of high-quality experts.
In particular, the city strives to turn the Ho Chi Minh City International Film Festival (HIFF) into an annual, internationally recognized film event, affirming the prestige of Vietnamese cinema. This commitment is also demonstrated through cooperation with the French Embassy in Vietnam to develop the publication "Filming Guidebook in Ho Chi Minh City", to promote the development of cinema in association with the cultural industry strategy.
Under the spirit of "integration - innovation - sustainable development", Ho Chi Minh City, through the film industry, will realize the strategic vision of developing the cultural industry by 2030, aiming to contribute 7.2% to GRDP, creating more new jobs and livelihoods for urban residents. The city government is committed to promoting innovation, taking green growth and good quality of life as the basic goals towards 2030.
Along with becoming a member of the UNESCO Global Learning Cities Network (2024), becoming a Cinema City is a strong step forward for Ho Chi Minh City to build a creative, friendly, and unique urban area, aiming towards a "Livable, civilized, modern, and humane city", where culture and creativity nurture an increasingly healthy and harmonious spiritual and social life with the international community.
According to VNASource: https://baohaiphong.vn/thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-la-thanh-pho-sang-tao-trong-linh-vuc-dien-anh-525279.html
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