Continuing the journey of bringing Vietnamese culture to the world

Being implemented systematically and widely with improved quality and efficiency, cultural diplomacy has achieved many new results, creating more confidence in the era of national development, first of all in 2025 with many special events of the country.

Delegates attending the conference summarizing the work in 2024 - the direction of activities in 2025 of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO. (Photo: Thanh Long)

The Cultural Diplomacy Strategy (CDI) to 2030 has identified CDI as a regular and continuous process; continuing to be creative, sensitive, and flexible in implementing activities.

The proud achievements of Vietnamese cultural institutions in 2024 clearly reflect the progress on that journey, and at the same time affirm the importance of promoting "soft power" to enhance the country's position in the international arena.

Looking back at a golden season

Over the past year, in the context of the constantly changing world situation, countries continued to consider cultural diplomacy as an important component in implementing foreign policies to serve development, enhance position and soft power; the cultural diplomacy work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was increasingly expanded, promoting a proactive and creative spirit, bringing about outstanding marks.

The good news came in May 2024 when the Department of Cultural Affairs and UNESCO was one of 10 typical groups nationwide to be honored to receive the "Glory of Vietnam 2024" award from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor . This is an honor not only for a unit of the Ministry, but also a recognition of the important contributions of the Foreign Affairs sector in general and cultural affairs in particular.

That glorious spirit seems to have fueled the cadres working in cultural affairs, contributing their efforts in building and strongly campaigning to register six more UNESCO titles, bringing the number of UNESCO titles of Vietnam to 71, leading the Southeast Asian countries.

Specifically, Vietnam has convinced the Global Geopark Network Advisory Board and its members to agree to register the Lang Son Global Geopark dossier with an absolute majority of votes; urged UNESCO to support Son La city and Ho Chi Minh city to be registered as Global Learning Cities; successfully lobbied UNESCO to register the reliefs on nine bronze cauldrons in the Hue Imperial Palace as a Documentary Heritage of the Asia-Pacific region and the Festival of the Lady of the Land on Sam Mountain as a Representative Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity...

Notably, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in coordination with Hanoi City, successfully lobbied UNESCO to support the Dossier to preserve and promote the value of the World Heritage Site of the Central Area of ​​the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, opening up the possibility of recreating the Kinh Thien Palace and the space of the Kinh Thien Palace, contributing to realizing the eternal wish of our ancestors. The success of the dossier, considered a revolution in the more than 50-year history of the World Heritage Convention, created an unprecedented precedent (being demoted in the core area of ​​the heritage) and became a typical example of cooperation between member countries and the World Heritage Center on the conservation of world heritage, working together, "turning the impossible into possible".

For the first time in history, Vietnam has successfully assumed roles in six key management mechanisms of UNESCO at the same time. In that role, Vietnam has supported 15 countries in 17 heritage dossiers, successfully organized the 8th International Conference of the Global Geoparks Network in Asia - Pacific in Cao Bang province in the context of super typhoon Yagi with the participation of nearly 1,000 delegates.

In particular, many UNESCO leaders consider Vietnam a typical model of effective cooperation with UNESCO. Visiting Vietnam on special occasions in 2024, the President of the UNESCO General Conference, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences, Assistant Director-General for External Relations or Chairman of the World Heritage Committee... all pledged to support Vietnam in preserving and promoting heritage values, and managing resources for sustainable development goals.

Over the past year, activities honoring President Ho Chi Minh abroad have achieved many outstanding results. Many projects have become highlights during visits by high-ranking leaders such as General Secretary and President To Lam inaugurating a memorial plaque for President Ho Chi Minh in Sainte-Adresse, France; Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh inaugurated a memorial plaque honoring Uncle Ho in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and attended the restoration ceremony of Uncle Ho's statue in the Dominican Republic...

In addition, Vietnam has implemented many forms of honoring President Ho Chi Minh such as rallies, exhibitions, seminars, publishing works about Uncle Ho in foreign languages; building a project for Ho Chi Minh space, Ho Chi Minh Bookcase at representative agencies...

Another highlight is the Vietnam Day Abroad program, which was first presented in Rio de Janeiro on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Vietnam-Brazil diplomatic relations and in the capital Riyadh on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Vietnam-Saudi Arabia diplomatic relations.

With the theme “Convergence of the quintessence of a thousand years - Rising in the new era”, the good impression the program left in the hearts of international friends is a vivid proof of the significance of NGVH in the tireless journey of bringing Vietnamese cultural values ​​and people to the world, contributing to deepening and sustaining the relationship between Vietnam and other countries and enhancing mutual understanding and trust.

Vietnamese delegation at the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2003 in Asuncion, Paraguay, December 2024. (Photo: Bao Chi)

Set priorities for the new year

The above positive achievements demonstrate the direct and close guidance of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, along with the leaders of the Ministry and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, towards cultural diplomacy and cooperation with UNESCO; the enthusiastic support and regular coordination of departments, branches, localities and all units in the Ministry.

Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs and UNESCO Le Thi Hong Van said that, entering 2025 - the final year of implementing the Socio-Economic Development Strategy of the 13th National Party Congress, breaking through and creating a solid foundation for the country to enter a new era, cultural affairs need to continue to be promoted, promoting creativity in implementation to affirm that culture is an endogenous strength and turning internal strength into a resource for national development.

In 2025, there are many major holidays such as the 95th anniversary of the Party's founding, the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification Day, the 135th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birthday, the 80th anniversary of the founding of Vietnam, the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the Foreign Affairs sector... Therefore, according to Ms. Le Thi Hong Van, "it is necessary to closely link cultural content with major activities, so that cultural diplomacy continues to become the task of the entire political system".

Accordingly, the Department of Cultural Affairs and UNESCO identified a number of focuses in the advisory work and policy proposals such as actively researching and participating in contributing to the development of documents for the 14th Party Congress, focusing on the content of cultural affairs, soft power, and national value system; organizing conferences such as the National Conference on Cultural Affairs, the International Conference on Experience in Building National Value System; completing the design of sample spaces at the Representative Office, especially the Ho Chi Minh space.

Along with continuing to promote its role and strengthen the Vietnam - UNESCO partnership, the Department has promoted activities to honor President Ho Chi Minh abroad; focused on promoting cultural values, images of the country and people of Vietnam through Vietnam Week/Day programs in Indonesia, Germany, New Zealand; supported localities to organize cultural programs on the occasion of even years; and promoted the development of Vietnam's cultural industry abroad.

Regarding heritage work, Vietnam continues to campaign for the dossiers of Thang Long Imperial Citadel, Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son and Kiep Bac Monuments and Landscape Complex to be approved at the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Bulgaria, scheduled for July 2025.

At the same time, the Department promotes support for ministries, sectors and localities in training, fostering and improving capacity in cultural diplomacy, linking cultural diplomacy with political diplomacy, economic diplomacy, work with overseas Vietnamese and foreign information.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/tiep-noi-hanh-trinh-dua-van-hoa-viet-ra-the-gioi-302043.html