Ho Chi Minh City Literature and Arts: 50 years shining with the young city

From the spirit of the 1943 Vietnamese Cultural Outline - the first cultural platform of the Communist Party of Vietnam, literature and arts (VHNT) in Ho Chi Minh City have continuously grown, affirming their pioneering role on the cultural front.

Half a century after the country's reunification, this creative flow not only reflects the vibrant energy of a young, dynamic city but also nurtures aspirations for further development, contributing to making Ho Chi Minh City a center of creative cultural industries, spreading Vietnamese identity and stature in the era of national progress.

A special art program titled "Under the Glorious Light" celebrates the success of the First Congress of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, term 2025-2030. Photo: DUNG PHUONG

"The season of flowers after the fiery red"

After the reunification of the country, Ho Chi Minh City entered a period of reconstruction with the vibrant spirit of a young city that had just emerged from war. Along with its local artists and writers, the city welcomed a large influx of creative talent returning from the North and the war zones, creating an unprecedentedly rich and energetic creative force. Hundreds of works of music , literature, fine arts, theater, dance, and architecture were created, painting a vivid picture of a time of "hundreds of flowers blooming." In this context, arts and culture not only reflected the realities of life but also inspired ideals, nurtured character, and fostered a spirit of dedication in the younger generation. Many works from this period became a source of inspiration, igniting patriotism, the will to overcome difficulties, and the aspiration to build a new life.

Prominent during this period were musical works associated with the emergence of the Youth Volunteer Force, creating a fervent atmosphere on construction sites, farms, and the southwestern border region.

Dr. Vu Thi Mai Oanh (former Head of the Department of Political Theory - Ho Chi Minh City Academy of Cadres) analyzed: “Through the image of revolutionary arts and culture, many new spiritual values ​​were awakened: the model of a person rich in ideals, character, ambition, and a spirit of dedication. Artists and writers immersed themselves in the new life, creating like soldiers on the cultural front, contributing to the cultivation of character and ideals for the younger generation. In the post-war years, along with the youth volunteer movement and labor emulation, arts and culture contributed to honoring human values ​​and building the model of the new Vietnamese person.”

Entering the period of reform, Ho Chi Minh City's culture and arts sector continues to play its role in reflecting life, educating about the values ​​of truth, goodness, and beauty, promoting patriotic traditions and self-reliance, and contributing to building an advanced culture rich in national identity – a solid spiritual foundation for social development. With a system comprising 7 training schools, 1 center, 1 research institute, and many specialized departments in the social sciences and humanities, Ho Chi Minh City quickly became a large-scale center for training cultural and artistic human resources, providing high-quality human resources for the Southern region.

The dynamic arts and culture market, with its large population and significant market share, creates a strong attraction, drawing artists and investors from all over to establish their careers here. By 2022, Ho Chi Minh City had nearly 6,000 artists and writers who were members of 9 specialized associations, operating in many fields of creation, performance, research, and theory-criticism. This group is constantly growing, contributing to the formation of a rich and diverse creative environment with a wide range of artistic genres and trends.

Unleash the flow of creativity.

In the context of rapidly developing science, technology, and the digital economy, Ho Chi Minh City's arts and culture sector faces the need for strong innovation, aiming to become a national cultural industry center with regional and international competitiveness. Creative human resources are both a source of pride and a pioneering force in writing new artistic values ​​worthy of the times.

Associate Professor Tran Luan Kim, a member of the Ho Chi Minh City Council for Theoretical Studies of Culture and Arts, shared: “After implementing Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW of the Politburo, the face of cultural and artistic activities in the city has undergone many positive changes, taking on a new, more vibrant and effective appearance. From the inner city to the wards and communes, many difficulties have been gradually overcome; creative work has flourished, and the promotion of works has expanded, better meeting the spiritual needs of the people.” Associate Professor Tran Luan Kim further analyzed that the orientation for innovation has been perfected with a focus on the comprehensive development of culture and arts: promoting traditional values, encouraging the creation of new values, and strengthening international exchange and integration. The city pays attention to training a team of artists and writers, those directly involved in creation and specialized management; at the same time, expanding the scope of creativity, promoting the freedom of individual creation, and increasing targeted investment in cultural projects.

Alongside its creative workforce, the city's cultural industry is also taking its first steps. Film is a key sector, contributing to the completion of its application to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Currently, Ho Chi Minh City holds the central position in the national film industry, accounting for approximately 40% of the film market share (Hanoi ranks second with 30%), with dozens of dynamic film studios and private production facilities, creating jobs for thousands of workers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, stated: “The city currently has approximately 17,670 businesses operating in the cultural sector, accounting for 7.74% of the total number of businesses in the area. The production value of cultural industries has continuously increased over the years. Ho Chi Minh City aims to have the contribution of the cultural industry to the city's economic growth reach over 7% by 2030. An important factor, besides brand-building events, is that the city serves as both a space and a market attracting cultural and artistic activities. With its position as a major center in many aspects and one of the leading localities in the country in terms of creativity and cultural industries in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City has been developing many new cultural creation models within the urban area, opening up many trends and opportunities to promote the city's identity.”

To unleash the flow of creativity and to make culture a true intrinsic force, the city has identified the synchronized investment in cultural institutions and the development of high-quality human resources as two key tasks. A series of large-scale projects are underway, such as: the Ho Chi Minh City Symphony Orchestra and Opera House (over 1,700 seats) in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area; the Phu Tho Circus and Multi-Purpose Performance Hall (Phu Tho Ward) covering 10,000 ^m² with a total investment of 1,395 billion VND; the Ho Chi Minh City General Science Library being upgraded to a digital library with approximately 6 million digitized documents; and the Ho Chi Minh City Children's Palace under construction in the Thu Thiem New Urban Area with an investment of over 1,124 billion VND… These will be typical cultural and architectural projects, contributing to creating a unique identity for Ho Chi Minh City in the era of integration.

Fifty years after the reunification of the country, Ho Chi Minh City's arts and culture sector continues to affirm its pioneering position in the flow of national culture. From the "seasons of flowers after the red flames" to monumental cultural projects, from pioneering artists to a dynamic young creative generation, Ho Chi Minh City is continuing its journey of creating a "creative city" - where culture becomes an intrinsic, sustainable, and pervasive force.

Ms. Pham Phuong Thao, former Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, former Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Council:

The artist-soldier: A beautiful symbol of the Ho Chi Minh era.

The arts and culture of Ho Chi Minh City have upheld the aspiration for independence and national reunification, becoming a patriotic call, a rallying cry to "take to the road," "rise up and go," "voluntarily," a voice of morality, an awakening of conscience, a protection of national culture, and a pursuit of truth, goodness, and beauty. In the struggle for national liberation, arts and culture activities in the city were considered a front; outstanding works of art and culture were sharp weapons that encouraged the fighting spirit and aroused patriotism. The revolutionary ideals and profound humanistic values ​​of these works contributed to gathering forces and creating the strength of national unity. The city's artists and writers come from many sources, are dedicated and talented individuals deeply connected to the city, and most were trained in revolutionary practice. Some took to the streets, took up arms, and sacrificed their lives to create timeless works that portray the image of the artist-soldier of the Ho Chi Minh era.

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Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/van-hoc-nghe-thuat-tphcm-50-nam-toa-sang-cung-thanh-pho-tre-post818648.html