Comprehensive review and determination to build and perfect the institutional framework for culture.
Throughout thousands of years of history, we have built a unique, distinctive, diverse, and rich Vietnamese culture that embodies the character and soul of the nation. This is the "passport," the "identity card," that allows Vietnam to confidently integrate with the world. In the new era of comprehensive integration and development, to realize the policies and guidelines on cultural development in the spirit of the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, as well as the directives of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 2021 National Cultural Conference, over the past half-term, the entire Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) has focused on building and perfecting institutional policies, creating a relatively complete legal framework, contributing to removing bottlenecks and unlocking resources, creating a breakthrough so that culture truly becomes one of the pillars, "an intrinsic strength, a driving force for national development and defense."
Assessing the current state of institutional development, policies, and resources for cultural development in the years leading up to the 13th National Congress, many experts affirmed that: Institutional development, policy promulgation, and resource allocation for cultural development still face numerous shortcomings, difficulties, and obstacles. Cultural institutions, policies, and laws are slow to innovate and have not kept pace with development requirements; some regulations are inadequate, overlapping, inconsistent, and ineffective. Some areas lack comprehensive legal documents. The implementation of laws remains weak, but not strong enough. The institutional framework for autonomy of public service units in the cultural sector is slow to be perfected. The restructuring and reform of public service units in the cultural sector are still rigid and inappropriate. Policies for preserving and promoting traditional cultural values have not encompassed all the heritage and cultural values of the nation. Policies for the cultural industry have been slow to be enacted, and the market for cultural products and services remains fragmented. The policy mechanisms for building culture within the economy , and the economy within culture, as well as the mobilization and management of cultural resources, are not specific enough and do not offer effective incentives to attract social resources for cultural development; the mentality of relying on the state budget has not been overcome…
At the 2021 National Cultural Conference, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong pointed out that one of the main causes of limitations, shortcomings, inadequacies, and weaknesses in the cultural field is "the institutionalization and implementation of the Party's cultural guidelines are still lacking in synchronicity, decisiveness, and effectiveness." The General Secretary requested that "the slow institutionalization of the Party's guidelines, viewpoints, and policies into laws and specific, feasible policies on cultural development and human development be promptly addressed," and that "resources from the State and society, both domestically and internationally, be maximized for cultural development."
Based on practical requirements, building and perfecting institutions and policies to remove "bottlenecks" and unlock resources for cultural development is a top priority and urgent task. This is not only to affirm the position and redefine the role and function of the Culture, Sports and Tourism sector, but also to create new vitality and momentum for the cause of building and revitalizing culture in particular and national development in general.
The Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party has identified: the comprehensive development of human beings; the building of an advanced culture imbued with national identity; and the development of culture to truly become an intrinsic strength and driving force for national development and defense. One of the strategic breakthroughs in the coming period is to perfect institutions and policies, awaken the aspiration for a prosperous and happy nation, and promote the cultural values, the strength of the Vietnamese people, and the spirit of solidarity and national pride in the cause of national construction and defense.
Recognizing the importance and urgency of building and perfecting institutions and policies in the cultural sector, from the beginning of his term, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, along with the entire sector, promptly redefined functions and tasks, and promptly reformed thinking and approaches, shifting from "doing cultural work to state management of culture." The entire sector also identified the theme for 2021 – the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress – as "The Year of Building Institutions and Policies." To create new momentum and a high level of political determination for the entire sector to organize implementation and achieve remarkable results in this field, a comprehensive review across all sectors and units under the Ministry was launched and implemented. All long-standing shortcomings in each sector and unit were raised in conferences and working sessions chaired by the Ministry's leadership. The inherent bottlenecks hindering cultural development have been dissected and analyzed to find solutions… And, one of the key solutions to remove these bottlenecks and unlock resources for cultural development, as affirmed by Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, lies in institutional and policy issues. Therefore, concretizing the Party's guidelines, policies, and principles; focusing on building and perfecting institutions, and proactively reviewing and advising the Party, State, National Assembly, and Government to issue policies and legal documents to better perform the task of state management is a top priority for the entire cultural sector in the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party.
This can be considered a strategic and astute move by the head of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The shift in mindset from simply creating culture to managing culture through legal means has created breakthroughs and powerful impetus for cultural development. Despite the lingering effects of COVID-19, all three areas under the Ministry's purview have left significant marks, events, and statistics demonstrating positive changes compared to 2020.
Sharing his views on this matter, Central Committee member and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung stated: Improving institutions and policies, and unlocking resources for cultural development are crucial solutions contributing to the revitalization and development of culture. This concretizes and realizes the goal of cultural revitalization and development in accordance with the Party's guidelines and policies, as emphasized by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at the 2021 National Conference on Culture. In 2021, the Ministry coordinated with relevant departments and agencies to advise the Politburo and the Secretariat on successfully organizing the National Cultural Conference to implement the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress; and reported to the Government to submit to the National Assembly the draft Law on Cinematography (amended) and the Law on Intellectual Property (copyright and related rights). The Ministry has finalized the draft proposal for the Law on Prevention and Control of Domestic Violence (amended)... In addition, the Ministry has proactively coordinated with several central ministries and agencies to sign programs for the next five years, including significant programs such as: the coordinated action program with the Central Propaganda Department, with the Committee for Ethnic Minorities, and with the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor...
Also in 2021, the entire sector made efforts to overcome difficulties, transforming operations in accordance with the policy of safe adaptation, effective epidemic prevention and control, and socio-economic recovery and development. Specifically, the Ministry focused on directing art units to implement new and unprecedented approaches such as online theaters, television theaters, and live streaming programs showcasing the images of artists going into the heart of the epidemic, bringing songs and performances to serve the people and frontline forces. This activity created a "spiritual vaccine" effect to encourage and motivate people to overcome difficulties. Through this, the beautiful traditional cultural values of the entire nation continued to be strongly promoted, and solidarity, closeness, love, and sharing were spread, creating the soft power of culture.
Culture can only be truly effective when investment in culture is prioritized through appropriate strategies, programs, and roadmaps. This is the driving force and foundation for the entire sector to focus on implementing, building, and perfecting the cultural policy framework to create the best operating environment for culture. From this, the "door" to institutional and policy breakthroughs for cultural development has opened wide, promoting appropriate attention and investment in culture.
Efforts to innovate and create a "boost" for cultural development.
Immediately after identifying the key tasks, the entire Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism took action with high determination. Besides reviewing "bottlenecks" to improve the institutional framework, the Ministry advised and coordinated the organization of major cultural events to propose solutions to overcome difficulties and create conditions for cultural development, such as: the 2021 National Cultural Conference, the series of events commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Outline on Vietnamese Culture, the Workshop on National Values, Cultural Values, Family Values and the Norms of Vietnamese People in the New Era…
In particular, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has submitted to the Government for approval the Cultural Strategy until 2030 with specific goals, targets and 11 groups of tasks and solutions for implementation. The Ministry has also issued the Action Program for Tourism Development for the period 2021-2025, and advised on the issuance of the Sports and Physical Education Development Strategy until 2030, with a vision to 2050…. From the beginning of the 2021-2025 term to the present, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has developed and submitted to competent authorities for promulgation and approval: 2 draft laws, coordinated the submission of 1 draft law; 9 Government Decrees; 10 Decisions, 2 Directives of the Prime Minister; and issued 40 Circulars within its authority.
Notably, in 2021, the draft Law on Cinematography (amended) was submitted to the National Assembly for consideration and comments for the first time. This is a significant draft law that will help develop the country's cultural industry in the coming period with a new perspective on both artistic and economic aspects.
With the motto of "not sugarcoating" but also "not downplaying" the reality and the spirit of "looking back to move forward," in 2021, Minister Nguyen Van Hung and the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also chaired many conferences, seminars, and working sessions to consult with experts in the field of tourism in order to gain a correct and comprehensive perspective to advise the Government on issuing mechanisms and policies to support the tourism industry's recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thanks to this, immediately after the Government issued Resolution 128 on safe, flexible adaptation and effective control of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the Government's permission, in November 2021, the tourism industry boldly piloted welcoming international tourists with "vaccine passports," creating conditions for tourism to recover strongly after the pandemic.
In particular, with the active advice of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in December 2022, the Government issued a Resolution agreeing on the necessity and purpose of drafting the Law on Cultural Heritage (amended) to fully institutionalize the Party's guidelines and policies on protecting and promoting the value of cultural heritage; create a complete legal basis and a synchronized and unified legal system; promote the assignment, decentralization and socialization of the work of protecting and promoting the value of cultural heritage; harmoniously resolve the relationship between cultural heritage preservation and development, between issues related to cultural rights and human rights for the goal of sustainable development….
During a working session with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in March 2023, National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue acknowledged and highly appreciated the work of institutional building. The National Assembly Chairman affirmed: "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has made many efforts, innovating its approach and management thinking, implementing tasks with a proactive, serious, decisive, and flexible spirit, especially shifting its mindset from cultural work to state management of culture, focusing on the work of lawmaking."
Looking back at the first half of the term, thanks to unwavering determination and efforts in improving institutions and policies, culture has been revitalized. Despite being severely impacted by COVID-19, the cultural landscape has never been as vibrant, profound, and rich as in recent years. The legal framework for cultural, sports, and tourism activities has been comprehensively reviewed and gradually perfected. Investment resources for culture have gradually received more attention, focusing on nurturing cultural values. Cultural and artistic projects and programs serving political objectives and the needs of the people have been systematically implemented with a clear focus and diverse forms. The preservation, restoration, and promotion of cultural heritage values have received attention. External information and cultural diplomacy have been effectively strengthened, making a significant contribution to promoting the image of Vietnam and its people to the world…
For culture to truly be the spiritual foundation of society, a goal and driving force for sustainable development and the firm protection of the Fatherland, as set forth in the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Party, the building and perfecting of cultural institutions and policies must be prioritized. However, for cultural institutions to be implemented synchronously and promptly, meeting the requirements of cultural development in the current period, there is certainly much work to be done. Among these, perhaps the most important is to promote the spirit of unity and creativity, "Decisive action - Aspiration for contribution," of the collective leadership of the entire Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Only then can we have a basis to believe in and expect the resurgence and breakthrough results from the cultural revitalization, building "soft power"—internal strength—to develop a prosperous and happy country.
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