Vietnam pushes cultural industry as new engine for economic growth

Vietnam is seeking to develop a global cultural‑industry sector, citing the need for strong policy, resources and market conditions. At a cultural, sports and tourism conference, DatVietVAC founder Đinh Bá Thành argued that Vietnam can create "cultural unicorns" by leveraging original innovation and intellectual‑property ownership to turn cultural assets into exportable products and services. He noted South Korea’s transformation of K‑culture into a major economic driver as a model.

Domestically, Hanoi is launching new creative spaces such as the CADAO Collective, which blends traditional water‑puppet shows, ca trù, and folk singing with dining and interactive experiences, aiming to turn heritage into tourism and cultural‑industry revenue. In Ho Chi Minh City, the cultural industry already contributes about 5.7% of the metropolitan GRDP and employs roughly 97,000 workers across more than 17,600 firms. The city’s development plan targets a 7–8% GRDP share by 2030, focusing on advertising, fashion, film, tourism, performance arts and visual arts, while investing in night‑economy infrastructure and cultural ecosystems.