Director of the International Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Phuong Hoa speaks at the event (Photo: thethaovanhoa.vn)
The event, jointly organised by the Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism and the British Council, gathered policymakers, experts, artists and international delegates from across Asia.
In her opening remarks, Nguyen Phuong Hoa, director of the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said globalisation, urbanisation and climate change are creating new development challenges. In this context, she argued, countries including Vietnam must rethink policymaking and recognise culture as a strategic asset.
Vietnam is accelerating a development model anchored in cultural strengths, reflected in the National Target Program on Cultural Development for 2025-2035, the cultural industries strategy toward 2030 with a vision to 2045, and an upcoming resolution on cultural revitalisation.
Hoa said the forum, themed “Sustain the future through culture and creativity”, serves as both an academic platform and a space for new ideas where countries examine how culture can support sustainable development. She voiced hope that the event will become an annual platform to strengthen Asia’s creative network and support local pilot initiatives, especially in UNESCO Creative Cities.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong, director of the Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism, said culture embodies identity, cohesion and creativity and stands as an independent pillar in global cultural-industry strategies.
This year’s discussions highlight Asia’s emergence as a “laboratory” for development models rooted in heritage, identity and innovation. Vietnam, home to four UNESCO Creative Cities (Hanoi, Hoi An, Dalat and Ho Chi Minh City), along with rising creative hubs in Lao Cai, Lai Chau, Ninh Binh and Khanh Hoa, is gradually shaping a new regional creative map.
Speakers from the United Kingdom, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea, China, Southeast Asia and Vietnam explored trends in creative urban design, cultural integration in planning, art-heritage-tourism linkages and opportunities for regional cooperation.
The forum also screened a video showcasing Vietnam’s Creative Cities and featured artistic performances, including “Fields of Heritage” and traditional puppetry. Organisers say the event aims to become a hub for knowledge exchange and collaboration, advancing culture and creativity as key resources for sustainable development across the region.
