80 years of Culture accompanying the country

After 80 years of construction and development (August 28, 1945 - August 28, 2025), the Cultural sector has accompanied the development of the country. Entering a new era with many tasks and requirements for innovation, creativity, and keeping up with technology for digital transformation, the Cultural sector is facing many opportunities to develop, innovate, and become a great driving force, "soft power" to develop a prosperous and happy country.

The cultural sector has accompanied the development of the nation, making the country develop and rich in identity. Photo: Viet Thanh

Culture lights the way for the nation to go

In the Outline of Vietnamese Culture (1943), our Party identified culture as a front, and cultural workers as soldiers. Under the leadership of the Party and President Ho Chi Minh, culture became a sharp weapon on the ideological front, contributing to calling and uniting the entire people to rise up to gain independence in 1945 with the August Revolution, opening a new era for the nation. On August 28, 1945, the Ministry of Information and Propaganda (the predecessor of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ) was established, marking an important milestone, opening the journey of 80 years of the cultural sector accompanying the nation.

During the two resistance wars against France and the US, culture was truly a “sharp weapon on the ideological front”, encouraging the entire people to be determined to defend the Fatherland. Right in the extremely difficult period of the resistance war against France, at the National Cultural Conference in November 1946, President Ho Chi Minh emphasized: “Culture must light the way for the nation to go”. Many resistance art movements, musical works, paintings, and poems became the belief, strength, nurturing the aspiration for national liberation. Along with culture, tourism and sports activities were also given attention and developed to improve the physical and mental health of the Vietnamese people.

Hanoi capital, where the cultural values ​​of the whole country converge and spread. Photo: Quang Thai.

After the country's reunification (1975), the cultural sector again took on the mission of healing the wounds of war, restoring the people's spiritual life, and arousing confidence in building the country. During the renovation process, many cultural movements were widely deployed, typically: All people unite to build a cultural life , Good people - good deeds , Healthy for the country movement... creating a strong spreading force, nurturing the people's spiritual life.

Looking back on the 80-year journey of developing Vietnamese culture, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that since its establishment, the Party and State have always affirmed the special position of culture. Resolution of the 5th Central Committee, Session VIII (1998) clearly stated: "Culture is the spiritual foundation of society, both the goal and the driving force for socio-economic development". Next, Resolution 33-NQ/TW (2014) affirmed the task of building and developing Vietnamese culture and people to meet the requirements of sustainable national development. The document of the 13th National Party Congress once again emphasized the requirement of "arousing the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country" on the basis of culture.

Culture is the pillar of development

With the attention of the Party and State, in 80 years, the cultural sector has made great strides: preserving and promoting the treasure of national cultural heritage; many tangible and intangible heritages have been honored by UNESCO such as Hue Royal Court Music, Ca Tru, Quan Ho Folk Songs, Mother Goddess Worship, Bai Choi Art... This is both a source of pride and a responsibility to continue to preserve and pass on to future generations.

Experience the night tour at the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam. Photo: Hoang Lan

Culture does not stop at preservation, but also goes hand in hand with socio-economic development. The fields of performing arts, cinema, fine arts, advertising, cultural tourism, etc. have gradually formed a cultural industry, contributing increasingly clearly to GDP growth, creating jobs, and spreading the image of a friendly and dynamic Vietnam to the world.

Minister Nguyen Van Hung said that in the new development period, the work of building and perfecting cultural institutions is increasingly focused on; the mindset of "doing culture" has shifted to "state management of culture", approaching the direction of development management. A special highlight is that the National Assembly has approved the National Target Program on Cultural Development for the period 2025 - 2035.

The cultural environment is increasingly being built in a deep and substantial way, where people are both creators and beneficiaries. Many new models and good practices contribute to preserving traditional culture, especially ethnic minority culture. The cultural industry is gradually becoming professional, making a great contribution to economic growth. Cultural diplomacy has shifted from "exchange and meeting" to "substantive cooperation", enhancing the country's position. Mass sports have developed strongly, high-performance sports have affirmed their prestige in the international arena. Tourism and press have become "bridges" to bring the country into deep integration; tourism has continuously grown, press and publishing play the role of a channel for knowledge and the voice of the people.

Night tour at Hoa Lo Prison Relics becomes a highlight in the development of cultural industry in the capital. Photo: HL

In Hanoi - the capital of a thousand years of culture, where the cultural quintessence of the whole country converges and spreads, cultural development is always focused on, demonstrating the leading position in cultural and human development. Standing Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong affirmed that culture is an important pillar, a new resource for economic and social development. Hanoi's culture and people are not only the foundation, but also the development goal that the city is aiming for.

Therefore, through many generations of leaders, Hanoi has always invested in the cultural sector. During the 2021 - 2025 term, the Hanoi Party Committee issued Program 06-CTr/TU (2021) on cultural development, improving the quality of human resources, building elegant and civilized Hanoians; Resolution 09-NQ/TU on developing cultural industries in the capital for the period 2021 - 2025, orientation to 2030, vision to 2045.

Recently, Hanoi City issued Resolution 24/2025/NQ-HDND on the organization and operation of the Cultural Industry Center in the city, and Resolution 25/2025/NQ-HDND on the commercial and cultural development zone with many preferential mechanisms and policies. These important decisions demonstrate the leading position of the Capital in the overall cultural development strategy of the whole country.

Looking back over 80 years, the cultural sector has demonstrated its role in “lighting the way for the nation” as Uncle Ho advised. Culture is both a solid spiritual foundation and an endogenous driving force, contributing to helping the nation overcome difficulties and affirm its mettle and position in the new era.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/80-nam-van-hoa-di-cung-dat-nuoc-714141.html