Increasingly confident and global in its outlook, Viet Nam’s economy is strong, and a growing middle class is ever more interested in enjoying creative and cultural products emerging from the nation’s vibrant fashion, music, film and other industries. This burgeoning national market, coupled with Viet Nam’s large export and tourism industries, represent a powerful opportunity for cultural and creative industries.  The government of Viet Nam has recognized the urgent need to establish an effective financing mechanism and legal framework that would provide opportunities to artists, cultural operators and professionals, as well as entrepreneurs to exploit the great potentials of the culture sector.

Designed to seize its golden opportunity to become a leading creative economy in South East Asia and globally the government received support from the UNESCO European Union Expert Facility programme on the governance of culture, the result is the Viet Nam Creative Framework, a ground breaking document that answers the question of how to turn this opportunity into industry growth, jobs and sustainable development. 

Viet Nam has the creative potential to be a lead act in South East Asia. 

The drafting of the framework started with a participatory consultation in Hanoi with a wide range of government and industry stakeholders including: policy makers, administrator, managers, artists, educationalists, private enterprises, NGOs from different sub-sectors of the cultural sector, and commercial creative industries in Vietnam, as well as press and media Participatory consultations were also held with creative and cultural industry leaders based in the nation’s business hub, Ho Chi Minh City, as well as the fast-growing dynamic cities of Da Nang and Hoian.Now, it also has the support.

Viet Nam Creative Framework proposes concerted actions designed to develop a common vision and also to cement partnerships between government, industry and civil society. Key issues such as skills development for artists and cultural professionals, support to businesses and the drafting of a national strategy are also addressed.