To make culture a driving force for tourist take

After the adoption of Political Bureau Resolution 80 on January 7, 2026 regarding the development of Vietnamese culture, Hanoi is striving to implement its guidelines to make culture a true pillar of sustainable development.

– Traditional arts adapting to the modern world – Cultural development as a driver of sustainable growth in Ho Chi Minh City – Digital transformation and strategic autonomy of cultural industries in Vietnam

(Photo: Tuyet Mai/VNA/CVN)

The capital has an immense cultural heritage with 6,489 historical sites, 1,793 elements of intangible heritage, six UNESCO-listed heritages, 351 national treasures, and over 1,350 craft villages. Despite these assets, the economic valorization of heritage remains limited. Tourist products linked to culture still lack strong identity and attractiveness. Major sites like the Perfume Pagoda or the Thay Pagoda are mainly exploited during festival seasons. Heritage spaces in the city center, such as the Old Quarter or West Lake, still lack immersive activities and integrated tourist products.

According to several experts, these limitations stem from the absence of distinctive cultural product strategies, weak connections between conservation and exploitation, and insufficient use of digital technologies and social resources.

“Putting the resolution into practice”

By 2030, Hanoi has set several goals: 95% of local cultural facilities operational, general access for students to artistic and heritage education, complete digitization of national sites, and a 9% contribution of cultural industries to the GRDP. The city especially focuses on digital transformation as a top priority: developing shared cultural databases, digital exhibitions, virtual tours, and intelligent guidance applications in sites like the Temple of Literature, Hoa Lo Prison, or Thang Long Imperial Citadel. 3D, VR/AR, and GIS technologies will also be applied to heritage tourism.

Concurrently, Hanoi is developing a cultural and creative ecosystem where companies play a driving role and residents are at the center. Traditional arts like chèo (popular theater), cải lương (renovated theater), or water puppetry are being restored and linked to cultural tourism.

“Assets but also challenges”

As a member of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network, Hanoi welcomed over 30 million visitors in 2025 and more than 12 million in the first four months of 2026.

Nighttime economy, gastronomy, and creative spaces are becoming markers of urban identity. However, several obstacles remain: lack of connection with ground realities, delays in applying technologies and digital transition, common databases, and criteria for evaluating digital culture.

Cultural activities still struggle to create original products with high added value, and some cultural divides, particularly on social networks, persist. Cultural infrastructures and spaces are unevenly distributed, and the capital lacks iconic large-scale works. Resource use and support for artistic development remain limited. Efforts to promote an elegant and civilized image of Hanoi have not yet yielded expected results.

“Elevating tourism through culture”

Models combining tourism, culture, and crafts have already been experimented in Bat Trang, Son Tay, Soc Son, or Ba Vi, gradually shifting tourism towards immersive experiences. However, their scope is still limited.

Tourism professionals call for modernizing the organization and promotion of destinations, renovating cultural products, restoring historical sites, and strengthening digital communication.

Through the implementation of Resolution 80, Hanoi aims to gradually transform its cultural heritage into a real driver of economic, tourist, and creative development for the capital.

(VNA/CVN)