Vietnam's Cultural Industries Need to Be Treated as a Real Economic Sector, Experts Say

Vietnam's cultural industries are calling for a fundamental shift in perspective — one that recognizes them not merely as creative expressions of national identity, but as a fully measurable, investable, and governable economic sector. Experts and policymakers are increasingly urging authorities to apply rigorous economic frameworks to culture-based industries, much like they would to manufacturing or technology.

The core argument is straightforward: cultural industry is a specialized economic sector, but that does not make it immeasurable or beyond the reach of standard investment and performance evaluation tools. From film and music to fashion, gaming, and tourism-linked heritage experiences, each sub-sector carries real revenue potential, employment capacity, and export value that can and should be quantified.

Currently, Vietnam's approach to cultural industries often prioritizes ideological and artistic considerations over economic metrics, leaving significant commercial potential untapped. Without clear data frameworks, dedicated investment channels, and performance benchmarks, the sector struggles to attract the serious capital and professional management it needs to compete regionally and globally.

Industry observers point to neighboring countries such as South Korea and China as models where cultural output has been deliberately cultivated as a strategic economic asset. Vietnam, with its rich heritage, diverse creative talent, and growing digital infrastructure, possesses comparable raw material — what it lacks is the institutional will to govern culture like a business.

Transforming this mindset will require coordinated action across government ministries, financial institutions, and creative communities alike. If Vietnam can align cultural policy with economic strategy, experts believe the country's cultural industries could become one of its most powerful engines for sustainable growth in the decades ahead.

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