Vietnam adds another public holiday on Nov 24 for Culture Day
Vietnam will officially mark Nov. 24 as “Vietnam Culture Day,” a paid public holiday, under a Politburo resolution outlining a cultural development roadmap through 2030 and a long-term vision to 2045.
Resolution 80, signed by Party General Secretary To Lam, affirms culture and people as the foundation and driving force of Vietnam’s rapid and sustainable development. The Politburo describes investment in culture as an investment in the nation’s future, positioning cultural strength alongside economic growth and national security.
The addition will allow civil servants and workers in Vietnam to have a total of 26 days off for public holidays and the Lunar New Year in 2026, a figure that combines 12 official public holidays with 14 weekends and rescheduled days.
Under the resolution, Vietnam aims to build an advanced culture deeply rooted in national identity, unified in diversity, and shaped by democratic, humanistic, scientific and modern values. Cultural development is to span families, schools, society and the digital space, with literature and arts expected to match the country’s historical depth and growing global stature.
By 2030, authorities plan to complete the restoration of specially ranked national relics, safeguard endangered intangible heritage and traditional arts, and fully digitize all nationally recognized cultural heritage by 2026.
Cultural industries are targeted to contribute 7% of GDP, with 5-10 national brands emerging in fields such as film, performing arts, cultural tourism, design and fashion.
The resolution also calls for building creative industry clusters and internationally scaled cultural and creative complexes based on high technology and innovative business models, while making Vietnam a regional and global destination for major cultural and artistic events. At least five internationally branded art festivals are expected to be established, alongside one to three new Vietnam cultural centers overseas and five additional UNESCO-recognized heritage listings.
Education plays a central role in the plan, with all students in the national education system expected to regularly participate in arts activities and cultural heritage education. The state will allocate at least 2% of total annual budget spending to culture, with funding set to rise as needed.
By 2045, the Politburo envisions a socialist-oriented Vietnamese culture in which people are both the center and the driving force of development, and cultural values permeate all areas of social life. Cultural industries and the creative economy are expected to become pillars of sustainable growth, contributing around 9% of GDP.
The long-term goals include ranking among the top 3 countries in ASEAN and top 30 globally in national soft power, hosting 10 internationally scaled art festivals, and adding up to 10 more UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage listings.
To support this vision, the resolution calls for improved policies and fair incentives for artisans and artists, encouraging participation in major international competitions and exhibitions. Cultural governance is to shift toward a more enabling and service-oriented approach, with stronger use of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.
By Vu Tuan – VnExpress.net – January 12, 2026