CULTURE MATTERS: Local artisans in traditional costumes perform at an event in Hà Nội. Việt Nam Culture Day will honour the nation's culture and heritage values. — Photo baovanhoa.vn

HÀ NỘI — Numerous cultural activities will be held nationwide to celebrate Việt Nam Culture Day on November 24 for the first time, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In its recent Decision 1558/QD-BVHTTDL, the ministry promulgated a plan for the special cultural event this year, following the Prime Minister's Decision 1111/QD-TTg on celebrating the day from 2026 through 2030.

The inaugural Việt Nam Culture Day will take place nationwide, with several diverse celebration programmes aiming to honour the country's traditional culture. It will also boost patriotism, national pride, civic responsibility and the aspiration to contribute to the country's prosperity and happiness in the new era, according to the plan.

Việt Nam Culture Day is also aimed at creating an annual milestone to celebrate the country worldwide, helping promote the nation's image and enhance the position and soft power of Vietnamese culture on the international stage. 

The ministry will coordinate with other ministries, agencies, local authorities and media organisations to develop a unified communications system for the event.

It will also step up the use of digital platforms and social media, while leveraging the influence of respected individuals to promote the nation's history, cultural identity, family values and standards for Vietnamese people in the new era.

One of the plan's key tasks is to strengthen communications and the promotion of cultural products.

This year the culture ministry will develop a visual identity for Việt Nam Culture Day, including slogans, emblems and messages, along with a communication campaign themed 'Journey to Experience Vietnamese Culture 2026'. 

The campaign will invite the participation of influencers, content creators, cultural experts and journalists from across the country and around the world in Việt Nam Culture Day, to promote Vietnamese culture online.

A multi-platform communication campaign will also be carried out in November before, during and after the event. Media agencies will focus on publishing special articles and creating special columns and pages promoting the event. 

Documentaries and digital graphics about Vietnamese culture will also be broadcast or published at the same time, with an increase in airtime for news reflecting activities honouring the nation's traditional cultural heritage.

Large-scale art exhibitions will be included in the series of events, with art exhibition spaces encouraged to make use of modern lighting projection technologies, such as 3D mapping, virtual reality technology and multi-dimensional spatial installations. These will help increase interaction, provide new visual experiences and attract a large audience, especially among the younger generation.

National Cultural Conference

The 2026 National Cultural Conference is a major event that will be held during the Việt Nam Culture Day celebrations in Hà Nội this November.

A nationwide scientific and political forum, the conference will clarify theoretical issues and practical experiences on cultural development, and propose breakthrough solutions to improve institutions and enhance the role of culture in national development.

Conference participants will discuss obstacles in policies and the legal system for State management in the cultural sector; propose solutions to remove bottlenecks and create momentum for development; and promote the cultural industry and digital transformation in the cultural sector.

They will also talk about ways to preserve and promote heritage values, build a healthy cultural environment and meet the requirements of national development in the new era.

Within the conference framework, a ceremony is planned to honour and reward collectives, individuals, artisans and cultural entrepreneurs for their outstanding contributions to cultural development. 

Art performances 

A performing ârts week will also be held in October and November, featuring programmes in drama, puppetry, circus, traditional opera, folk opera, reformed opera, music and dance, conveying messages about history, patriotic traditions and the beauty of Vietnamese culture.

Performances and artistic exchanges in public spaces will be held to highlight unique cultural values ​​and awaken national pride in the community.

Activities showcasing cultural heritage and special exhibitions at museums and historical sites nationwide will also be held in November, including demonstrations of intangible cultural heritage practices.

Cultural festivals, exhibitions, conferences, forums and exchanges are also included in the Việt Nam Culture Day plan, which proposes waiving or reducing fees for museums and historical sites for the occasion.

The plan also features a festival showcasing traditional costumes from Central Highlands ethnic groups, a film week celebrating the eighth Hà Nội International Film Festival, and a book fair and exhibition of cultural publications.

The film week will screen outstanding Vietnamese movies, documentaries and animated films with profound messages about history, patriotic traditions and Vietnamese society.  — VNS