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On the morning of April 25, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung chaired a meeting with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to review progress on assigned tasks. The discussion focused on continuing implementation of Politburo Policy Resolution No. 80 and the National Assembly’s resolution on cultural development, as well as handling proposals and recommendations to address remaining issues in the time ahead.
In his closing remarks, the Prime Minister said the ministry manages a broad field with significant social impact, noting that the Party and State have issued many guidelines and policies and placed emphasis on implementation.
He pointed to shortcomings in the sector and asked the ministry to raise the responsibility of unit leaders, implement a monitoring, reporting and evaluation mechanism using KPIs, and promptly replace officials who do not meet duty requirements or fail to ensure quality.
The Prime Minister also urged reform of thinking and working methods, shifting from a management mindset toward service, creation, guidance and leadership to open a new development space. He called for proactive and bold proposals for breakthrough policies to enable competent authorities to implement major Party policies in a timely manner.
The Prime Minister directed restructuring and efforts to improve quality and competitiveness so that tourism can become a leading economic sector. The government aims to welcome 25 million international tourist arrivals and 150 million domestic tourist arrivals in 2026.
He linked the cultural, sports and tourism sector to double-digit growth, arguing that a significant increase in international arrivals would help boost visitor spending in areas such as aviation, hotels and cuisine without substantially harming the environment.
Given the volatility of the global and regional environment, he said Vietnam is a relatively safe destination and that this is an opportunity to attract international visitors. However, he cautioned that policies must ensure that international visitors’ spending benefits Vietnam and does not disproportionately flow to foreign partners.
The Prime Minister asked the ministry to strengthen state management and promote the role of the press and communications. He emphasized the need to protect the Party’s ideological foundation, proactively guide public opinion, and improve the quality and effectiveness of information at the local level.
The Prime Minister requested research and development of the Cultural Industries Law. He also set a focus for completion within April on drafting a Government decree to cut, decentralize and simplify administrative procedures and business conditions within the ministry’s scope, and to urgently complete plans to reduce industries and professions with conditional investment and business activities, with consolidation to be submitted to the Ministry of Finance.
He further required completion and issuance of key documents and proposals, including:
Three decrees detailing implementation of the Party’s cultural development policy.
A decree amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree 72/2015 on managing external information activities.
In Q2, a decree regulating copyright in cinema, fine arts, photography, performing arts, journalism and publishing.
A decree on the regime of professional allowances, training and performance allowances.
A decree amending and supplementing certain provisions of Decree 119/2020 on penalties for administrative violations in journalism and publishing.
The Prime Minister also directed the preparation of dossiers for amendments to the Law on Physical Education, Tourism, Cinema, Library, Cultural Heritage and the Cultural Industries Law. He requested amendments to the Strategy for Vietnam’s culture development to 2030 and the plan for the “Vietnam Culture Day” for 2026–2030.
Other tasks highlighted included reviewing and proposing amendments to the Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, and developing a Vietnam cultural diplomacy strategy to 2030 with a vision to 2045. The Prime Minister also requested issuing a Government guideline on a code of conduct for culture in the digital environment.
Regarding additional priorities, the Prime Minister asked the ministry to continue streamlining and simplifying the organizational apparatus and stabilizing the operation of the entire Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Minister Le Thanh Thanh reported on the meeting. The Prime Minister directed urgent drafting of decrees detailing certain provisions of the National Assembly’s resolution on developing Vietnamese culture and the Government’s resolution on developing Vietnamese cultural industries, and to study and draft the Cultural Industries Law for submission to competent authorities.
Agreeing in principle to consider adding cultural industry indicators to the national statistical indicators list, the Prime Minister asked ministries, agencies, localities and enterprises to implement solutions for growth scenarios in tourism and cultural industries for 2026 and 2026–2030.
The Prime Minister assigned Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra to monitor and directly instruct the ministry on tasks related to culture, sports and tourism, press and communications, ensuring quality and progress.
He concluded that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism must be more determined, proactive and decisive, with closer supervision and more effective task fulfillment. He emphasized promoting culture as the “spiritual foundation,” “internal resource,” and “soft power” to drive growth. He reiterated that tourism must become a leading economic sector, while sport should contribute to national stature, fitness and public health.
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