Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has launched a Cultural Industries Development Network and unveiled 17 initiatives for 2026, an ambitious attempt to turn the country's heritage, cuisine and history into commercial products. For visitors, the interesting part is how many of these projects will change what there is to actually see, eat and do on the ground.
The centrepiece is a '1+1+N' cooperation model: the state provides legal frameworks and infrastructure, businesses bring capital, technology and market access, and local communities contribute knowledge and talent. Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lâm Thị Phương Thanh framed it as connecting people with ideas to those with the technology, funding and markets to bring them to life.
Several initiatives are directly travel-relevant. A Kỳ Yến project will develop night-time tourism and cultural activities ahead of Vietnam hosting APEC in 2027, suggesting after-dark festival and performance offerings in the pipeline. The Vietnam.Travel and Visit Việt Nam platforms plan to integrate tourism data and add artificial intelligence tools, which should make trip planning smoother as they roll out.
History buffs get their own slate: three game projects, Hào Khí Đông A, Cội Nguồn and Sơn Hà Di Lục, aim to bring Vietnamese history into modern gaming. Meanwhile, initiatives like Men Việt, Dáng Việt, Hương Phở and Hương Trà focus on branding and adding value to traditional cuisine, handicrafts, phở and tea culture — expect more polished food and craft experiences for travellers who come to Vietnam precisely for that.
On the digital side, there are plans for a national cultural data repository, a marketplace connecting creators with investors, a digital film studio and technology for staging performing arts. Publishing initiatives and a 'cultural industries bookcase' aim to make creative products more accessible.
The economic stakes are real: the government wants cultural industries to contribute at least 7% of GDP by 2030, backed by a proposed Law on Cultural Industries Development. Success will depend on funding, skilled people and — a recurring theme — stronger intellectual property protection.
For travellers, this is a story about trajectory rather than immediate change. If you're heading to Vietnam soon, the streets, markets and food stalls remain the draw as they always have been. But if the 2026 initiatives land as intended, visits in 2027 and beyond could coincide with night festivals tied to APEC 2027, smarter digital travel tools, and more thoughtfully packaged culinary and craft experiences. Vietnam is increasingly selling its culture as an experience, not just a backdrop — worth keeping an eye on when planning a trip.
