Transforming culture into 'soft power' contributes to the successful implementation of Resolution 39 of the Politburo.

At the conference to disseminate and implement Resolution No. 39 of the Politburo on the morning of September 16th, Comrade Nguyen Van Hung - Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism - presented a paper on solutions to awaken and promote the spirit, self-reliance, aspirations for development, revolutionary traditions and culture of Nghe An province so that culture becomes a driving force and endogenous resource for the development of Nghe An province until 2030, with a vision to 2045, in accordance with the spirit of Resolution No. 39 of the Politburo.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung emphasized that one of the viewpoints in Resolution 39 of the Politburo states: "Taking people as the center, the fine traditional culture of the Vietnamese nation and Nghe An province is the spiritual foundation and endogenous resource for development…".

Nghe An is a land with a long history, a place where many cultural currents converge, intertwine, and transform, creating a distinctive, representative, and colorful Nghe An culture with the coexistence of many communities and ethnic groups, which is constantly being enriched. Many scholars have summarized the qualities of the people of Nghe An as: "Idealism in the soul, unwavering loyalty in character, austerity in lifestyle, and resilience in interaction."

It is the spirit of solidarity, self-reliance, self-improvement, proactive creativity, never relying on others, and always striving to develop the strength of the people of Nghe An. This character, resilience, and aspiration are reflected in the tradition of studiousness, producing renowned scholars. Importantly, at turning points in history, through the elements and strength of culture, the land and people of Nghe An have fulfilled their missions.

Nghe An possesses a rich and diverse system of historical relics and cultural heritage, reflecting a land with a long history and profound culture. In terms of heritage, Nghe An has approximately 550 intangible cultural heritage items of various types. Among them, the most prominent is the Nghe Tinh folk singing style (Vi and Giam), which has been inscribed by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Regarding the system of historical sites, Nghe An has more than 2,600 historical sites and scenic spots throughout the province. Of these, 2,602 have been inventoried, and as of December 2022, 467 sites and scenic spots have been classified, including 6 special national sites, 143 national sites, and 330 provincial sites.

Along with the process of development, these historical and cultural values ​​are increasingly enriched, preserved, and promoted, contributing to the formation of the distinctive Nghe An cultural region, becoming a source of internal strength and aspiration for the development of the region with a tradition of self-reliance and self-strength.

To foster the resilience, self-reliance, and aspirations for development of the land and people of Nghe An province, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung believes that more specific projects are needed for the cultural sector and for human resource development strategies.

Following the conference, the Nghe An Provincial Party Committee needs to research and direct relevant agencies to develop a scientific project to identify and promote the qualities, character, willpower, and unique values ​​of the people of Nghe An. These positive qualities must be affirmed; this also reflects the ideology that the people are the foundation and the subject of cultural development, with the people as the creative force.

To better preserve and promote the values ​​of historical sites and heritage, according to Minister Nguyen Van Hung, more attention needs to be paid to the issue of artisans. More appropriate policies are needed because artisans are the ones who breathe life into, keep the flame alive, and nurture and cultivate culture. On the other hand, more commensurate and focused investment is needed in the cultural sector. In the short term, for Nghe An to become a regional center for historical sites and culture, a regional cultural institution is necessary.

In the matter of preserving and promoting the values ​​of historical sites and heritage, it is necessary to transform these sites and heritage into valuable assets, into attractive tourist destinations linked to cultural tourism, considering this as a cultural industry. Building a cultural environment in offices, businesses, and in every rural area of ​​Nghe An will help shape the character and personality of people with humanistic and ethical values; this will better fulfill the task of cultural revitalization, making culture a soft power to contribute to the successful implementation of Resolution No. 39 of the Politburo.