AGP Executive Report

Ethnic Affairs: Vietnam is drafting a new policy to address barriers that have slowed development in ethnic minority and mountainous communities, after reviewing 23 years of implementation. Youth and Work: Officials say about 1.6 million young people are not employed, in education or training, as AI and automation reshape the job market. Vietnam Abroad: Vietnam Days in France will run October 24–30, with a theatre week marking 50 years of Vietnam–UNESCO relations. Living Heritage: UNESCO has honoured 41 practitioners who keep Vietnam’s Mother Goddess worship tradition alive. Books and Technology: AI is reshaping Vietnam’s literary landscape, while five Hanoi students are teaching AI to read an ancient Thai script. Food and Travel: Saigontourist Group’s culinary festival has been named the world’s best for 2026, celebrating regional dishes and traditions. Russia’s new visa waiver for Vietnamese ordinary-passport holders also took effect October 15.

Culture and Communities: Prime Minister Le Minh Hung launched a 2026–35 programme linking cultural development with rural progress, poverty reduction and support for ethnic-minority and mountainous communities. Digital Heritage: Museums are turning to 3D models and virtual tours, but staffing and public access remain challenges. Ho Chi Minh City’s Southern Women’s Museum has digitised 1,113 artefacts, with only 113 currently available to visitors. Archaeology and Tourism: Ninh Binh has opened Hang Boi Cave in the Trang An Landscape Complex, where guided visits introduce evidence of human life dating back more than 12,000 years. Higher Education: At Hanoi University of Science and Technology’s 70th anniversary, To Lam urged the institution to become a leading research university and contribute to the country’s scientific and industrial development.

Food & Lifestyle: Vietnam’s dining scene is growing more confident, with chefs pairing local ingredients and contemporary techniques as diners seek stories behind their meals. More than half of surveyed establishments reported a rise in dinner guests. Living Heritage: In Da Nang’s Ca Dong community, elder Ho Van Giac and his wife keep traditional rattan weaving alive, teaching a craft fewer villagers now know. Historic Landmarks: Hai Phong’s Van Khe church, completed in 1916, showcases Asian craftsmanship and Catholic faith, with ironwood pillars hauled from distant forests. Mountain Life: On the Dong Van Plateau, high-altitude reservoirs are vital water stores for communities facing long dry seasons, as tourism and population growth increase demand. Creative Industries: Vietnam has launched a cultural industries network with 17 initiatives, while Hanoi is bringing ancient heritage to life through contemporary arts.

Traditional Medicine: Vietnam has approved a strategy to integrate traditional care more fully into its health system by 2030, while expanding research, medicinal-materials production and health tourism. Creative Industries: A new national cultural industries network has unveiled 17 initiatives to support the sector. Mekong Faiths: Scholars at a Vietnam-Germany seminar explored how the Mekong helped shape homegrown religions in southern Vietnam. Living Heritage: Hanoi is bringing ancient heritage into contemporary arts, while Khuoi My’s golden rice terraces are drawing visitors to Tuyen Quang. On the Road: Two friends from Thanh Hoa are documenting landscapes, crafts and daily life on a 306-day motorbike journey across Vietnam, staying with local residents and joining in their routines.

Living Heritage: Five Hanoi students are developing AI software to read Vietnam’s ancient Thai script, aiming to bring manuscripts and a threatened writing tradition into everyday use. Hanoi is also turning heritage into contemporary arts, while Khuoi My’s golden rice terraces are drawing attention to the country’s mountain landscapes. Education: Vietnam has nearly 22,000 foreign students, but the ministry lacks a clear breakdown of their degree levels and study types. At some high-revenue universities, annual tuition exceeds US$10,000, with fees varying widely by program. Cultural Exchange: Hanoi hosts World Italian Language Week from October 15 to 24, with events linking language to design, fashion, food and education.

Vietnamese Cinema: “Sister Sister 3,” a women-led period film inspired by the Chèo heroine Thị Mầu, has secured international distribution, bringing a traditional theatrical character to audiences across several markets. Culture & Education: Vietnam is backing a UNESCO-led decade of culture for sustainable development, while Hanoi freshman Nguyen Thi Yen, 48, has returned to university after raising two sons who are now PhD students. Heritage Tourism: Quang Ninh is turning traditional craft villages into visitor attractions, while Xo Dang communities’ traditions around Ngoc Linh ginseng offer another window into highland culture. Travel: Vietjet’s new Hanoi–Prague and Hanoi–Almaty routes promise more connections between Vietnam and destinations rich in history and culture.

Culture Day: Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra called for people-centred activities for Vietnam’s first Culture Day on Nov. 24, linking the celebration with national solidarity and heritage events. Living Heritage: Mother Goddess worship is adapting a decade after its UNESCO listing, while the Xo Dang people’s reverence for Ngoc Linh ginseng highlights the spiritual traditions tied to Vietnam’s highlands. Craft Tourism: Quang Ninh is turning traditional craft villages into visitor attractions, part of a wider push to connect local culture with tourism. Autumn Travel: Buckwheat flowers are drawing visitors to Lung Cu and other highland areas of Tuyen Quang, where travellers can also explore ethnic minority villages and local food.

Craft Tourism: Quang Ninh is turning boatbuilding, fishing-net weaving and local specialties into visitor experiences, where guests can meet artisans, try their hand at crafts and buy directly from producers. Living Heritage: A decade after UNESCO recognition, Mother Goddess worship is reaching new audiences through research, education and contemporary art while communities work to preserve its traditions. Ethnic Culture: Xo Dang villagers honor the spirit of Ngoc Linh ginseng with offerings, gong music and dance, celebrating the plant’s place in local life. Wellness Travel: Lao Cai is combining mountain scenery and ethnic traditions with herbal baths, hot springs and resort stays to encourage longer visits. Rural Experiences: Vietnam’s OCOP products—from tea to farm goods—could bring more value to rural tourism when visitors can see how they are made and learn the stories behind them.

Hanoi’s Riverfront: The Red River is set to become a key ecological and cultural corridor in the capital’s 100-year master plan, linking historic villages, craft traditions and riverside landscapes. Buddhist Legacy: Vietnam-born Zen teacher Thích Nhất Hạnh’s centennial on October 11 renews attention to his teachings on peace, mindfulness and engaged Buddhism. On the World Stage: Vietnam’s Emoura Pham finished fourth runner-up at Miss Grand International; her three seconds of silence during a speech on peace drew notice. Culture Through Music: Vietnamese guitarist Đặng Ngọc Long marked 20 years of showcasing Vietnamese-inspired works at a Berlin festival and hopes to bring it to Hanoi. Heritage and Livelihoods: In Sơn La, ethnic Thai entrepreneur Vi Thị Thu Hà is building an organic farm around local knowledge and resources, showing how rural businesses can grow while keeping cultural roots.

Music Without Borders: Vietnamese guitarist Đặng Ngọc Long used the 20th Berlin International Guitar Competition to introduce global audiences to music inspired by folk melodies and The Tale of Kiều. He hopes to bring the festival to Hanoi. Peace Through Culture: A traditional Vietnamese music concert in Hiroshima drew about 400 guests, raising support for Agent Orange victims and celebrating peace and Vietnam–Japan friendship. Tourism Links: Tuyên Quang and China’s Wenshan prefecture are developing cross-border tours connecting landscapes, ethnic-minority communities and heritage sites. Language and Exchange: Forty-seven students from five Southeast Asian countries joined a Korean-language essay contest in Hanoi; Vietnamese student Tạ Thị Bích won the top prize. Living Heritage: A Mường woman’s effort to revive heritage rice and Quảng Trị’s upcoming week-long culture and tourism festival spotlight community traditions. Autumn in Hanoi: The capital’s seasonal scenery, food and memories continue to draw visitors.

Hanoi in Autumn: Visitors are drawn to the capital’s seasonal scenery, food and memories as it marks 72 years since Liberation Day. Living Heritage: A Muong woman in Son La is helping revive heirloom rice, creating new livelihoods with the local Thai community while preserving traditional knowledge. Culture & Tourism: Quang Tri is preparing a week-long festival, while Da Nang has earned a place on Lonely Planet’s list of destinations to visit in 2027. Film: Vietnamese filmmakers are backing tighter scrutiny of AI-generated short films as the technology reshapes creative work. Active Living: A nationwide campaign launched in Hanoi is encouraging people to exercise for better health.

Living Heritage: A Muong entrepreneur in Son La is helping revive heirloom rice with local Thai communities, turning traditional knowledge into sustainable livelihoods. Hanoi in Autumn: Golden sunshine, cool breezes, street food and Old Quarter walks are drawing visitors to the capital, where familiar flavours and streets stir memories for returning residents. Cultural Connections: Berlin-based Vietnamese guitarist Dang Ngoc Long is marking 20 years of bringing Vietnamese music to international audiences and hopes to bring his festival to Hanoi. Rural Tourism: Experts say Vietnam can give OCOP products and craft villages greater value by inviting visitors to experience how goods are made and learn the stories behind them. Festivals and Crafts: Quang Tri’s November culture and tourism week will pair local traditions and cuisine with film screenings and hot-air balloon events; meanwhile, 55 products have been recognised at Vietnam’s handicrafts competition. Screen Culture: Vietnamese supernatural fantasy Red Woman, inspired by folk history, has secured distribution deals in several international markets.

Active Living: Vietnam’s nationwide sports campaign launches in Hanoi on October 10, with about 12,000 people expected at Hoan Kiem Lake and events linked to 33 provinces and cities. Football, athletics and wushu stars will join the mass run. Vietnamese Culture Abroad: Traditional dress, handicrafts and folk-culture displays drew visitors to Vietnam’s booth at Seoul’s Better Together Culture & Wellness Festival, presented by the Vietnamese Women’s Association in South Korea. Island Escape: Phu Quoc was named Asia’s best island in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, adding to the island’s growing appeal for food and travel. Film & Technology: Vietnam’s Cinema Department has told digital platforms and app stores to review films they distribute as AI-made shorts surge in popularity. Filmmakers are debating how to regulate the trend and whether virtual performers can replace human actors.

Island Tourism: Phu Quoc topped Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 list of Asia’s best islands, scoring 95.26 and beating Bali. Its beaches, ecosystems and mix of nature, food and cultural experiences helped put Vietnam’s island tourism in the spotlight. Craft Heritage: Four Hanoi villages—Bat Trang, Van Phuc, Chuyen My and Son Dong—are now part of the World Crafts Council’s Network of Craft Cities. Artisans are sustaining generations-old skills while finding ways to bring them into modern life. Hanoi’s Riverfront: A new city master plan casts the Red River as Hanoi’s key ecological, cultural and landscape axis, aiming to reconnect the capital with its historic riverbanks while balancing flood safety, conservation and public spaces. Living Traditions: Hre mouth-harp music is keeping an old language of love alive in Vietnam, offering a glimpse of how cultural knowledge continues through performance and community.

Heritage: Hanoi’s Imperial Citadel of Thang Long now has a Korean-Vietnamese guide, mapping nine historic sites and nine artifacts. The project marks 30 years of friendship between Hanoi and Seoul. Travel & Food: Vietnam ranks 10th among Condé Nast Traveler’s most-loved countries for 2026, with heritage, landscapes and regional cuisine among its draws. Phu Quoc is also looking to turn local dishes into a tourism draw as Michelin begins its island selection. Women’s Rights: A Hanoi workshop brought together Vietnamese officials and international partners to discuss women’s empowerment in the care economy, including reducing women’s disproportionate share of unpaid care work. Cultural Connections: Vietnam’s fifth World Conference of Overseas Vietnamese, set for December, will include efforts to preserve the Vietnamese language and build links between overseas communities and local partners.

Music & Memory: A Hanoi exhibition tracing the rise of modern Vietnamese music brings 102 scores and artifacts into view, while artists urge young singers to build on the genre’s legacy without simply imitating earlier generations. Hanoi Celebrations: Fireworks over West Lake and Hoan Kiem Lake will headline Liberation Day on October 10, alongside performances and cultural events across the capital. Food Heritage: Trang Tien ice cream, a Hanoian favorite since 1958, remains a beloved stop near Hoan Kiem Lake, where generations have kept up the tradition of eating their treats standing outside. Learning & Heritage: Da Nang’s Van Thanh–Khong Mieu site honors Confucius and Vietnamese scholars, reflecting the country’s long respect for education and teachers.