On April 25, a national conference was held at the Diên Hồng Hall, National Assembly House in Hanoi to mark 50 years of development in Vietnamese literature and the arts since national reunification (1975 - 2025). The event was jointly organized by the Party Central Committee's Commission for Communication and Education, the Office of the Party Central Committee, the National Assembly Office, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Vietnam Union of Literature and Arts Associations.
Attending the conference were senior Party and State leaders, representatives of central and local agencies, experts, scholars, and 50 outstanding writers and artists who have significantly contributed to the country’s cultural journey over the past five decades.
Comrade Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa, Politburo Member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, and Head of the Commission for Communication and Education, delivers a speech at the conference.
In his keynote speech, Comrade Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa, Politburo member and Head of the Commission for Communication and Education, emphasized that under the Party’s leadership, Vietnamese literature and arts have made significant strides in both theory and practice. However, he acknowledged that the sector has yet to fully realize its potential and still faces major challenges. He called for a candid and scientific evaluation of the past 50 years, along with clear directions and solutions for the new development phase.
Nguyễn Trọng Nghĩa outlined key tasks ahead, including strengthening Party leadership in cultural development, reforming state management, enhancing literary theory and criticism, expanding international exchange, and restructuring professional associations to improve operational efficiency. He stressed the need to foster a generation of artists who create works rich in ideological and artistic value, contributing to national pride and the aspiration for a prosperous and happy Vietnam.
An overview of the conference.
Delegates at the conference agreed that literature and the arts have played a vital role in shaping Vietnam’s cultural identity, especially in the post-reunification era. Amid the country’s ongoing renovation and integration into the global community, Vietnamese arts have kept pace with international trends while maintaining a strong national character. Many highlighted the importance of encouraging creativity, promoting traditional values, and supporting artistic talent as essential elements of national development.
Writer Nguyễn Quang Thiều, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The conference affirmed that in this new era, artists are more than creators - they are nurturers of human values, spreading messages of compassion, truth, and beauty. Each meaningful work adds to the foundation of Vietnam’s cultural legacy and contributes to building a set of national values, cultural identity, family traditions, and human standards for the future.
Delegates visit the exhibition.
As part of the event, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized an exhibition titled "50 Years of Vietnamese Literature and Arts Accompanying the Nation". The exhibition featured over 200 images, artifacts, and documents, showcasing achievements, honoring major contributors, and reaffirming the Party and State’s consistent support for cultural development.
The conference concluded with a shared sense of pride in the sector’s achievements and strong determination to drive Vietnamese literature and arts toward a new era of creativity, depth, and global resonance.
Author: Thùy Chi/ Translated by THU LAN
VNQD