Bilingual book, exhibition honor Ho Chi Minh’s legacy
A Vietnamese-Russian bilingual book titled “Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh and Russia” was launched in Hanoi on June 1 alongside a photo exhibition featuring 115 images of President Ho Chi Minh's activities at the Presidential Palace.
The events, organised by the Ho Chi Minh Presidential Relic Site at the Presidential Palace, are part of activities marking the 115th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s departure to seek a path for national salvation (June 5, 1911–2026) and towards the centenary of the publication of Duong Kach Menh (1927–2027).
Published on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Russia (1950–2026), the bilingual photo book presents a comprehensive account of Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh’s activities in the former Soviet Union from the early 20th century until his passing.
Featuring more than 200 documents, photographs, and manuscripts from the Russian side, the publication highlights Ho Chi Minh’s role and influence in fostering Vietnam–Russia relations throughout history while reaffirming the enduring friendship between the two nations.
The book also portrays President Ho Chi Minh – a national liberation hero, an eminent cultural figure, a great friend of the Russian people and an outstanding disciple of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin, helping readers, particularly younger generations, better understand the historical significance and lasting value of Vietnam – Russia ties, reported VNA.
 |
| The book “Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh and Russia” on display at the launch (Photo: VNA) |
Meanwhile, the photo exhibition introduces the public to 115 remarkable archival photos collected and selected by the Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace. The images offer vivid and authentic glimpses into President Ho Chi Minh’s domestic and foreign affairs activities, as well as moments from his daily life within the Presidential Palace grounds, where he lived and worked during the final 15 years of his life from 1954 to 1969.
The 115 photos are not only valuable historical records but also a bridge to cherished memories of the late leader. They serve as a reminder of his simple yet noble life, his closeness to the people, and his unwavering devotion to the nation. His legacy continues to inspire generations of Vietnamese people and friends around the world.
Through this series of activities, the Ho Chi Minh Relic Site at the Presidential Palace continues to affirm its role as a living heritage education center that connects the past, present and future while promoting the values of Ho Chi Minh’s thought, morality and lifestyle in contemporary society.
Vietnam’s culture development in digital era
Under the Politburo's Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW, issued on January 7, 2026, culture is defined as the spiritual foundation of society, an important endogenous resource, a driver of socio-economic development and a source of national soft power. In the new era, cultural values are expected to permeate all aspects of life, serving as a foundation, resource, catalyst and regulatory force for the country’s rapid and sustainable development.
The recent surge in music concerts, entertainment programmes and creative products on digital platforms highlights a profound shift in how audiences consume and engage with culture. Behind these trends lies the emergence of a new cultural ecosystem in which digital technology, content platforms, creative communities and the public all play direct roles in shaping and disseminating cultural values.
Under the Politburo's Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW, issued on January 7, 2026, culture is defined as the spiritual foundation of society, an important endogenous resource, a driver of socio-economic development and a source of national soft power. In the new era, cultural values are expected to permeate all aspects of life, serving as a foundation, resource, catalyst and regulatory force for the country’s rapid and sustainable development.
Building digital cultural ecosystem
The vision of creating a digital cultural ecosystem runs throughout Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW through its emphasis on cultural data infrastructure, digital content platforms, digital transformation in the culture sector and the development of cultural industries.
This ecosystem is conceived as a multi-dimensional structure involving the State as a policy architect; digital platforms as content distributors; artists and creators as value generators; and audiences as both consumers and co-creators. Big data, artificial intelligence (AI) and content-distribution algorithms are also playing an increasingly significant role.
Digital platforms are transforming the way people access and consume culture. A short social media video can generate greater reach than many traditional performances; an online film can project a country’s image beyond its borders; and a music trend can rapidly influence the tastes of an entire generation. Cultural spaces are no longer confined to physical institutions but increasingly exist across digital platforms, algorithms and global networks of interaction.
According to Prof. Dr Trinh Sinh of Hanoi University of Culture, the greatest challenge today is not the speed at which global cultural trends spread, but the ability to identify and reinforce the core values of Vietnamese culture. “In the digital environment, the clearer the cultural identity is, the greater its capacity can spread,” he said.
For this reason, the resolution goes beyond preserving and promoting cultural values. It also aims to establish a digital cultural ecosystem featuring a national cultural database, Vietnamese digital content platforms, digital museums, digital libraries, online theaters and open creative spaces.
Audiences are no longer passive
Whereas culture once operated largely through a one-way model – artists created, authorities licensed and audiences consumed, the digital cultural ecosystem has blurred these boundaries.
People’s Artist Trung Hieu, Director of the Hanoi Drama Theater, noted that audiences today not only consume culture but also help create, spread and shape cultural trends.
The fact that many music concerts sell out rapidly, while videos featuring heritage and traditional arts attract millions of views online, demonstrates that young people are engaging more deeply in cultural life through digital-age channels, cited VNA.
 |
| Performance showcasing excerpts from the Pon Poong festival of the Muong ethnic community in Thanh Hoa province. (Photo: VNA) |
“For traditional theater, this is both a challenge and an opportunity to renew audience engagement. By making effective use of digital space, modernising communication methods and bringing the arts closer to schools, theater can cultivate a new generation of audiences,” he said.
He pointed to the school theater initiative jointly implemented by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Education and Training, and the Hanoi administration. Through the programme, hundreds of performances are staged annually for students, with literary works from the school curriculum adapted for the stage.
This allows students to experience literature through emotion and direct engagement rather than solely through textbooks. It is also a way of nurturing future theater audiences, he added.
From a cultural research perspective, Prof. Dr Trinh Sinh argued that heritage can only remain relevant in modern life, particularly among young people, if its presentation evolves.
Young people will engage willingly if cultural values are transformed into attractive and accessible products, whether through stories about artefacts and historical figures or films and video series inspired by Vietnamese cultural heritage, he said.
Competing through identity, soft power
Across Asia, the Republic of Korea has built global influence through K-pop, cinema and entertainment platforms, while Japan has established its cultural brand through anime, manga and popular culture.
Vietnam now faces a similar opportunity to transform its rich cultural heritage into a new source of soft power. The challenge is not simply producing more cultural products, but creating works that embody Vietnamese identity and are capable of telling Vietnam’s stories to the world.
Prof. Dr Trinh Sinh believed that the country’s tangible and intangible cultural heritage remains the core value that must be preserved throughout this process.
He cited the Dong Son bronze drum as a cultural symbol that has moved beyond archaeology to become an enduring presence in national institutions, cultural products and diplomatic activities.
According to him, digitizing, preserving and promoting such heritage is not only about safeguarding national memory but also about turning cultural assets into resources for the cultural industries and national soft power.
Many cultural experts argued that, as AI, algorithms and digital technologies reshape society, what nations must preserve is not only physical heritage but also the ability to define their own identity and value systems.
The greatest challenge today lies not in the rapid spread of global cultural trends, but in the fact that Vietnam has yet to fully articulate and communicate the core values that underpin its cultural identity.
In this sense, Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW is not merely a policy on cultural development. It also provides a strategic framework for developing people, strengthening national identity and enhancing competitiveness in the digital era. Building a modern, culturally rich ecosystem rooted in Vietnamese identity will be essential to the country’s sustainable development and deeper integration into the world.
Vietnam’s manufacturing sector records strongest new-order growth in three months
Vietnam’s manufacturing sector saw new orders expanding at the fastest pace in three months in May, according to a report released on June 1 by S&P Global Market Intelligence.
The S&P Global Vietnam Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) climbed to 52.8 in May from 50.5 in April, marking its highest level since February and signaling a stronger improvement in business conditions. The latest reading indicates a solid rebound in demand despite ongoing global uncertainties.
The report noted that selling price inflation remained elevated in May, although it eased slightly from April's level. Price pressures were still among the strongest recorded over the past 15 years.
Manufacturers continued to face rising costs linked to fuel, transportation, and shipping, while logistics challenges contributed to further delays in suppliers' delivery times. However, the deterioration in vendor performance was less severe than in the previous month.
Extended lead times led to a continued decline in stocks of purchases, even as firms increased their purchasing activity. Pre-production inventories fell at the fastest pace in nearly a year, while finished goods inventories also decreased, though at a slower rate than in April.
Although new orders recovered, firms were generally able to meet demand with existing capacity and process outstanding workloads. Consequently, backlogs of work declined for the second consecutive month, VGP reported.
Signs of spare capacity also contributed to another reduction in manufacturing employment. Staffing levels fell for the third straight month, though the pace of job cuts remained only marginal.
Business confidence improved to a three-month high in May, supported by expectations of stronger order inflows and planned business expansion. Nevertheless, overall sentiment remained relatively subdued as manufacturers continued to monitor the potential impact of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East
 | Vietnam News Today (May 26): VSIP Projects Highlight Growing Vietnam–Singapore Partnership Vietnam News Today (May 26): Top Vietnamese leader’s Thailand visit marks milestone in shaping bilateral ties in coming decade; Japanese firms bet on Vietnam as ... |
 | Vietnam News Today (May 27): Vietnam, US Foster Deeper, More Substantive Legislative Ties Vietnam News Today (May 27): Vietnam, US foster deeper, more substantive legislative ties; Thailand continues strengthening Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam; Vietnam, Laos promote trade ... |
