Poster of the film Mat Biec (Dreamy Eyes), an adaptation of the novel of the same name written by Nguyen Nhat Anh and published in 1990. (Photo: vietnamplus.vn)

Literature and the arts, while generating relatively little revenue themselves, provide materials for more lucrative cultural enterprises like cinema and theater. Literary works like “Endless Field”, “Quyen”, “Blue Eyes”, "The Girl from Yesterday", and "I see yellow flowers on the green grass" have been made into popular movies. Movies sometimes spin off lucrative soundtracks, merchandise, and product branding, and locations where movies are shot can become tourist destinations.

When literature and art are turned into cultural industry products, it enhances national prestige, generating "soft power" that influences the globe and promotes the image of Vietnam, its people, and its culture.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen The Ky, Chairman of the Central Council for Theory and Criticism of Literature and Arts (Photo: dangcongsan.vn)

“To build cultural industries, it is essential to have the involvement of different forces and sectors, especially literature and the arts, which provide creative ideas. A cultural product combined with the elements of literature and art will have added value and become more popular. Only then will the cultural industry develop steadily and strongly,” said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen The Ky, Chairman of the Central Council for Theory and Criticism of Literature and Arts.

According to experts, Vietnam’s literature and arts still have a lot of untapped potential for the development of cultural industries, especially in the context of the digital age. In fact, in Vietnam, the creative digital space has brought many opportunities for authors to create interesting literary works.

“We have witnessed the vibrant development of writing, literary criticism, and the literary market. Literature is presented in different genres and styles and in different forms, such as print and online. The quality of literary products has improved, with much more refinement in terms of language, content, and meaning,” said journalist and poet Nguyen Quang Hung, deputy head of the Youth Literature Department of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.

Currently, the public has a growing desire to access varied forms of entertainment, including literature and art. Good literature and art is not enough to support a cultural industry. In addition to effort and creativity, artists also need to research market demand and directly participate in the cultural industry chain.

“The most important thing in literature and art is human resources which need institutions and policies for further development. It is necessary to invest in young people who have enthusiasm and potential, but still need more knowledge, skill, and perspective to fully unleash their creativity,” said journalist and poet Tran Huu Viet, a member of the Executive Board of the Vietnam Writers' Association.

Bui Hoai Son, a member of the Cultural and Educational Committee of the National Assembly, said, “We need to view literature as a field of cultural industry, which not only involves creation of literary works, but also criticism, communications, and public development. A broader legal corridor for the development of literature should be created.”