According to the Brand Finance Group's report on the global soft power index in 2024 (Brand Finance Soft Power Index Report 2024), Vietnam has made a significant breakthrough, rising from 69th to 53rd place in the ranking of 193 countries just announced in early 2025. Specifically, Vietnam's soft power index increased by 1.8 points in all categories, up 16 places compared to the previous year. This is an encouraging step forward for the outstanding efforts in economic, social, cultural development, political stability and gradually enhancing the value of Vietnam's national brand.
"Vietnam's soft power is a key component of the country's overall strength," former General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong once affirmed. He said that in the era of globalization, it is inevitable for the country to aim to leverage its assets to enhance global competitiveness and promote sustainable development.
In his speech on September 24, 2024, at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, USA, General Secretary To Lam affirmed that "Vietnam is striving and accelerating to realize a peaceful future". Soft power is to persistently pursue multilateral goals, peace and development, and equality so that no one is left behind.
On the same day, September 24, 2024, at the United Nations General Assembly, US President Joe Biden mentioned the relationship between the United States and Vietnam as proof that countries can overcome the past, from wartime opponents to partners and friends.
"Last year (2023) in Hanoi, I met with Vietnamese leaders and we upgraded our partnership to the highest level. It is a testament to the resilience of human passion and the ability to reconcile after conflict. Today, the United States and Vietnam are friends and partners," he said.
All of these messages of peace from leaders have, in various ways, enhanced Vietnam's prestige in the international arena.
Female soldiers of Level 2 Field Hospital (No. 3) depart for a peacekeeping mission in South Sudan. Photo: Nhan Dan Newspaper
Our Vietnam has a soft power legacy that lies not only in the national cultural treasure, but also in the economic construction and promotion of a culture of peace from a country that suffered much pain from war.
We still remember when Vietnam and the United States re-established diplomatic relations, there was a saying that until now has shown the value of Vietnam's soft power: "Vietnam is not a war. Vietnam is a country". That country has attracted millions of tourists from all over the world. That country has, is and will continue to receive investment capital, regardless of economic difficulties and global geopolitical instability. That country has now become a symbol of sincere friendship. Most countries in the world are now allies of Vietnam.
Soft power of Vietnamese culture
In the era of globalization and deep international integration, Vietnam's rich cultural picture, including tangible and intangible heritage, natural landscapes and people, is a powerful tool for soft power diplomacy and has become an endogenous strength, a great resource and driving force for the country to prosper and integrate internationally.
Currently, Vietnam has 8 world heritages, more than 40,000 relics and 70,000 intangible cultural heritages, including 130 special national relics, 3,633 national relics, 571 intangible cultural heritages recorded in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage Register and 294 artifacts or groups of artifacts recognized as national treasures.
In addition, Vietnam's overall soft power has been, and is, continuously being built up thanks to the contributions of talented Vietnamese people through many world-class achievements. In 1980, artist Dang Thai Son, with the First Prize of the International Frédéric Chopin Piano Competition, made the world know Vietnam beyond a war. In 2000, Taekwondo fighter Tran Hieu Ngan brought the country a Silver Medal at the Olympic Games for the first time and then, in 2016, Hoang Xuan Vinh made Vietnam shine when he stepped up to the highest step to receive the Olympic Gold Medal.
In the field of science, many Vietnamese names have contributed to the soft power of the nation, such as Professor Ngo Bao Chau, the Fields Medal in 2010 (considered the Nobel Prize in Mathematics). Or in 2024, Professor, Doctor Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong was awarded the Ramon Magsasays Prize (also a regional Nobel Prize) for her contributions to the field of artificial insemination and helping victims of Agent Orange...
The world will know Vietnam more through famous Vietnamese people whose achievements create Vietnam's soft power.
Images of Vietnam's land, culture, history and people are promoted to help people around the world understand and love Vietnam.
From soft power to soft resources
Soft power arises from the attractiveness of a country’s culture, political ideals and policies. When our achievements in economics, literature, art, etc. are seen as lessons in the eyes of others, then our soft power is enhanced.
The story of continuous economic growth and poverty reduction after Doi Moi has increased Vietnam's soft power in the international arena. The poverty rate has decreased rapidly in a period of 5 years, from 17.2% in 2001 with 2.8 million households, to 8.3% in 2004 with 1.44 million households, an average annual decrease of 340,000 households, and by the end of 2005 it was about less than 7% with 1.1 million households. "Vietnam's poverty reduction achievements are one of the most successful stories in economic development." That is the assessment in the "Vietnam Development Report 2004" of the World Bank.
Not only does reality create soft power, but lessons from reality also increase that soft power. There are many books written about Vietnam's economic lessons and those books make the world more sympathetic to Vietnam. That is our soft power.
When these achievements are recognized by the world and become lessons for developing countries, then we will accumulate soft power for the next steps of development. Vietnam is relying on exports and foreign investment capital accounting for nearly 70%. In addition to superficial causes, it is the soft power of the nation, accumulated through many aspects of history, that makes investment capital flow in, and goods flow out from the country, enriching the country. Soft power has become "soft resources" - an extremely effective source of capital.
More than ever, entering a new era, this soft resource will continue to contribute to Vietnam, once a poor country devastated by endless wars, to make its name as a developed nation. That is the "Vietnamese spirit", "Vietnamese values"!
Tran Ngoc Chau
Government.vn
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/me-man-le-hoi-hoa-mo-voi-sac-trang-tinh-khoi-mua-xuan-ar922090.html
Comment (0)