From Ho Chi Minh’s Views on Culture to the Development of a Modern Vietnamese Culture

Abstract

Abstract

A systematic examination of President Ho Chi Minh’s views on the fundamental issues of the Vietnamese revolution shows that his understanding of culture drew upon Eastern and Western intellectual traditions and combined national cultural inheritance with wider human values. These perspectives reflected the intellectual contributions of a prominent cultural figure and the interpretation of Marxist-Leninist ideas in relation to the historical and practical conditions of Vietnam. They have continued to influence the stated orientations of Vietnamese cultural policy and debates about the development of culture within a socialist political framework. In the context of contemporary international integration, cultural development that encourages broad social participation and articulates clear objectives is closely connected with the cultivation of civic responsibility, ethical conduct, and cultural awareness among successive generations. This orientation also intersects with educational reform, professional training, and efforts to strengthen human capacities for national development. This article examines the historical foundations and core dimensions of Ho Chi Minh’s views on culture and analyzes how these ideas are interpreted in contemporary Vietnamese cultural-development policies, including Resolution No.~80-NQ/TW (2026).