At the 14th National Congress of the Party recently, a detail that strongly moved writers: The gift that the General Secretary gave to the members of the Central Executive Committee was not materially valuable artifacts, but a Tet book converging the most quintessential literary works and poems. Turning literature into a "communication language" at the highest level is not only an honor, but also an affirmation: Literature is the core of the soft power of the nation.
The decision that November 24th every year is Vietnam Culture Day to commemorate the day President Ho Chi Minh chaired the National Cultural Conference in 1946 has created a new ideological launching pad. Poet Nguyen Quang Thieu - Chairman of the Vietnam Writers' Association - affirmed: "Without culture, we become blind". In which, literature and art are the most basic elements that make up that culture.
However, in the current context, literature needs to operate with the thinking of a cultural industry. There, spiritual values are transformed into development resources, where the self-esteem and creativity of the writer are the most important input "material".
For an industry to operate effectively, personnel quality is a vital factor. Sharing with Lao Dong Newspaper, writer Dao Quoc Vinh gave thought-provoking figures about the current situation of the team. In 2026, although there were 900 applications for admission to the Vietnam Writers' Association, only 62 people were approved (a rate of less than 7%).
Strict review criteria when each author must have at least two works published in the same genre, is the necessary threshold to ensure professionalism. However, the most worrying figure is: After joining the ranks of members, only about 30% of writers maintain the fire of passion and regular creativity.
This is the loophole in the supply chain of the "literary industry". An industry cannot develop if the "creative factories" (who are writers) stop operating immediately after being crowned. The natural elimination and practicality of the book market are posing a requirement: Literature not only needs inspiration, but also discipline and persistent dedication.
Chairman of the Vietnam Writers' Association - poet Nguyen Quang Thieu affirmed that literature must change its thinking, get out of the beaten path to deeply integrate into the creative industry. There, self-respect, creativity, courage and honesty become inseparable qualities of each member. Self-respect to avoid creating poor quality works, "scalping" words. Creativity to adapt to new publishing forms, from traditional paper books to digital platforms. Courage and honesty to reflect the breath of the times, touching the thorny issues of society with a humane perspective.
The streamlining of the operating apparatus and the establishment of new branches in provinces and cities after the administrative boundary planning is a strategic step of the Writers' Association. This helps to discover and nurture new literary talents in the locality, creating diversity for the literary market.
Literature and art are the core foundation that constitutes national culture. Positioning publishing and creation as a link in the cultural industry does not make artistic values trivial. On the contrary, this is an inevitable roadmap for domestic literature to accumulate enough internal strength, continue its mission of "seeking the way" and accompanying the country on its journey to reach out to the world.
