UNESCO supports a preliminary evaluation of cultural statistics in Viet Nam

Participants to the workshop include relevant Departments under the Ministry and representatives from Provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Ha Noi, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City. Discussions revolved around the gaps in cultural statistics at Ministerial and provincial levels, with focus on the five sectors managed by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism identified in the National Strategy, including cinema, performing arts, fine art – photography – exhibition, advertisement and cultural tourism.

According to the draft report prepared by a research team from the General Statistics office and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the main approach for cultural statistics in Viet Nam is still on the cultural production with very few indicators on cultural participation and consumption as well as the economic and social contributions of the culture sector. A comparison between cultural statistical data currently available in Viet Nam and indicators defined in the UNESCO's Cultural Statistics Framework 2009 has been made in order to provide recommendations on new indicators in to be included, in order to facilitate international comparisons.

Speaking at the workshop, Madam Dang Thi Bich Lien, Vice Minister, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Mr. Michael Croft, UNESCO Ha Noi's Head of office, equally highlighted the critical role of statistics in an evidence-based policy making process. In fact, improving cultural statistics has also been the top priority set in the National Strategy for Cultural Industries.

However, as many participants pointed out at the workshop, there remains many challenges that require inter-ministerial coordination since cultural industries involves other Ministry such as Ministry of Information and Communication and Ministry of Science and Technology. It was agreed at the end of the workshop that in the near future, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism would continue to work closely with the General Statistics Office in gradually developing an updated statistical framework for the five sectors prioritized in the National Strategy.

For further information, please kindly contact Ms Tran Thi Thu Thuy, Culture Programme Officer through email: tt.thuy@unesco.orgor phone: 0904949129 and visit our Facebook page @UNESCOOfficeinVietnam