The two projects focus on empowering youth, supporting local institutions, and informing national policy.
UNESCO and SOVICO signing
On 29 June 2025, in Da Nang, UNESCO and SOVICO Group signed two project agreements to launch two major projects in Viet Nam, spanning the fields of culture and education from 2025 to 2030.
The agreements are part of a broader 10-year UNESCO and SOVICO Group Strategic Cooperation Framework signed in Paris in 2024, aim to empower young people, strengthen the capacity of local institutions, and contribute to national policy, laying the groundwork for sustainable development in Viet Nam.
The project, Uplifting the Dynamic Cultural and Creative Industries in Viet Nam, aims to empower over 10,000 artists, youth, and creative entrepreneurs through targeted training, mentoring and support for start-ups. It will also revitalize selected cultural venues such as museums, theatres, art centers, and facilitate policy dialogue to create an enabling environment for the growth of the cultural and creative industries in Viet Nam. The project will also collaborate with the Viet Nam Film Development Association (VFDA) to support initiatives in the film sector, enhance capacity for emerging filmmakers, and strengthen international linkages. Through the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, the project will foster a supportive environment aligned with global standards, contributing to Viet Nam’s goal of raising the cultural and creative industries’ GDP share from 3.5% to 7%.
Performance opening the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2024
The project, Building Happy Schools for Transformation of Education and Sustainable Development in Viet Nam, seeks to develop a national framework for positive, inclusive, and learner-centred school environments, based on UNESCO’s global Happy Schools framework. The project will be piloted in at least 20 schools across three regions, with the participation of Victoria South Saigon School - a strategic partner in the project’s implementation. Schools will integrate both local culture and global citizenship education, promote inclusive and green learning spaces, and foster well-being and happiness of students, teachers, and the broader school community. The project also supports policy dialogue and institutional change led by the Ministry of Education and Training that links happiness with better learning, recognizing happiness as both a means to and a goal of quality education.
Teachers and students in Vinh Long, Viet Nam
These two projects mark an important step toward building inclusive, equal, and creative ecosystems in Viet Nam, where young people, women, educators and cultural practitioners are equipped with skills to lead change. With its rich cultural resources and the immense potential of a dynamic, creative young generation, Viet Nam is well-positioned to harness culture and education as key drivers of sustainable development.
Nguyen Minh Vu, Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson of the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO, stated: "We highly appreciate SOVICO Group as a pioneering private enterprise in establishing a long-term strategic partnership with UNESCO. This signing ceremony demonstrates how we can work together to expand the space for cooperation towards the harmonious development of economy, culture, and people."
Jonathan Baker delivering a keynote speech
“UNESCO is delighted to partner with SOVICO to support Viet Nam's journey of transformation. These projects mark a new era in our partnership, one grounded in shared values, mutual trust, and a profound belief that culture, education, and youth are the cornerstones of a more inclusive, sustainable, and peaceful future.”
Dr. Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, Chairwoman of SOVICO Group, stated: “At SOVICO, prosperity is not measured solely by growth figures, but by the legacy we leave behind: in inspired minds, preserved cultural values, and empowered communities. Together with UNESCO, we are committed to building a society that is more inclusive, creative, and humane.”
The partnership between UNESCO and SOVICO Group has been the very first cooperation between the United Nations and a Vietnamese private enterprise since Viet Nam became a member of the UN in 1977, placing culture and education at the heart of sustainable development, contributing to the Vietnamese government’s development priortities.
By UNESCO