Da Nang Asian Film Festival’s mark on Vietnamese cinema’s global journey

When a Vietnamese action thriller rooted in a real 1978 hijacking earns praise from The New York Times, it signals not only global recognition but also a rising wave for Vietnamese cinema.

War—with all its losses, sacrifices, and the yearning for survival—has always been a major theme in art, especially cinema. Often described as a cinematic "gold mine" but difficult to exploit, war films demand many conditions: from creative thinking and financial investment to the dedication and commitment of the artists.

The box office success in 2025 shows that the market is already large, but for cinema to become an industry instead of a movement, Vietnam needs production infrastructure, technical standards and expandable service chains.

The Binh Ngo Tet film season 2026 continues to show the strong attraction of Vietnamese films when cinemas are crowded and revenue increases rapidly

Vietnamese cinema is experiencing a spectacular breakthrough, reaching new heights. According to Box Office Vietnam, an independent box office statistics unit, in 2025, the total revenue of Vietnamese films in the domestic market will reach approximately 3,650 billion VND, nearly double that of 2024 (approximately 1,900 billion VND).

Closely adhering to the spirit of Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW, proactive international integration is recognized as an essential requirement. Accordingly, the Vietnam Film Development Association (VFDA) has implemented film promotion activities aligned with the Resolution, while setting clear orientations to further translate its policy directions into concrete actions in the coming period.

Vietnamese cinema is entering a period of increasingly clear differentiation. Alongside box-office hits grossing hundreds of billions of VND, there remains a significant number of films that underperform, leave theaters quickly, and struggle to create long-term impact. This reality underscores the urgent need for structured training and support platforms that can elevate the industry’s development in a long-term, sustainable manner, gradually narrowing existing gaps and disparities.

Beyond being a historical costume film project, Guardian Spirit of the Valiant Warrior – The Mystery of King Dinh’s Tomb was developed following the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on October 19, 2024, between the People’s Committee of Ninh Binh Province and the Vietnam Film Development Association.

On March 15, 1953, President Ho Chi Minh signed a decree to establish the Vietnam Movie and Photography Enterprise, marking an important milestone for the national revolutionary film industry.

Forty years of Vietnamese cinema since the Doi Moi (Renovation) period will be a highlight of the 2026 Asian Film Festival in Da Nang, showcasing Vietnamese identity on the big screen through noteworthy cultural diplomacy.

At the seminar "Vietnamese and French Cinema: Opportunities for Cooperation," Mr. Mathieu Ripka, General Representative of the French Association of Authors, Directors, and Producers (ARP), expressed his hope that this year, a French-Iranian co-production was selected to represent France at the Oscars. He believes it is entirely possible to aim for a future where a Vietnamese-French co-production will also represent France at this prestigious award.