On November 23, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Conference on “Attracting Film Productions to Localities: Current Status and Solutions” took place within the framework of the 24th Vietnam Film Festival, bringing together representatives from departments, agencies, experts, and enterprises in the fields of cinema, culture, and tourism.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, emphasized that the conference extends beyond mere experience exchange; it opens a forum to collectively address strategic questions:
-
How can Vietnam's localities become “open film sets”?
-
How can domestic and foreign film crews perceive the suitability of settings, production conditions, and the companionship from local authorities and enterprises?
-
And more importantly, how can cinema become a driving force for tourism, the creative economy, and local brand promotion?
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports, speaking at the conference – Photo: PLO
Ms. Thanh Thuy stated that all contributions at the conference would be synthesized to facilitate the development of a coordination plan with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, thereby implementing commitments within the dossier for joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.
Removing Bottlenecks, Constructing Specific Policies for Cinema
At the conference, the Director of the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies pointed out numerous bottlenecks facing the Vietnamese film industry, ranging from infrastructure and policies to support mechanisms.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong, Director of the Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts Studies – Photo: PLO
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Phuong proposed that Ho Chi Minh City, in its role as a locomotive, needs to:
-
Construct a specific policy package dedicated to cinema, aligned with international commitments.
-
Create favorable conditions for independent filmmakers to develop.
-
Invest in creative infrastructure and integrate cinema into urban planning.
-
Adjust financial policies, offer tax incentives, and establish film production centers under a one-stop mechanism.
-
Connect cinema with other cultural sectors to enhance the city's brand value.
Localities Share Experiences and Policies for Attracting Film Productions
Representatives from provinces and cities such as Cao Bang, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, along with the enterprise Oxalis (Quang Tri), presented practical experiences and competitive advantages in welcoming film crews.
Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thua Thien Hue, stated that the locality has built a flexible support mechanism featuring:
-
Streamlined procedures via a one-stop mechanism at heritage sites;
-
Exemption or reduction of entrance fees for film crews promoting tourism;
-
Support for location scouting and connecting with the community and artisans;
-
Ensuring security and traffic control for the filming process;
-
Accompanying the film crew in communication on local platforms.
From an international comparative perspective, Ms. Phan Cam Tu, representative of the Vietnam Association of Film Promotion and Development, cited the example of Thailand offering rebates:
-
30% of costs for international film crews;
-
An additional 5% if utilizing local actors;
-
An additional 5% when filming at locations designated by the locality;
-
An additional 3% if conducting post-production in Thailand.
In 2024, Thailand spent 500 million baht in rebates but generated 2.8 billion baht in return, creating over 43,000 jobs, demonstrating the clear effectiveness of film support policies.
The Conference within the framework of the Vietnam Film Festival identified bottlenecks and proposed solutions for cinema to become a driving force for tourism development, the creative economy, and local brand promotion.
Source: "Discussing ways to attract film productions to localities" | Ho Chi Minh City Law