Vietnamese artists travelling overseas
The Vietnamese government is keen to promote Vietnamese arts and culture as widely as possible overseas. This is reflected clearly in the fact that, despite the limited nature of the funds at its disposal, the
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) currently disburses an annual international cultural co-operation budget of some US$200,000. An additional cUS$80,000 is allocated each year for the activities of the
Việt Nam Culture and Information Centre in neighbouring Laos.
To date Việt Nam has signed cultural agreements with 38 different countries, including those of ASEAN, China, India, the Koreas, Japan, Russia, France, Germany, Italy, Argentina and Chile, together with numerous co-operation agreements signed at governmental or ministerial level with supra-national and regional organisations such as
UNESCO,
ASEAN and ASEM. Each year Việt Nam sends some 150-200 official delegations overseas, involving the participation of more than 1,000 artists, managers, researchers and media people.
In the case of official delegations of this kind host countries often meet the full costs involved, though in some cases the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will cover the cost of airfares while the host country meets the in-country organisation, transportation, accommodation and meal costs.
Where invitations to travel overseas are issued directly to government-run performing companies or groups from other state institutions and not within the framework of an official co-operation agreement, the Vietnamese institutions involved in the exchange will normally liaise directly with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism or with their local Municipal/Provincial Service of Culture to obtain official approval for their trip.
On a less formal level, once a written invitation has been supplied by an overseas host and appropriate country visa or visas issued, individual Vietnamese artists are free to travel overseas independently to participate in international workshops, festivals, competitions and other creative activities.
