AGP Executive Report

Box-Office Milestone: Vietnamese film The Journey of Heroes has passed $15.4 million, making star Steven Nguyen the first Vietnamese actor to lead films released in consecutive years that together earn more than $38.6 million. Screen Industry: Vietnam has brought its first copyright case involving Japanese media, targeting a site accused of streaming pirated anime and films with Vietnamese subtitles. At Busan, Vietnamese companies are also pitching new horror projects, including Bloodline: The Curse Within and Arithmadtic. Stagecraft: The Vietnam Circus Federation’s Mountain God and Water Monster pairs traditional circus with 3D mapping, lighting and a water stage. Cultural Reach: Vietnamese guitarist Dang Ngoc Long is marking 20 years of bringing Vietnamese music to international audiences through Berlin’s guitar festival, and hopes to bring it to Hanoi. Creative Debate: Vietnamese filmmakers are calling for closer scrutiny of AI-generated short films as the format spreads online.

Pageant: Vietnam’s Emoura Phạm finished fourth runner-up at Miss Grand International 2026, whose crown went to Tanzania’s Jihan Dimack. Circus: The Vietnam Circus Federation’s new show, Mountain God and Water Monster, mixes traditional storytelling with 3D mapping, lighting and a water stage. Music: Guitarist Đặng Ngọc Long marked 20 years of promoting Vietnamese culture through his Berlin festival and hopes to bring it to Hanoi. A charity concert in Hiroshima paired traditional Vietnamese music with a message of peace and support for Agent Orange victims. Film: Vietnamese horror titles are heading to the Busan market, while local filmmakers call for tighter oversight of AI-generated short films.

Pageant Watch: Vietnam’s Emoura Pham finished fourth runner-up at Miss Grand International 2026, while Tanzania’s Jihan Dimachk took the crown. Vietnamese Films: Mockingbird Pictures is taking supernatural horror “Bloodline: The Curse Within” to Busan’s film market, while Bee Entertainment is pitching a horror-led slate that includes “Arithmadtic.” V Studios also secured international deals for “Red Woman,” including sales to North America and Japan. Music & Culture: Rock keyboardist Rick Wakeman played a private concert for rescued moon bears at a sanctuary in Vietnam, using music to spotlight their plight. Hanoi is launching a cultural-industry hub in the Old Quarter, and a Vietnamese musical theatre production is set to reach Korean audiences. Art Discovery: A painting bought for $15.99 at a U.S. thrift store was identified as a work by Vietnamese artist Le Pho, with an estimated auction value of up to $80,000.

Vietnamese Horror Goes Global: “Bloodline: The Curse Within” is heading to Busan’s film market ahead of its Dec. 25 Vietnam release, while Bee Entertainment is pitching horror title “Arithmadtic” and other projects to international buyers. V Studios has also sold supernatural fantasy “Red Woman” to distributors in several territories, including North America, Japan and South Korea. AI and Filmmaking: Vietnamese filmmakers are calling for tighter scrutiny of AI-generated short films as the format spreads online. Culture on Stage: Vietnamese guitarist Dang Ngoc Long is using his Berlin competition and festival to introduce international musicians to works inspired by Vietnamese folk music and “The Tale of Kieu,” and hopes to bring the event to Hanoi. Quang Tri’s Culture Week: The province’s Nov. 24–30 program will pair performances and local food with film screenings and a hot-air balloon festival.

Film & AI: Vietnamese filmmakers are backing tighter scrutiny of AI-generated short films as the format spreads online. The Cinema Department has ordered platforms and distributors to review titles, while HTV is developing an AI short adapted from a novel. Culture Abroad: Vietnam’s heritage featured at Seoul’s Better Together festival, where visitors saw áo dài, conical hats and folk-culture displays. A Vietnamese musical-theatre production is also set to reach Korean audiences. Stage & Screen: Vietnamese experimental theatre drew notice at AAPPAC 2026, and the Ji.hlava documentary festival will present a retrospective of Vietnamese-US filmmaker and theorist Trinh T. Minh-ha. Vietnamese studio Mockingbird is taking horror and comedy-drama projects to Busan’s film market. Creative Industries: Hanoi plans a cultural-industry hub in the Old Quarter, adding a new base for the capital’s arts scene.

Screen Stories: Vietnam’s Mockingbird Pictures is taking horror film The River Demon and prison comedy-drama The Happiest Cell to Busan’s Asian Contents & Film Market, showcasing a broader range of Vietnamese genre films. Stage Exchange: Ho Chi Minh City musical theatre production Ao quan heads to arts festivals in Daegu and Busan this month, blending acting, music, video and livestream interaction. Living Heritage: Hanoi’s Bat Trang, Van Phuc, Chuyen My and Son Dong craft villages are part of the World Crafts Council’s Craft Cities network, linking centuries-old techniques with contemporary creativity. Creative Industries: Hanoi is launching a cultural industry hub in the Old Quarter, while Vietnam weighs stronger oversight of AI-generated short films and online distributors.

Film & Digital Culture: Vietnam is weighing tighter oversight of AI-generated short films as they spread across online platforms, renewing calls for clearer responsibility from distributors. Hanoi Arts: The capital is launching a cultural-industry hub in the Old Quarter, while Vietnamese experimental theatre drew attention at the AAPPAC 2026 gathering. Music: A new discussion of cải lương-influenced Tan Nhac argues young singers can honor the tradition without imitating earlier generations. Bigbang’s 2026–27 anniversary tour is also set to include Hanoi, marking the group’s first world tour together in nine years. On a gentler note: Rock keyboardist Rick Wakeman played a private piano concert for rescued moon bears at an Animals Asia sanctuary in Vietnam.

AI and Film: Vietnam is weighing tighter oversight as AI-generated short films spread across online platforms. The Cinema Department has asked services to review their film offerings, amid concerns about sensational content and the impact on human performers. Hanoi’s Musical Memory: A new exhibition traces the rise of Vietnamese modern music, presenting 102 scores and artifacts that evoke the capital’s cultural life from 1934 to 1954. Busan Spotlight: Five Vietnamese films have been selected for the 31st Busan International Film Festival, putting local cinema before an international audience. Liberation Day: Hanoi will stage music-linked fireworks over West Lake and Hoan Kiem Lake on Oct. 10, alongside performances and cultural programs across the city.

Busan Film Festival: The BIFF jury defended creative freedom amid controversy over The Assassin(s), while five Vietnamese films were selected for the festival’s 31st edition. Nightlife: Ho Chi Minh City may halt nightlife activities over concerns about their impact on residents. Culture in Hanoi: The city’s second Cultures of the World Festival featured Myanmar dance, while a separate event brought first ladies together around ethnic textiles. Vietnamese Music: Vietnam ranks among the world’s top 10 markets for online music listening, and industry leaders say new genres are emerging as Asian music travels abroad. Art and Heritage: Artists across Southeast Asia are helping shape the region’s art history, while an exhibition of Vietnamese modern art, “Echoes of Tonkin,” puts that heritage in focus.

K-pop & retail rivalry: Lotte and Shinsegae are turning K-culture into sales fuel, with Jennie fronting Lotte’s new campaign and Shinsegae’s “chaebol scion” Annie continuing to dominate billboard buzz in Vietnam and beyond. Film & sci-fi buzz: Zhang Yimou teased his Three-Body Problem adaptation at Busan, saying script polishing and massive fan expectations are shaping the next big screen push. Arts for peace: Imma’s Technologies of Peace exhibition digs into how contemporary art tracks Europe’s transition from conflict to peace, using works that refuse easy optimism. Vietnam cultural diplomacy: Hanoi hosted a Myanmar troupe at the 2nd Cultures of the World Festival, spotlighting ethnic dance and heritage booths. Local culture event: Lao Cai’s Muong Lo Culture and Tourism Festival returns with a UNESCO-linked Thai Xoe mass dance featuring 2,026 participants. Tech & everyday life: Vietnam’s budget smartphone market is heating up as entry-level buyers shift toward 8GB RAM and 128GB/256GB storage options. Sports & entertainment crossover: FIFA ASEAN Cup coverage points to uneven fan turnout and last-minute broadcaster deals, even as Indonesia’s home final drew big crowds.

Vietnam–Panama Cultural Diplomacy: Hanoi hosted a cultural event where Vietnam’s ethnic minority crafts and textiles drew Vietnam’s First Lady Ngo Phuong Ly and Panama’s First Lady Maricel Cohen de Mulino, highlighting heritage preservation through weaving, indigo dyeing and traditional motifs. Hanoi Liberation Day Arts: The city unveiled plans for Oct. 10 celebrations with synchronized fireworks and music over West Lake (900 installations) plus a second show near the Hoan Kiem area (350 installations), alongside opera and other cultural programs. Music & Media in Vietnam: Vietnam is cited as a top global online music market, with 87.4% of internet users streaming weekly, while Hanoi’s Vietnam National Academy of Music director Nguyen Huy Phuong joins the jury for the expanded 2027 Vietnam International Piano Talent Competition. Film & Festivals: Five Vietnamese films were selected for the 31st Busan International Film Festival, and the American French Film Festival in L.A. announced its 2026 lineup including a French-Vietnamese opening film, In Waves. AI in Vietnamese filmmaking: VietNamNet reports on filmmakers pushing back on AI-generated shorts, arguing human actors still have the edge. Tourism Numbers: VNAT says September brought 1.77 million international arrivals (+16.1% y/y), lifting Vietnam close to its 2026 target.

FIFA ASEAN Cup Football: Malaysia edged Vietnam 1-0 in the third-place playoff in Jakarta, with substitute Fergus Tierney scoring in the 62nd minute—Vietnam’s first official-competition loss to Malaysia in 12 years, despite more possession and shots. Coaching & Team Spirit: Interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe said the turnaround came from a “family” bond and shared hunger for victory, while also noting he’s ready to continue if the FAM wants him. Regional Sports Context: Earlier, Malaysia’s campaign ended without a final spot, but still finished unbeaten and clean-sheet in the tournament—an encouraging base for what comes next. Higher Education Numbers: Vietnam’s PhD enrollment is led by business and management, law, and related fields, with Field III the biggest group in 2025–2026. Arts & Culture Festival: Hanoi hosted the Cultures of the World Festival (Oct 1–4), bringing troupes and nearly 220 artists from 50 countries, including Azerbaijan’s ashug music. Culture & Media: A Vietnamese student was charged over a Threads concert-ticket scam allegedly netting over $76,000 from more than 200 people.

FIFA ASEAN Cup: Malaysia beat Vietnam 1-0 in the third-place playoff in Jakarta, with substitute Fergus Tierney scoring in the 62nd minute, ending Vietnam’s run with a defeat after an injury-hit campaign. Sports Diplomacy: Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim publicly backed Harimau Malaya ahead of the match, while the tournament’s final was won by Indonesia on penalties over Thailand. Cultural Policy: Vietnam is set to hold a national scientific conference in Hanoi on Oct. 10 to promote Vietnamese cultural values as a driver for national development, with more than 200 delegates expected. Traditional Music Spotlight: A report highlights how the Hre Ra ngoi mouth harp keeps courtship traditions alive in central Vietnam, with elders recalling musical “conversations” between young couples. Hanoi Arts & Exchange: The second Cultures of the World Festival ran in Hanoi (Oct 1–4), featuring performances from Azerbaijan and other countries, and marking Vietnam’s 50th anniversary with UNESCO. Media & Entertainment: VietNamNet examines the growing pull of AI-generated short dramas in Vietnam and the push for stronger online film distributor responsibility. Big Build in Hanoi: Construction continues on VinFast Trong Dong Stadium, designed to hold 135,000 spectators and open in July 2027, with a bronze drum-inspired look.

FIFA ASEAN Cup: Malaysia’s Brad Tapp says Harimau Malaya have quality beyond the stars and are ready to bounce back in the third-place playoff vs Vietnam after missing the final. Regional Sports Gap: Vietnam’s Asian Games results underline a widening performance gap, with the country landing only three golds—mostly from sepak takraw and karate—while Olympic events lag. Miss Grand Spotlight: Vietnam’s Emoura Pham impressed in Miss Grand International 2026’s closed-door interview, pitching a “fifth B” as a “bridge” through personal values and connection. Culture & Heritage: Hanoi’s Cultures of the World Festival closed at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, bringing 50 countries together through arts, cinema, fashion, food and performances. Community Sports in Hanoi: The Hanoi Open Dragon Boat and SUP Racing Tournament drew nearly 900 athletes to West Lake, blending competition with international friendship. Global Arts/Entertainment: IO Interactive released free DLC for 007: First Light, adding New Game+ and a Vietnam-set TacSim mission. Fashion & Film: Louisville designer Frances Brunner’s “Boyhood” project blends fashion, choreography, music and film to challenge ideas of masculinity.

FIFA ASEAN Cup: Malaysia’s interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe is pushing Harimau Malaya to end a decade-long winless run against Vietnam in tomorrow’s third-place playoff in Jakarta, after a 6-0 win over Singapore left them proud but disappointed to miss the final. Box Office & Film Buzz: Anne Hathaway’s “Verity” opened to $62.5M worldwide for a strong second-best start for Colleen Hoover adaptations, while Alejandro Inarritu’s “Digger” debuted to a low $20M. Hanoi Street Festival: “Colours of Five Continents” lit up Hoan Kiem Lake on Oct 3 with a 1,000+ ao dai parade and performances from many countries as part of Hanoi World Cultural Festival 2026. Sports Medicine for Vietnam Football: AFC’s medical committee backed Vietnam Football Federation to host the AFC Medical Conference in Hanoi in 2027 and approved new youth safety heading protocols. Hallyu Meets Payments: Mastercard launched “Tap Into My Heart,” a K-microdrama series rolling out across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines to promote payment safety. Green Entrepreneurship: Vietnam’s 12th Green Startup Competition 2026 spotlighted young agripreneurs turning farm by-products into high-value circular products. Local Culture & Food: Lu Market near Hanoi’s region draws visitors with nearly 100 years of traditional trading and a busy food section.

ASEAN Cup Football: Malaysia’s interim coach Tan Cheng Hoe is pushing to end a decade-long winless run against Vietnam in the third-place playoff, despite missing captain Dion Cools and winger Mohamad Faisal Abdul Halim—while Vietnam’s recent 2-0 win over Malaysia still looms large. Sports Medicine & Football Science: The AFC Medical Committee backs Vietnam as host of the 2027 AFC Medical Conference in Hanoi and approves new child safety heading protocols, spotlighting Vietnam’s growing role in regional football health. Green Entrepreneurship: Vietnam’s 12th Green Startup Competition spotlights young agripreneurs turning farm by-products into higher-value goods through circular models—from straw-mushroom residue loops to seed-coating innovations. Higher Education Pressure: Vietnam universities report rising but still short PhD enrollment targets, with the fulfillment rate improving to 62.61% in 2025-2026 yet leaving 37.39% unfilled. Tourism Promotion Strategy: Vietnam’s tourism push is shifting toward bigger, long-term campaigns tied to real visitor experiences, with calls for coordinated messaging across ministries and overseas cultural promotion. Cultural Exchange: A China–Vietnam youth media exchange in Hanoi features roundtables, heritage displays, and a micro-documentary launch to deepen people-to-people ties.