Analyzing Vietnam’s Implementation of the 4Th Pillar of Asean’s Framework on Sustainable Tourism Development in the Post-Covid-19 Era: Achievements, Challenges, and Lessons from Asean Counterparts

Tangible and intangible heritage in Southeast Asia, particularly Vietnam, faces increasing threats from climate change, globalization, and weak governance. In response, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted the Framework for Sustainable Tourism Development (AFSTD) in 2023. Using a descriptive analytical approach, this study assesses the alignment of Vietnam’s current legal and institutional framework for cultural tourism with AFSTD Pillar 4 on safeguarding cultural heritage and promoting creative industries. It argues that while Vietnam has integrated cultural elements into tourism law and strategy, the current framework remains fragmented, overly centralized, and lacks data-driven preventive mechanisms for heritage preservation, community participation, and benefit-sharing. Moreover, the creative industries remain underdefined and underfunded, limiting their potential contribution to cultural tourism. Drawing on regional best sustainable cultural tourism practices in Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia, the study proposes policy reforms, including the institutionalization of heritage impact assessments, cross-sectoral governance models, creative industry legislation, and tourism benefit-sharing mechanisms. These recommendations aim to enhance Vietnam’s cultural tourism competitiveness while ensuring sustainable preservation and equitable development in line with ASEAN’s regional vision.