Netflix looks to tighten relationship with Hanoi in creative industry

Global streaming platform Netflix wants to assist the development of Hanoi into Asia’s creative industry hub, vice president of public policy Dean Garfield said on April 17.

In a meeting with Hanoi mayor Tran Sy Thanh, the Netflix executive expected the cooperation between the company and authorities of Vietnam and Hanoi would grow stronger.

Netflix sees Vietnam as a potential market, and the US company is taking the very first steps to establish its presence in the Vietnamese market, Dean said.

He said one of the priorities is to find a potential partner and an opportunity for long-term development in Vietnam.

Netflix wants to spur the growth of the Vietnamese creative industry, Dean added.

The US executive hoped that Hanoi, as Vietnam’s capital city and cultural-political-economic center, would give proper suggestions and opportunities the company needs.

He also affirmed the company would conduct discussions with the capital city soon to improve its cooperation with local authorities.

On April 18, Netflix will release a movie titled “A Tourist’s Guide to Love”, which has been filmed and produced over the last two years.

The movie was filmed in various cities and provinces of Vietnam, including Hanoi and several popular localities, such as the northern mountain province of Ha Giang and the ancient town of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam.

The movie recreates the beauty and dynamics of Hanoi in the post-pandemic stage, Dean said.

For his part, Tran Sy Thanh, Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, appreciated the company for having shot the movie in Vietnam.

He welcomed the idea of Netflix turning Hanoi into the hub of the creative industry and promised the best conditions to facilitate the company’s operation.

Mayor Thanh expected that Netflix would share its international practices, which may greatly help the amendment of the Capital Law.

"The Capital Law will be submitted to the National Assembly in May 2023, which will discuss private-public partnership (PPP) in cultural projects," Thanh said.

“The amendments of the rule could be the profound establishment for further cooperation between Netflix and Hanoi,” Thanh said.