Since becoming a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2019, Hanoi has made constant efforts to carry out initiatives and solutions to translate its creative potential into a resource for development and effectively implement its commitments to UNESCO.

The city has introduced many mechanisms, policies and plans to promote the building of a creative city, notably Resolution 09-NQ/TU dated February 22, 2022, on developing cultural industries in the capital city for the 2021-2025 period, with orientation for 2030 and vision for 2045; and Plan 102/KH-UBND dated April 1, 2022, on implementing initiatives on joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network until 2025. The city has also worked with relevant parties to organise various programmes and activities to concretise initiatives and commitments to UNESCO.

Strong political commitment has laid the groundwork for Hanoi’s cultural industries to reap substantial fruits. The city has become a diverse cultural centre with many outstanding arts events, such as the annual Creative Design Week, each year featuring fresh colours, and the boom in public spaces and street arts.

The creative spirit has provided inspiration for startup activities, especially efforts to renovate culture and arts activities in the capital city, as seen in the “Sacred Night” at the Hoa Lo Prison Relic Site, the night tour with 3D mapping technology at the Temple of Literature and the night tour to demystify the Thang Long Imperial Citadel.

Digital transformation in the cultural field is actively implemented at museums such as the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum, the National History Museum, the Hanoi Museum and the Ho Chi Minh Museum. Notably, the dynamism and creativity in organising the Creative Design Week, Ao Dai Tourism Week, and Tourism Gift Festival, with a series of accompanying activities and exhibitions, have created new vitality for the capital city’s cultural scene.

Alongside this, Hanoi has gradually become a leading destination for international art events. If the Monsoon Music Festival and the Hanoi International Film Festival continue to grow in scale and quality, attracting the attention of renowned artists from both within and outside the country, events featuring BlackPink, Kenny G, and Bond have truly helped Hanoi establish itself as a significant venue for international arts in the region and globally.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bui Hoai Son, Standing Member of the National Assembly's Culture and Education Committee, stated that Hanoi has garnered interest and admiration from art lovers around the world for successfully organising these major events. This is an important foundation for the capital to continue being a destination for even larger events in the coming years. These events and spaces not only promote cultural interaction but also enrich the spiritual life of the people.

In addition to these activities, Hanoi has also invested heavily in creative infrastructure.

Art centres, creative spaces, and technology hubs have been developed, providing ideal conditions for artists, designers, and startup founders. Notable examples include the Ho Guom Theatre, Vincom Contemporary Art Centre, Toong Co-working Space, Bird's Nest Organisation, O Ki Ha Hanoi, and Hanoi Creative City, among many other venues that have become gathering places for innovative and creative ideas.

In particular, Hoan Kiem District has completed the restoration and enhancement of the Cultural and Artistic Space at No.22 Hang Buom Street, while Quang Vinh Ceramics Co., Ltd. inaugurated the Centre for the Essence of Vietnamese Craft Villages in Bat Trang Commune. Alongside this, numerous exhibitions and displays have been held recently at the Hanoi Museum, Thang Long Imperial Citadel, and Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (The Temple of Literature).

Not only expanding creative spaces with more effective and quality activities, the spirit of creativity has now spread to every corner and road of Hanoi. We can see the movement to beautify residential areas, roads, and alleys voluntarily and actively by the communities themselves, or the collection of opinions on building bridges, renovating buildings, etc., all receive the attention and response of many people.

“When we have conceived that a road is not just for walking, a streetlamp is not just for lighting, a building is not just for living... All need to become works of art, new symbols of the city, so that we can tell beautiful stories about Hanoi. That is also the time when the spirit of creativity has become a resource for the sustainable and happy development of the Capital, worthy of the title of a thousand years of civilization," said Associate Professor, Dr Bui Hoai Son.

According to him, Hanoi is proving itself not only to be a centre of innovation but also a beacon for the conservation and promotion of cultural heritage values. The city is realising an inspiring vision: combining modern creativity with the preservation of precious traditional values.

The strong investment in culture, with about 14 trillion VND for the 2021-2025 period, is not only an impressive figure but also a manifestation of a deep commitment to cultural heritage. Hanoi is building a city brand where culture is not only preserved but also cherished and promoted as an essential part of a comprehensive development strategy.

Published: October 2024
Production manager: PHAM TRUONG SON
Content by: HONG VAN - VAN TOAN
Photos, videos: THANH DAT, THE DAI, Nhan Dan Television, Hanoi Moi Newspaper
Design: SON BACH