Hanoi has successfully executed all the initiatives and commitments made to UNESCO during its application to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. This accomplishment is marked by the organization of eight seminars and international conferences aimed at constructing policies for Hanoi’s sustainable development as an innovative city. Additionally, networks of young creative designers have been established, and existing creative spaces within the city have been fortified.
On October 30, 2019, Hanoi was proudly recognized as a member of the “UNESCO Creative Cities Network.” This recognition aimed to leverage cultural resources and creativity as the foundation for the city’s sustainable development. The event not only established new cultural development goals but also inspired creativity and positioned a fresh brand identity for Hanoi on the international stage. This development serves as a strategic advantage for the capital to harness the synthesis of economic, political, and social resources, especially capitalizing on cultural and human resources. The city is committed to transforming these resources into a “soft power” of culture, ensuring a robust promotion of cultural heritage and the vigorous development of the city’s creative cultural flow, which spans a thousand years of cultural history.
The Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2022 with the theme “Creativity and Technology”
The opening of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023 left a lasting impression with its grand artistic performances.
The inclusion in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network serves as a significant stride for the capital in branding and promoting its image across all creative and cultural spheres. It aligns Hanoi with a global community of cities progressing toward innovation, in line with the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Immediately after becoming a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2020, the Hanoi People’s Committee collaborated with the UNESCO Office in Vietnam to organize a high-level seminar titled “Consultation on Hanoi’s Initiatives – The Creative City.” This forum facilitated exchanges with reputable experts, both domestic and international, investors, and enterprises. It served as a platform to discuss ideas and initiatives that would support Hanoi in constructing a long-term strategy and plan. The overarching objective was to maximize the effectiveness and role of Hanoi as a UNESCO Creative City, attracting attention and support from the domestic and international communities. Subsequently, the city issued Plan No. 102/KH-UBND on April 1, 2022, outlining the implementation of initiatives to participate in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network until 2025.
In 2021, Hanoi triumphantly organized the seminar “Building the Creative Design Center – Experiences from UNESCO Creative Cities in the Region.”
In 2023, Hanoi has once again achieved success by hosting the UNESCO Creative Cities Network Workshop for the Southeast Asian region. Attended by over 100 delegates and dignitaries, including more than 20 representatives from other UNESCO Creative Cities, the workshop marked a significant milestone.
Despite grappling with challenges posed by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and navigating the complexities of urbanization, Hanoi has diligently executed various initiatives over the past four years. The city has not only weathered these difficulties but has also fulfilled all outlined commitments made to UNESCO during its bid to join the network. This includes the successful organization of eight seminars and international conferences, focusing on the establishment of policy mechanisms for the development of Hanoi as a Creative City. Furthermore, networks of young creative designers have been formed, and existing creative spaces within the city have been reinforced.
From 2021 to the present, Hanoi has seamlessly hosted the annual Hanoi Creative Design Festival with themes such as “Igniting Creativity” in 2021 and “Creativity and Technology” in 2022. In 2023, the festival, themed “Flow,” concentrates on three core pillars: design, community, and innovation. The objective is to connect creativity with the rich historical and cultural traditions of the city, ultimately contributing to the development of Hanoi’s Creative Cultural Industries. The Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023, held on a large scale, featured the participation of 200 entities, including creators, architects, artists, and more. With over 60 cultural activities, four architectural showcases, more than 20 seminars (including five international ones), and nine art introduction events, the festival took place at key locations such as Gia Lam Railway Factory, Hang Dau Water Tower, and Van Xuan Flower Garden. Multiple cultural and creative activities were also organized across various districts and towns. After three years of consistent organization, the festival has increasingly solidified its presence, inspiring creativity and promising to become a launchpad for the capital’s innovative prowess. It aims to steer towards future-oriented, sustainable economic activities, serving as a catalyst for the growth of cultural and service industries.
The “Exhibition Space Design Contest for the Essence of Hanoi’s Craft Villages” stands out as a practical initiative, fostering activities in the fields of Design and Creativity. It not only honors traditional craft villages but also provides a platform for young designers to exchange ideas and connect within the community.
In tandem with these efforts, the city has prioritized the effective implementation of investment programs to conserve, renovate, and uplift the value of local heritage sites, and invest in numerous key cultural projects. These projects, exemplifying distinctive landscape architecture, are intertwined with the vigorous promotion of cultural tourism, the establishment of new rural areas, and the development of a cultured urban environment. Hanoi has also demonstrated innovation in optimizing public pedestrian spaces, contributing to the creation of various creative cultural and craft precincts throughout the city. In the field of intangible cultural heritage, on December 8, 2022, the City People’s Council issued Resolution No. 23/2022/NQ-HDND, outlining policies and support for “People’s Artists” and “Meritorious Artists.” This includes artists and exemplary clubs in the domain of intangible cultural heritage in Hanoi. Simultaneously, the city maintains and develops international cooperation in a pragmatic and effective manner, strengthening and broadening diplomatic and cultural ties. It actively engages in collaborative efforts with cities and capitals globally, especially those affiliated with the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, while playing a constructive role in partnerships with provinces and cities nationwide.
After four years as a Creative City (in the field of design), Hanoi has taken firm strides in implementing initiatives and commitments with UNESCO. The cultural and creative currents are steadily spreading, generating the strength to construct Hanoi – the “Cultural – Civilized – Modern” Capital.”
Thanh Binh