The year of 2018 is a pivotal year of high significance in implementing the Resolution of the 16th Hanoi City Municipal Party Congress; the third year implementing the socio-economic plan for the 2016-2020 period; year happening a lot of important events of the country and the Capital. Determining to tighten discipline, being creative, innovative, responsible, Hanoi Culture and Sports sector has concentrated on carrying out the key tasks of the year’s theme “Improving the operational effectiveness and efficiency of the political system” and has achieved a lot of major results. Hanoi Culture News had an interview with Mr. To Van Dong, Member of the Municipal Party Committee, Director of Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports about the outstanding achievements of the sector in 2018.
Reporter: Dear comrade, in 2018, the sector has concentrated to implement large number of international-scale cultural and sport events which have become the imprints of the Capital, especially the events organized at the pedestrian street surrounding Hoan Kiem Lake. Can you introduce some outstanding events to domestic and international friends?
To Van Dong Comrade: In 2018, aiming at bringing major, typical, domestic and international-scale culture and sports events to be organized in the Capital, Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports guided, coordinated with relevant agencies and units to successfully hold 162 events, of which included 07 events of provinces and cities and 21 international events held in Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian street.
In addition to the maintaining and organizing of annual and international cultural and artistic events in the Capital such as: Vietnam Airlines Classic – Hanoi Concert 2018; Japanese cultural exchange activities …; A lot of major events was held in Hanoi for the first time, leaving an imprint on the Capital residents and visitors: “Hanoi Essence – Convergence and shine” Street Festival, Hanoi International Marathon Tournament in 2018; day of England, Israel’s Culture, German Festival, events for promoting French and Thailand cultures …
The unique feature is that most of events were held in the form of socialization. This is the constant effort of the Culture and Sports sector in introducing and honoring the culture and unique cultural heritage of Vietnam and the Capital, improving the spiritual life for the residents, promoting the development of tourism.
Reporter: The year of 2018 marked an important blueprint of 10 years adjusting the administrative boundaries of Hanoi Capital. In terms of culture, how the preservation and promotion of Thang Long Culture value together with the Doai area’s Culture were carried out to enrich the cultural identity of the Capital, sir?
To Van Dong Comrade: After 10 year-implementation of the Resolution No. 15/2008 / NQ-QH12 dated May 29, 2018 of the National Assembly on adjusting the administrative boundaries of Hanoi City, the traditional cultural identity of Thang Long land, Doai area’s Culture and other cultural areas are increasingly preserved, promoted and spread. A lot of cultural values have been rebuilt, restored and explored; many cultural heritages have been honored by UNESCO; Hanoi City – the symbol of peace is increasingly honored.
The program of “Developing culture-society, improving the quality of human resources of the Capital, building Hanoi people to be elegant and civilized”. The movement of “all people to unite to build cultural life”, especially the movement of “Good people and good deeds” has developed intensively and widely and a lot of other emulation movements have spread and generated motivation to promote socio-economic development, enhance the physical and spiritual life, contribute in maintaining and stabilizing the socio-political situation, being the driving force for the development of the Capital in industrialization and modernization process and international integration.
The preservation and promotion of the heritage values are paid a lot of attention to implement by the city such as strengthening the management, preservation, renovation and restoration of historical-cultural relics and scenic spots in the City; The restoration and renovation of the relics are concentrated in investing combined between the budget of the city, districts, towns and the socialization budget among the people. In 2018, the City People’s Committee issued a Decision on “Supplementing expenditure for districts and towns to urgently implement the renovation and anti-degradation for 50 ranked relics in Hanoi City. At the end of 2018, there were 3 additional relics in Hanoi city: Historical relics of Dong Da Mount (Dong Da district), So Temple (Quoc Oai district), Tuong Phieu Temple (Phuc Tho district) was ranked as special National relics by the Prime Minister, increasing the total number of special national relics of Hanoi to 16 relics.
The Department always pays attention in improving values of intangible cultural heritage. There have heritages of the rural area performed for the first time in Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian street have attracted tourists such as: Traditional operetta on boats (in Dan Phuong district) and Bong Dancing (Trieu Khuc Village, Thanh Tri District). A number of other cultural heritages are exchanged for international cooperation such as heritages of Ca trù and tug of war… From the heritage that is included in urgent preservation list, Hanoi has promoted the documentation and teaching singing ca trù through Hanoi Ca Trù young talent Festival, the National Ca Trù Festival, with a large number achieving outstanding awards, which make Ca Tru to be increasingly preserved and promoted. ….. heritage continues to expand cooperation with other countries in the region through many exchanging activities and performances in Hanoi Capital. Also in 2018, many artisans were paid attention and supported to make dossier to submit to the President to be awarded the titles of “People’s Artist” and “Excellent Artisan”. Those are the efforts proactively implemented by the sector in order to preserve and enrich the cultural identity of the Capital.
Reporter: Taking over the important task of hosting the 8th National Sports Games – Hanoi in 2018 and excellently won for the first place, please tell me which resources Hanoi prepared to successfully organize the high achievement national sports games of largest scale nationwide?
To Van Dong Comrade: The 8th National Sports Games – Hanoi in 2018: The largest-scale sporting event in our country, held every 4 years, attracting more than 11,000 cadres and trainers, referees, athletes from delegations of 63 provinces and cities and 2 sectors of public security and military, competing in 743 contents of 36 sports for 25 consecutive days.
Hanoi’s team of professional and highly experienced persons in sports strived to coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, General Department of Sports and Physical Training, mobilized departments, branches and sectors, People’s Committees of districts under cities and districts to thoughtfully and professionally hold the sports in the Competition Program at the Games. This is evaluated as the most successful Congress in terms of organization, profession, logistics ….among 8 national Games.
Professionally, the Sports delegation of the Capital has been excellently ranked the first position among the total of 65 sports delegations participating in the Games with total of 464 medals, of which included 176 gold medals, 149 silver medals and 139 bronze medals.
Reporter: Keeping pace with time and overcoming many strict conditions on facilities, infrastructure and funding, Hanoi has recently been officially assigned the right to host the F1 Race. Please tell me the meaning of this world prestigious sports event?
To Van Dong Comrade: Hanoi – the nation’s major cultural center not only attracts domestic and international tourists for its 1000 year cultural sediments with the place names of four gates of Thang Long, Ngoc Sơn Temple, Temple of Literature, One Pillar Pagoda … but also a place where a lot of large scale cultural and sports events expressing the exchange and integration are taken place.
After negotiating for more than 2 years, Hanoi City has officially signed with Formula One Group to host the Formula One race for the period of 10 years starting from 2020. The racing track is located in the My Dinh National Sports Complex. Hanoi – Vietnam officially becomes the 22nd member of the World Formula One Racing – the world-class and prestigious race, bringing the name of Hanoi on the map of international sports events. This is not merely a sports event, it is also an opportunity to promote the image of Hanoi Capital and Vietnam to international friends.
The racing track in Hanoi is the only track in the world with a half is the traffic road and a half is newly built. With the length of 5,565 kilometers designed by Tilke Group of Germany, the racing track in Hanoi is not only a challenge for racers but also bring attractive performances to the audience and fans. Expectedly, in April 2020, the race will officially take place in Hanoi Capital.
Reporter: Upon the new year’s approach, which activities Hanoi Culture and Sports sector are going to organize to celebrate Ky Hoi Lunar New Year, sir?
To Van Dong Comrade: Following the activities to welcome the 2019 new year, on the occasion of the Lunar New Year and the 89th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam’s establishment, in addition to cultural, artistic activities, movies show, exhibitions, sports organized traditionally in the central area of the city and districts, towns, the Department will promote the activities of illuminating and visual cheering decorations on the streets in the central area of the City; mobilize society resources to participate in decorating lights, flowers and ornamental plants on the occasion of the Lunar New Year in order to make the streets of the Capital beautiful; organize cultural and artistic performances in districts under city, districts and towns ; Hanoi extended dragon boat racing festival on January 12 and 13 in West Lake; opening the relics of Ngoc Son Temple, Hoa Lo Prison, Temple of Literature during Lunar New Year to welcome and serve visitors and tourists.
It is hoped that the taking place of a lot of activities throughout the districts, towns in the whole city will bring a warm, peaceful and pleasant atmosphere to celebrate the new years with a lot of new successes.
Sincerely thanks a lot!
Thanh Mai (conducting the interview)