Being located in the center of the capital, along with typical beauty spots, Hoan Kiem district also has the old quarter with traditional streets and villages, especially unique heritages: that is elegant and civilized cultural behavior of Hanoians. In order to exploit such elegant and civilized patterns of Hanoians and simultaneously promote good patterns in the behavior culture of former and nowadays Hanoians, on 17 December 2008, Hoan Kiem district approved the project on “Forming some behavior characters of residents living in the old quarter”. Up to now, the project has created a big movement which attracts the participation of residents in all classes, gradually forming good behavior characters of residents here.
Together with the general development of the capital, apart from positive aspects, socio-economic development and mechanical population increase, tourists, … have directly impacted on environmental landscape, habits in daily living activities and the behavior of residents living in the old quarter in Hoan Kiem district. Besides those who try to keep and promote traditional values, some of residents have bad awareness or a pragmatic living style in environmental sanitation protection. They have appropriated sidewalks for their own business activities, dumped wastes and rubbish at wrong places and lacked of prestige. Under this actual situation, the establishment and appearance of the project on “Forming some behavior characters of residents living in the old quarter” is an objective indispensability. The project comprises 5 basic criteria: Implementing well obligations of citizens. Having a good cultural behavior. Having a good awareness in maintaining urban order and security as well as protection of environmental sanitation. Wearing elegant clothes. Having civilized business and trade. Thanks to scientific and careful preparatory works, just after establishment, the project was welcomed and supported by 100% of residents living in the area.
In order to put the project into the actual life, Hoan Kiem district has disseminated it to residents through meetings of residential groups, annual meetings of residents and distributed leaflets to each household and each shop in the area, etc. Especially, the district has considered the implementation results of the project as one of the most important criteria to evaluate and acknowledge cultural titles.
Matching with the reality and expectation of residents, the project has been gradually put into actual life by Hoan Kiem district. 5 criteria of the project have been integrated into the movement of cultural life construction in association with the implementation of the behavior principles of official and public civil servants in agencies in Hanoi city. Thanks to well-implemented propaganda and campaign, residents and shops in the district area grasped the project contents quite well and actively participated into project implementation. Through project implementation, many good initiatives have occurred: residents in Hang Bong ward has gradually paid to their goods words, acts and deeds; increased their awareness in keeping urban order and security as well as protection of environmental sanitation, actively participated in illegally posted advertisement papers on walls. In praising through broadcasting those of good acts and deeds and criticizing those of bad behavior in living style and behavior culture, Dong Xuan ward – trading center in the old quarter have paid special attention to establishment of behavior culture in association with trading civilization. Anh Tuyet artist opened a shop to teach the way of cooking traditional Hanoi’s dishes and food for foreigners to disseminate and introduce to them the cultural cuisine of the capital. Women Union of the district has encouraged women and residents who do business to show their elegant characters in their business and trade activities; established cultural criteria in business and trading; keeping prestige and faithfulness in business, wearing elegant clothes, always saying thanks and excuse words, respecting to old people and making concessions to younger persons, making visitors happy and satisfied, etc.
The support of residents living in the district has gradually created positive changes in the old quarter. Streets have become cleaner, more spacious and civilized. Behind the noisy and eventful atmosphere of streets, good behavior characters in daily living communication have been improved. Argues and quarrels between sellers and buyers have been reduced remarkably. The slogan “Visitors will happy when arrive and leave” has become popular and put into actual implementation in daily life. In each family of the old quarter, cultural living style has been maintained and improved. The behavior between grandparents and their children has been improved also. The affection of families has been improved with solidarity and strong attachment. Good characters in behavior culture which have been maintained and expanded have created positive impacts on the economic development with the attraction of many local and foreign tourist to the old quarter for sightseeing and shopping. From this, cultural values will be continuously introduced and popularized to create the attractiveness for the capital in general and Hoan Kiem tourism in particular.
The implementation of the project on “Forming some behavior characters of residents living in the old quarter” is an initiative of Hoan Kiem district in the implementation of Programme 04 of the city party committee. Determining this as an action which should be frequently and permanently implemented, Hoan Kiem district has continuously promote the project implementation to foster traditional cultural values and making the district development become comprehensive and sustainable.
Together with synchronous methods, the project implementation has contributed to construction of Hoa Kiem district as a friendly and attractive destination
Van Thu