Hanoi reaps fruits in implementing UNESCO's Creative Cities Network initiatives

Hanoi has carried out long-term action plans to create a framework for building a creative city and to realize commitments with UNESCO, said Christian Manhart, head of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam.

Manhart made the statement at an event held by the Hanoi Municipal Department of Culture and Sports and the UNESCO Office in Vietnam on April 25 to review Hanoi's performance after four years as a member of the network in the field of design.

Christian Manhart, head of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam, speaks at the event. Photo: The Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports

He was impressed with the city's achievements based on cultural resources, especially the successful organization of the Creative Design Festival and the facilitation of residents' participation in creative activities.

Moreover, Manhart expressed his belief that Hanoi will maintain its role as an active member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to link with other partners in the network.

Other experts at the event shared that the capital city of Hanoi has taken firm steps to implement its initiatives and commitments to UNESCO. Do Dinh Hong, Director of the city's Department of Culture and Sports, said that after four years of promoting creative design in its cultural, economic and social development programs, Hanoi has achieved specific results.

From now until 2025, Hanoi will implement many programs and projects to keep its commitments as a member of UNESCO's Creative Cities Network. Accordingly, the city's authorities will launch three initiatives locally and three others internationally. They include building the Hanoi Creative Design Center, developing and supporting creative spaces, and producing a TV show on creative talents.

In a broad move, the city will host the Hanoi Festival of Creative Design and a forum on UNESCO's Network of Creative Cities in Southeast Asia, while developing a network for young creative designers as part of the international initiatives.

Director of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports Do Dinh Hong makes a speech at the talk session.

In particular, the city will hold the "Hanoi Creative Design Festival" annually to honor the creativity of people and enterprises and promote cultural exchanges at home and abroad. Hanoi will facilitate the field of creativity and design to reach new heights and raise awareness among the community on how to make Hanoi a creative city through step-by-step initiatives.

At the event, many partners also said that Hanoi has a lot of room for design and creative activities thanks to the diversity of cultural heritage, traditional craft villages, and other cultural resources.

Tapping creative potential of young people

Director Do Dinh Hong noted that throughout the implementation of creative activities, Hanoi seeks to promote the participation of the whole society to tap the creative potential from all walks of life, especially the youth.

“With the participation of young people, the city wants to find new and unique ideas for creative spaces and products. The new and creative products would create the driving force for economic development and contribute to the realization of Hanoi as a creative hub of the region and the world,” Hong continued.

He also called for the participation of both domestic and foreign partners to organize meaningful activities for the development of the city.

Hanoi is one of 66 cities worldwide recognized by UNESCO as a Creative City. On October 31, 2019, Hanoi became the first city in Vietnam to be officially designated by UNESCO as a Creative City.

Founded in 2004, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network aims to enhance cooperation among its members to promote sustainable development. The network assesses the cities on seven creative themes: music, arts and folk crafts, design, cinema, literature, digital arts, and gastronomy. Its total membership sits at 246 cities across the globe.