Hanoi transforms into livability with 'City for Peace' vision

In 2019, the year in which Hanoi celebrated the 20th anniversary of the capital being awarded the title of 'City of Peace', it hosted the second North Korea-United States Summit.

This event, along with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), the Inter-Parliamentary Union IPU-132 conferences, and many Southeast Asian sporting events, were held safely, making Hanoi known to the world as the City for Peace and the City of Events.

Hanoi was the first Asian city to be awarded the title of "City for Peace" by UNESCO on July 16, 1999. In the 25 years since Hanoi earned this distinction, the capital has made monumental efforts to live up to the honor, becoming a friendly destination and gaining increasing popularity among international partners.

A throw-back

Hanoi was honored as a "City for Peace" for its positive contributions to the struggle for peace and its own development and construction. These contributions are in line with UNESCO's criteria on equality in the community, urban construction, preservation of the living environment, promotion of cultural and educational development, and concern for civic education and the young generation.

Hanoi has many unique cultural assets that have been harnessed to create new tourism products that attract domestic and foreign tourists. Photo: Khanh Huy/The Hanoi Times

According to Jonathan Wallace Baker, UNESCO representative in Vietnam, the UN body considered a number of criteria in awarding the title to Hanoi 25 years ago, including social welfare, cultural richness and diversity of cultural practices in Hanoi, as well as the city's social structure.

To date, Hanoi, together with friendship organizations, has continued to build and promote the value of this title with many people-to-people foreign policy programs and activities, helping international friends learn more about the capital's culture and history.

"Personally, I think Hanoi still fully deserves the title it was given 25 years ago," said Jonathan Wallace Baker.

"Hanoi is a city of culture, history and nature. The area around Hoan Kiem has many places to walk, it is very worth living. Personally, I think Hanoi is worth living in. Hanoi is busy day and night, which is great," said Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam Shawn Steil.

It hasn't been long since he came to Vietnam as the South Korean ambassador, but for Choi Young-sam, Hanoi is a city with ancient and traditional features.

"Hanoi is not only the administrative capital of Vietnam, but also the center of Vietnamese tradition and culture. In fact, you can feel the ancient culture of Vietnam by walking around the famous Hoan Kiem Lake area. Perhaps that is why so many foreign tourists, including South Koreans, visit Hoan Kiem Lake and the surrounding area to experience this peaceful feeling," said Choi Young-sam.

Foreign tourists are always interested in learning and experiencing traditional Vietnamese handicrafts. In the photo, To he (toy figurines) artist Dang Van Hau is instructing a Canadian embassy official in Vietnam to make powdered animals. Photo: Khanh Huy/The  Hanoi Times

Works to do

According to Nguyen Ngoc Ky, Chairman of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations, HAUFO and its members have for many years organized effective people-to-people diplomacy activities, maintained relations with partners and international organizations at home and abroad, achieved outstanding results, and contributed to the city's overall foreign affairs achievements.

"We have witnessed the transformation of Hanoi over the past 25 years. Currently, the population has increased three or four times since then. However, the city still retains its unique values, such as its social structure and peaceful atmosphere. If you go to any corner of a capital city, you will feel the unique peace of Hanoi," he said.

Ky said the values of the city 25 years ago are still here. It's a huge cultural treasure, the cultural practices and creative arts that continue through generations, and the solidarity of the people today.

Over the past 25 years, Hanoi has undergone comprehensive changes and transformation in all aspects. Infrastructure is being improved to make Hanoi a safe and friendly destination for tourists. Photo: Khanh Huy/The Hanoi Times

Ky emphasized the implementation of the Capital Law (amended), especially the provisions on strengthening people-to-people diplomacy; innovating and creating ways to organize annual peace and friendship activities in connection with political and diplomatic events of the city and the country; mobilizing foreign non-governmental organizations to sponsor charity activities.

Nguyen Van Hanh of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association in Hanoi agreed, saying that people-to-people diplomacy not only strengthens solidarity and friendship between the people of Vietnam and the people of countries around the world, but also arouses national pride, and people work for the common interests of the nation and the people.

Hanh said the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association in Hanoi would continue to deploy and promote activities in a comprehensive manner, with more diverse contents, approaches, and formats of activities.

Nguyen Ngoc Ky, Chairman of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations. Photo: Lien Ha/The Hanoi Times

According to Pham Ngoc Tram, Secretary General of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association in Hanoi, "young forces are desperately needed in foreign affairs work as a backbone, a bridge with young people from other countries, promoting their expertise in culture, education, health, economics and trade."

Therefore, the friendship associations in Hanoi need to expand their membership and focus on youth, while enhancing the role of the younger generation in people-to-people diplomacy.

To do this, Tram said, each friendship association must play to its own strengths. For example, the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association and the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association have members who are Laotian and Cambodian students studying in Vietnam, while the Vietnam-South Korea Friendship Association has young members who love Korean culture and arts. They can be the ambassadors of the capital.

In the last six months of 2024, HAUFO will focus on contributing to the construction of foreign affairs policy and people-to-people diplomacy; organizing friendship activities; improving information about the foreign affairs activities of the capital.

In particular, some outstanding programs expected to be held include: Latin American Music Night; ASEAN Friendship Cultural Festival; International Children's Painting Competition "I Love Hanoi-City for Peace" and others.