Hanoi's Sword Lake. Photo: VNA

Hanoi became one of 66 cities designated by UNESCO last October as Creative Cities in various categories. Hanoi got the UNESCO honour in the ‘Design’ category for its developed design industry, opportunities for creating designs from natural materials and the presence of active design groups. Following the designation, the city plans to issue a long-term program and connect its policies to promote cultural industries and enrich cultural resources, according to Secretary of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue. 

"To fulfill Hanoi’s commitments to UNESCO following its recognition as a Creative City in the “Design” category, the city will devise new programs and action plans for the long run and integrate them into the city’s policies. This aims to develop the city’s creative design sector as well as to raise public awareness to reach the city’s initiatives in building a creative image for Hanoi," said Hue. 

A city largely depends on its values in culture, education, socio-economy and efforts to reduce pollution caused by economic development to become a creative city. Scientists believe Hanoi has good conditions to become a creative city with its thousand-year history and culture. The city's hundreds of creative spots and more than 1,500 time-honored traditional craft villages are ideal for attracting visitors. Dr. Nguyen Quang, United Nations Human Settlements Development Programme Chief Representative, said: "The many layers of Hanoi's tangible and intangible cultural history gives Hanoi its own uniqueness. Hanoi’s historic periods of pre-feudalism, feudalism, colonialism, socialism, and the renewal or doi moi period are special and make Hanoi different. In modern society, difference is key to boosting development and enhancing competitiveness among cities worldwide."

Products of Hanoi's Ha Thai Lacquer Village. Photo: thanglong.chinhphu.vn

Joining UNESCO’s creative city network, Hanoi has joined 246 cities in 84 countries worldwide to make creativity a strategic factor for sustainable development, opening opportunities for further cooperation and promotion of development with global creative cities such as Berlin (Germany), Shanghai (China), and Singapore. Secretary of the Hanoi municipal Party Committee Vuong Dinh Hue said cultural resources and creativity are a major source of strength and a great driving force for Hanoi to fulfil its development goals.

 "Hanoi aims to fulfill its 2025 strategic goal of becoming a smart and modern city capable of competing with other cities in Vietnam and ASEAN, with a vision towards 2030 of becoming a green, smart and modern city competing with cities in the region and all over the world. By 2045, Hanoi could be a global city with high standards of living and comprehensive and sustainable development in fields of culture, economy and society," said Mr. Hue.