Hoi An and Da Lat have been recognized as UNESCO Creative Cities.

Hoi An and Da Lat have been recognized as UNESCO Creative Cities in the fields of crafts, folk arts, and music .

On the occasion of World Cities Day on October 31st, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay signed a decision recognizing Da Lat and Hoi An, along with 53 other cities worldwide, as part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). Hoi An is recognized as a creative city in the field of crafts and folk art, while Da Lat is recognized as a creative city in music.

According to the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Sports , Vietnam currently has three UNESCO-recognized creative cities. In 2019, Hanoi was recognized as a creative city in the field of design.

Lantern-making in Hoi An. Photo: Dac Thanh — Lantern-making in Hoi An. Photo: *Dac Thanh*

UCCN was established in 2004 to promote collaboration among cities that share the goal of viewing creativity as a strategic element for sustainable urban development. The network currently comprises 350 cities from over 100 countries, focusing on seven creative fields: Design, Literature, Music, Crafts and Folk Arts, Culinary Arts, Film, and Media Arts.

Newly recognized UNESCO Creative Cities will fulfill the commitments outlined in their accession dossiers, providing legal solutions to global issues such as climate change and rising inequality.

Da Lat and Hoi An are included in the Project for the Development of Vietnam's Creative Cities System under the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, approved by the Prime Minister. According to the roadmap from now until 2030, a maximum of two Vietnamese cities will develop and submit applications to join the UCCN every two years, with the goal of having 4-6 cities recognized as UNESCO Creative Cities.

Speaking to VnExpress , the Chairman of Hoi An City, Nguyen Van Son, said, "It is a great honor to join the network, but it also comes with a heavy responsibility."

According to Mr. Son, Hoi An has strengths in the fields of handicrafts and folk arts. With this integration, Hoi An has the opportunity to promote the development of traditional fields such as preserving and promoting traditional crafts like carpentry, pottery, bamboo, and Cam Thanh coconut, while also promoting handicraft industries such as lantern making.

"Through this network, Hoi An can learn from the experiences of pioneering cities, especially advanced cities around the world, as the network includes nearly 200 cities," said Mr. Son. Many of these places are leading the way in building smart, innovative cities and digital transformation.

Besides the advantages, the Chairman of Hoi An believes that joining the group also brings great responsibility, as there are very high standards regarding the environment and sustainable development. "These are both challenges and opportunities for the city to develop sustainably," he said.

Mr. Son said that when Hoi An was recognized, it didn't prioritize attracting a large number of tourists immediately. The city participated with the aim of focusing on quality development, not quantity. As the city's reputation improves and quality increases, more tourists will come, and the jobs of the local people will improve.

For Da Lat, becoming a UNESCO Creative City in the field of music is significant and welcome news, especially as 2023 marks the city's 130th anniversary. The city hopes that, alongside tourism, the potential of cultural industries, particularly music, will play a core role in promoting international integration, sustainable urban development, fostering social and ethnic connections, and improving the quality of life for its residents.

"The cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network are playing a pioneering role in promoting cultural accessibility and empowering creativity in sustainable urban development," said UNESCO Director-General Azoulay.

Phuong Anh - Dac Thanh

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