Developing creative spaces, building a unique identity for the capital's culture

Hanoi is the locality with the largest number of creative cultural spaces in the country, with 124 creative spaces. This is a positive signal showing the development of creative cultural spaces after 5 years of joining the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and implementing commitment initiatives to promote creative design activities.

Since 2019, when it officially joined the Creative Cities Network of the United NationsEducational , Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Hanoi has promoted its intelligence and collective spirit in cultural creation, bringing about unique cultural events and works. Hanoi has many advantages and potentials to converge, form and promote the development of creative spaces, creating a unique identity for the capital. Hundreds of creative spaces are operating effectively in Hanoi, a positive signal showing the role and contributions of culture and art to the development of the spiritual and cultural life of the people of the capital.

Up to now, Hanoi has effectively developed and promoted many creative cultural spaces, maximizing cultural and human resources, transforming those resources into cultural soft power, inheriting and developing the creative cultural flow of the capital. Typical activities include developing walking streets and creative cultural and craft spaces in the city.

Hoan Kiem Lake walking street. Photo: VNA

In 2019, Hanoi only had 2 walking street spaces: Hoan Kiem Lake walking street and Trinh Cong Son walking street. Up to now, Hanoi has developed 4 more spaces, including: walking street and flower street in Bac An Khanh urban area; Son Tay Ancient Citadel walking street; Night food street and Ngu Xa pearl island walking street; Tran Nhan Tong walking street, Thong Nhat park.

The organization of cultural festivals and typical events on creative activities in the capital has attracted a large number of creative people and people to participate, including outstanding events such as: Folk Culture Festival in Contemporary Life in 2019, 2020; Vietnam Creativity and Design Festival 2020; Vietnam Design Week 2021, 2022... Of which, the most typical is the Hanoi Creative Design Festival held in 2022, 2023 and continuing to take place next November.

The events include a series of in-depth discussions, exhibitions, art performances, creative game experiences, etc., attracting a large number of people to participate, and are also a new and attractive playground for those working in culture and art in the capital. Artist and art curator Nguyen Hoang Quoc Anh said: "I am a citizen of Hoan Kiem district and also a son of Hanoi, so there is no greater happiness and honor than to contribute not only to Hanoi but also to the surrounding communities with works of art and interactions through cultural and artistic projects.

Toong's creative space. Photo: toongcoworking

Many of the capital’s cultural creative spaces act as hubs to promote and connect artists and creators with the community, creating identity and appeal for cities based on traditional values. Some of these spaces have also become venues for many famous international art events.

Musician Quoc Trung, General Director of the Monsoon International Music Festival, one of Vietnam's cultural events attracting the participation of many international artists, said: Since 2023, in Hoan Kiem district, we have found ways to combine introducing the creativity of artists, especially young artists, to regional and international organizers. Along with that, we also introduce the cultural spaces and heritage of Hoan Kiem district to tourists and audiences.

Hanoi has issued many policies to develop the cultural industry and build a creative city. Up to now, creative spaces in Hanoi operate in many diverse fields, such as: design, visual arts, architecture, music, handicraft performances, publishing, photography, cinema, etc., contributing to the vitality of the city and catalyzing the development of the creative industry.

Co-working space naked Hub is now available in Hanoi. Photo: nhipcaudautu.vn

Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son, Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education, emphasized: Spreading the spirit of creativity to everyone is very important. Hanoi is a creative city, so the creative atmosphere has created creative spaces, from creative people, to all the factors that will help Hanoi not only maintain the spirit of creativity but also turn those creativity into a driving force for the development of the capital in the coming years.

With the goal of putting culture and creativity at the center of development, as the key to urban development planning, Hanoi is gradually developing and effectively promoting creative spaces for culture and art. Thereby, affirming the position of a capital rich in cultural traditions, imbued with the spirit of innovation and creativity, making Hanoi a pioneer in developing cultural and creative industries, contributing to building a cultural - civilized - modern capital, worthy of being the political and cultural center of the whole country./.

Yanjiang