Culture - Identity - Creativity: Strategic pillars for Hanoi to become a global capital

Speaking at the Hanoi Party Congress yesterday morning, General Secretary To Lam emphasized that Hanoi must put “Culture - Identity - Creativity” at the center of all development orientations of the capital. These are also the three strategic pillars for Hanoi to affirm its leading role, leading position and influence of the country in the era of integration and human intelligence.

From “thousand years of civilization” to “internal resources of the new era”

Over the course of more than a millennium, Hanoi is not only known as the political and administrative center of the country, but also the cultural heart of the Vietnamese people. “Cultural” - two words that contain the depth of history, intelligence and personality of the Vietnamese people. As General Secretary To Lam emphasized, the strength of the capital does not lie in the size of population or GDP growth rate, but in the depth of culture cultivated through history, in the mettle, spirit and intelligence that have been nurtured through generations of Hanoians.

General Secretary To Lam gives a speech at the Hanoi Party Congress. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

In the context of integration and digital transformation, “culture” is no longer a concept of the past but has become a source of spiritual energy for Hanoi to enter the creative era. Culture is the measure of sustainable development, because a city can become rich through industry or commerce, but can only grow through culture and knowledge. When culture is placed at the center of the development strategy, Hanoi not only preserves its heritage but also transforms tradition into creative capacity, making cultural values ​​​​a competitive driving force of the new era.

Looking back at history, every great transformation of the Capital has its roots in cultural values: from the spirit of “Nam quoc son ha” in the Ly Dynasty, to the movement of “Good people, good deeds” in modern times - all reflect the ideology of serving the people, serving the compatriots. Today, when General Secretary To Lam puts “cultural heritage” at the forefront of his development vision, it is not only a reaffirmation of the origin, but also a profound reminder that: Preserving and promoting cultural heritage is the way for Hanoi to protect its soul in the midst of the flow of modernization. From that cultural depth, Hanoi is expected to become the Capital of intelligence and humanity, a place where knowledge, creativity and human values ​​converge - indispensable factors in the journey of sustainable development and globalization.

“Identity” - the core for Hanoi to be different and spread

If “culture” is depth, then “identity” is the soul that makes Hanoi different. Identity is the “essence” of the capital - it cannot be copied, cannot be borrowed. It is the crystallization of history and people, of space and memory, of tradition and modern life. General Secretary To Lam pointed out: every decision, every project, every investment capital for Hanoi must “preserve the traditional character, shaping the cultural space for future generations”.

Hoan Kiem Lake is associated with the Turtle Tower symbol of Hanoi Capital. Photo: Duy Thong

In the process of urbanization and integration, the biggest challenge for Hanoi is not the lack of material resources, but the risk of losing its identity. Hanoi’s identity today needs to be redefined: not just a memory of the past, but the recognition of a creative city, where culture becomes a way of life, and creativity becomes a way to preserve traditional values. That is the way for Hanoi to both “go to the future” and “keep itself” - develop without dissolving, modern but still humane.

“Creativity” - the driving force of the era of integration and technology

If “culture” is the depth and “identity” is the core, then “creativity” is the driving force for Hanoi to rise up in the integration era. General Secretary To Lam has suggested a very new vision: building “three creative poles” - heritage, knowledge and technology - as a strategic development axis connecting the past, present and future of the capital. This is not only an urban development model, but also a development philosophy, making culture the foundation, knowledge the power, and technology the means to realize the aspiration of “Global Capital”.

First of all, the extremely creative heritage - the historic inner city center, the Red Riverbank and Co Loa Citadel - is the "golden warehouse of memories" of Thang Long - Hanoi. This is where the priceless values ​​of thousands of years of civilization converge, which can become an endless source of creative inspiration for cinema, design, music, fashion and cultural tourism. Imagine, when the Red Riverbank is planned as a "heritage avenue", connecting Thang Long Imperial Citadel, the old quarter and Co Loa by walking routes, open museums, heritage theaters - Hanoi will have a "cultural axis" worthy of the world, both preserving the past and creating a new creative space for the young generation.

Co Loa Citadel - the "golden warehouse of memories" of Thang Long - Hanoi. Photo: Duy Thong

Next, the extremely creative knowledge - where Hanoi National University, University of Science and Technology, Vietnam University of Fine Arts... and dozens of large research institutes are concentrated - is the "gold mine of gray matter" of the capital. If connected in a "knowledge belt", combining schools, businesses and the government, Hanoi can become the knowledge valley of Southeast Asia. There, each student, each scientist not only researches in the laboratory, but also participates in solving practical problems of the city - from the environment, traffic to digital culture, smart heritage. That is the way to turn knowledge into action capacity, turning schools into "sources of invention for society".

In addition, the extremely creative technology - with the center being Hoa Lac High-Tech Park - is opening up a new development space for the Capital. When large corporations in artificial intelligence, big data, biotechnology and digital content creation gather here, Hoa Lac will not only be a high-tech industrial park, but also a "creative city" of Hanoi in the future. Many young Vietnamese startups have chosen Hoa Lac as their starting place, from projects on cultural product design, animation, to virtual reality technology recreating Thang Long heritage. The meeting between technology and culture will turn traditional values ​​into new experiences - such as the way international tourists can "stroll" in the Imperial Citadel using 3D technology, or enjoy water puppetry through a virtual reality platform.

Hanoi - with its rich heritage, intellectuals, and growing technology base - can absolutely become the "creative capital of Southeast Asia" if it knows how to inspire, connect, and nurture human creativity.

Creativity is the heartbeat of the times, the breath of civilization in the digital age. When every Hanoian has the opportunity to be creative, the capital will become a cultural and technological center, where the past and the future meet in the rhythm of modern life.

Aspirations of a Global Capital

In his speech at the Hanoi Party Congress, General Secretary To Lam not only spoke about a development vision, but also painted a portrait of a new Capital - both imbued with culture and shining with aspirations, modern and humane. When the General Secretary emphasized that Hanoi must "create a completely new governance model", capable of "coordinating, leading and thoroughly resolving urgent issues, while opening up a vision for long-term and sustainable development", it was an affirmation of the pioneering and leading role of the Capital in the historical period when the country is entering an era of comprehensive innovation.

General Secretary To Lam delivers a speech directing the Hanoi Party Congress. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

A new governance model for Hanoi - as suggested by the General Secretary - is not only a story of the government, but also a co-creation of the whole society, in which culture plays the role of "hinge", people are the center and creativity is the driving force. Every decision, every development project of the capital, whether it is spatial planning, urban infrastructure, or digital transformation, must carry the cultural breath and humanity of Hanoi people. A new bridge across the Red River is not only a traffic project, but also a symbolic link between history and modernity. A new urban area is not only a place to live, but also a cultural space - where people can live, create and share.

Today, the capital is taking strong steps to realize that vision. But more deeply, it is the aspiration of Hanoians - the aspiration to reach a capital that is not only rich but also worth living, not only modern but also full of humanity. A capital where every citizen can be proud to live among cultural values, to be creative and to contribute to the community. A capital whose strength is not measured by GDP, but by the level of happiness, civilization and humanity of its people. And as directed by the General Secretary, "Hanoi must be built as a city of culture, identity and creativity - towards a civilized, modern and sustainable capital with the wisdom of the times and global stature".

When the values ​​of "Culture, Identity, Creativity" are imbued into every policy, every project, every action of every person, Hanoi will truly become a global capital of wisdom and humanity, where the past and the future meet in the light of Vietnamese aspirations.

Source: https://daibieunhandan.vn/van-hien-ban-sac-sang-tao-tru-cot-chien-luoc-de-ha-noi-tro-thanh-thu-do-toan-cau-10390656.html