Hanoi becomes official member of UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network
Chief Representative of the UNESCO Office in Vietnam Michael Croft presented a certificate recognising Hanoi as an official member of the UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network to Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung at a a ceremony in the capital on December 13.
An art performance at the announcement ceremony (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Chief Representativeof the UNESCO Office in Vietnam Michael Croft presented a certificaterecognising Hanoi as an official member of the UNESCO’s Creative Cities Networkto Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung at ceremony in the capital on December 13.
Chung said the participation in the networkenables Hanoi to increase its competitiveness in investment attraction,stimulate urban regeneration, and develop education programmes and culturalevents in association with sustainable development.
Hanoi is also ambitious to become an envoy and abridge to connect other cities in Vietnam and regional countries to join the network,as well as a global intellectual and innovative destination, he added.
The network membership also demonstrates Hanoi’sresponsibility to the region and the world in promoting creativity andincreasing the participation of people in cultural life and integration,according to Chung.
Michael Croft said that Hanoi becoming acreative city has helped increase its position besides the title “City forPeace”.
He added that Hanoi will enhance cooperationwith other creative cities in the world as well as relevant agencies,community, and the private sector to realise its innovative economy.
UNESCO launched the Creative Cities Network in2004 to promote cooperation among cities that recognise creativity as asignificant factor in their development.
The network recognises seven factors - craft andfolk arts, media, film, design, gastronomy, literature, and music - as creativefields.
The capital city of Hanoi has a developmenthistory of over 1,000 years, and has been in the process of reform and integration,taking creativity and innovative economy as the core in its dynamic,comprehensive and sustainable development.
On October 30, 2019, Hanoi was honoured as oneof the 246 cities joining the UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network in the field ofdesign.
A folk cultural festival kicked off in Hanoi onthe same day in response to the city’s participation in the network./.
A meeting to mark the 20th anniversary of Hanoi’s recognition as ‘City For Peace’ (July 16, 1999-2019) will be held on July 13 at the Ly Thai To Park besides Hoan Kiem lake in the heart of capital city.
The moments when Hanoi was liberated on October 10, 1954 are being revived through a programme entitled ‘Memory of Hanoi – 65 Years’, which started on October 5 in the capital’s Old Quarter.
The Hanoi Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) has proven its role in enhancing friendship and solidarity, and expanding multi-faceted cooperation between the capital city and other major cities worldwide.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
An art performance at the announcement ceremony (Photo: VNA) 
