Hanoi has capitalized on its potential and put in place specific mechanisms to develop cultural industries, given its special position in the nation's culture.

Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Van Phong made the statement at a conference held in Hanoi this week to take stock of the capital's renewal process over the past 40 years.

An overview of the conference. Photo: Hanoimoi

"After 40 years, Hanoi has creatively applied the policies and cultural perspectives of the Vietnamese government and put into practice the guidelines and policies of the government and the city on culture and people, resulting in outstanding achievements in the field of

cultural development and human cultivation," Phong said.

He said the city has completed a total inventory of intangible cultural heritage for 5,922 relics. Traditional folk festivals have been extensively researched. Many festivals have been restored and preserved. The cultural life of ethnic minorities has improved significantly.

"By effectively implementing the National Target Programme, Hanoi has begun to narrow the cultural gap in the city. Hanoi has diversified ways to mobilize investment in the cultural sector by creatively applying the government's cultural policies. Renovation and beautification of monuments have been promoted to raise public awareness of heritage protection," Phong stressed.

Hanoi also aims to become a leading city in formulating policies and developing the cultural industry, in order to join the whole country in building 'an advanced culture imbued with national identity', ensuring harmony between conservation and development, and absorbing the quintessence of humankind's culture.

Parade of young girls in traditional Vietnamese long dress (Ao dai) on a street in Hanoi during Ao dai Week. Photo: Pham Hung/The Hanoi Times

"Hanoi is the first city in Vietnam to issue a resolution on the development of cultural industries, which shows the determination of the people and authorities of Hanoi to turn cultural values into an economic spearhead industry," Dung said.

In order to promote the sustainable development of Hanoi's culture and people, and to meet the demands of international integration, the Hanoi City Party Committee has just issued a resolution on "Development of Hanoi's Cultural Industry in 2021-2025, Orientation to 2030, Vision to 2045".

"The development of cultural industries is a priority in the socio-economic development strategy, with the aim of making it a spearhead of the economy, contributing effectively to GDP growth and creating more jobs and income," said the Secretary.

He added that the development of cultural industries will be based on the principle of ensuring harmony between preserving and developing and will make full use of the potentials, strengths and traditional cultural values that make up the thousand-year-old capital's identity.

The Hanoi Party Committee will focus on investing in the development of a number of potential and advantageous fields, such as cultural tourism, performing arts, handicrafts, design, advertising, fine arts, photography and exhibitions, film, fashion, cuisine, software and entertainment games, television and radio, and among others.