The opening ceremony of the Hanoi Festival of Creative Design 2024 on the evening of November 9 at Hanoi's August Revolution Square kicked off a nine-day cultural celebration in the capital. Under the theme "Creative Intersection", this year's festival spans seven of Hanoi's iconic historical landmarks and offers a vibrant series of engaging activities.

Vu Thu Ha, Deputy Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee, delivers an opening speech at the Hanoi Festival of Creative Design 2024. Photo: Organization Committee of the event

Speaking at the festival's opening ceremony, Vu Thu Ha, Deputy Chairwoman of the Hanoi People's Committee, appreciated the importance of the festival, whose annual editions have all been carefully planned since the first one in 2019.

"Through a series of initiatives, the city has worked to fulfill the commitment it made when it joined UNESCO’s Creative Cities  Network and has steadily established itself as one of the most dynamic and innovative capitals in the Asian region," she affirmed.

 "The activities were organized with the people in mind, utilizing the creative resources of the community, with the participation and performance of the artists and local people, attracting a large public and receiving support from foreign friends," she added.

Speaking at the event, Jonathan Baker, UNESCO Representative to Vietnam, emphasized that 2024 is a year of significant milestones in the partnership between his organization and Vietnam, particularly with Hanoi. He noted that the visit of General Secretary To Lam to UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris last October was a historic moment, underscoring the strong and growing relationship between UNESCO and Vietnam since the country became a member in 1976, just one year before the country joined the United Nations.

Jonathan Baker, representing UNESCO in Vietnam, speaks at the event.

"The Hanoi Festival of Creative Design is one of many initiatives that showcase Hanoi's unprecedented progress towards its vision of becoming Vietnam's creative capital and a leading regional hub for innovation," he said.

"This year's festival provides a unique opportunity to expose the public to Hanoi's remarkable architectural heritage. For the first time, the Government Guest House will be open to visitors, and guided tours will also be offered at the Hanoi Opera House, the Children's Palace and the National Museum of History. I encourage everyone to seize this wonderful opportunity to explore Hanoi's cultural treasures in all their grandeur," he added.

An art performance at the opening ceremony of the Hanoi Festival of Creative Design 2024. Photo: Minh An/ Kinh te & Do thi/ The Hanoi Times

The Hanoi Festival of Creative Design is an annual cultural event that highlights the capital's cultural industry and the creativity of its businesses and citizens. Through this festival, Hanoi demonstrates how culture can drive socio-economic development, harnessing the energy of young innovators to create a more dynamic and enriching environment for all.

In recent years, Hanoi has made significant progress in promoting creative design and fostering collaboration between cities within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network.

In 2024, the city set up an advisory council, created dedicated spaces for creative activities, and established criteria to support innovation.

Moreover, it is now preparing to launch the Hanoi Creative Activities Coordination Center, which will serve as a hub to connect organizations, individuals, experts, artists, and community groups working in the creative design sector.

A parade of traditional ancient Vietnamese royal costumes during the festival offers a display of the nation's rich cultural heritage. Photo: Minh An

The highlight of the event is a horse lantern. Photo: Jenna Duong