The conference was attended by international experts and representatives from cities in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network from Japan, China, Thailand, Indonesia, and others, aiming to exchange and promote global connections in organising Creative Design Festivals in particular and building Creative Cities in general.
After six years as a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network, Ha Noi has carried out many activities to realise its commitments to building a Creative City.
The city has been affirming its position as one of Asia’s dynamic and creative urban centres. In 2024, the city established an advisory council of experts; developed creative activity spaces; built criteria for creative activity spaces; set up the Ha Noi Creative Activities Coordination Centre; and built the Ha Noi Creative Cultural Spaces Network to connect organisations, individuals, experts, artists, and community groups engaged in the field of creative design.
Notably, the Ha Noi Creative Design Festival has become an attractive annual event, spreading the spirit of creativity throughout the community.
Director of the Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports Bach Lien Huong emphasised that these achievements are the result of the city’s efforts, as well as the support, guidance, and consultancy of many leading experts in creative design.
Jonathan Baker, UNESCO Representative in Viet Nam, said that Ha Noi has nurtured a dynamic creative ecosystem: festivals that enliven public spaces, community connection networks, and initiatives that empower young designers to imagine and shape new futures for their city.
At the conference, representatives from Creative Cities such as Chiang Mai (Thailand), Asahikawa (Japan), and Daegu (the Republic of Korea) shared their experiences in developing Creative Cities in their localities, including public–private–community cooperation measures and methods to inspire creativity among young people.
Representatives from Creative Cities in Viet Nam, such as Da Nang and Lam Dong, also shared their experiences in building Creative Cities in their localities.
Localities all emphasised the role of the community, along with the active participation and facilitation provided by local authorities.
These experiences offer valuable experiences not only for Ha Noi but also for other Vietnamese localities within the UNESCO Creative Cities Network to learn from and apply in their own contexts.
