Notably, among these activities are new solutions aimed at awakening and promoting the creative potential of the community, providing valuable lessons for other creative cities across the country.
Recently, when visiting Tasco Mall Shopping Centre (Viet Hung Ward, Ha Noi), many people have been pleasantly surprised to discover that the centre regularly hosts cultural and artistic activities on weekends.
New solutions for nurturing and spreading creativity
These are not merely conventional music or fashion performances. The venue also hosts many in-depth cultural activities such as fine art exhibitions, handicraft workshops, acoustic music nights, and heritage-themed talks. A notable example is the programme titled “Pho – An Intangible Cultural Story in the Flow of the Creative Industry”, featuring activities such as discussions on the heritage value of pho, historical exhibitions, displays of Ha Noi pho cultural practices, sketches of pho heritage, as well as live cooking demonstrations and tasting experiences.
In recent years, Ha Noi has adopted many new approaches to creative cultural activities. Performing arts, fine arts, and photography, which were previously “confined” to theatres, exhibition centres, and museums, have now shifted their reach to the public through events held in public spaces or privately operated creative spaces.
Pham Thi Lan Anh, Head of the Heritage Management Division of the Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports, said: “One of the pillars of a Creative City is building a creative community. Activities must be community-oriented to activate creative potential. Shopping centres are places that attract large crowds, especially young people, so spreading cultural values through these spaces is very effective. Many shopping centres want to enhance their brand value through cultural activities rather than purely commercial ones. Ha Noi will continue to pursue this approach because it benefits all parties, especially in spreading and nurturing the creative community and cultivating markets for cultural industries.”
Following Tasco Mall, the Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports has developed activity programmes with Lotte Mall and several other shopping centres, featuring a series of displays, exhibitions, and design activities to create cultural environments within shopping centres and bring creative culture closer to the community.
Over the years, Ha Noi has paid close attention to nurturing future creative talent by creating platforms for young people. A prominent example is the “Ha Noi Creative” competition (2023), which provided opportunities for students in fine arts and design disciplines to research traditional brands and craft villages, thereby creating various product lines. These included hundreds of graphic design products for brand identity of Ha Noi’s traditional brands such as pho and com, traditional trade streets and craft villages, as well as interior products derived from the values of ten exemplary craft villages. In 2025, students of Ha Noi University of Industrial Fine Arts undertook internships directly in craft villages such as mother-of-pearl inlay in Chuyen My, bamboo and rattan weaving in Phu Tuc, and lacquerware in Boi Khe, creating new products.
Building a support base for the creative community
Jonathan Baker, Head Representative of UNESCO in Viet Nam, stated: “Ha Noi’s recognition as a UNESCO Creative City opens a new chapter in which creativity becomes a key driver of development. Ha Noi has fostered a dynamic creative ecosystem. Creative festivals have brought communities together, revitalised public spaces, and created opportunities for young people to shape a new future for the city.”
In building a Creative City, creative cultural spaces are one of Ha Noi’s strengths, particularly those operated by private enterprises, designers, and artists. These spaces host a wide range of activities, from music, cinema, and fine arts to design and handicrafts, generating economic value while enabling community access to culture and nurturing the cultural industry market.
Ha Noi has around 200 creative spaces, encompassing various models, from multi-functional cultural complexes to themed cafés and co-working spaces. However, many creative spaces face difficulties; some have closed early, while many exhibitions and performances encounter procedural obstacles that limit their potential.
These bottlenecks are gradually being addressed. In December 2024, Ha Noi officially established the Centre for Coordination of Creative Activities. One year later, in December 2025, the city certified 82 Creative Cultural Spaces for participation in the Ha Noi Creative Cultural Spaces Network.
Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, Director of the Centre for Coordination of Creative Activities, shared: “After joining the network, these spaces will receive various forms of support, such as media and promotional connections, assistance with administrative procedures, links with members of UNESCO’s global Creative Cities Network, financial support for community-oriented activities, and venue support for events. From this foundation, Ha Noi’s creative community will make solid progress, helping to further spread the spirit of cultural creativity to the wider public.”
