The seminar was held in both in-person and online forms in Hanoi and other localities.
The workshop featured the participation of leaders of cultural departments, domestic and international experts, representatives of associations, cities participating in UNESCO's creative cities network, and artists operating in the creative arts and cultural industries.
The workshop was held within the framework of the Project on developing a network of creative cities in Vietnam to participate in the UNESCO's network of creative cities.
Vietnam currently has a number of cities and urban areas that have the potential to promote creativity for sustainable development and have the ability to join the network, such as Ho Chi Minh, Hue, Da Nang, Hoi An, Ha Long, Vung Tau and Da Lat.
At the workshop, the delegates discussed and shared ideas andexperiences, consulted on choosing fields, categories and strengths to build a creative city profile, as well as assessed the potentials and advantages of creativity and the feasibility of forming a network of creative cities in Vietnam within the UNESCO creative city system.
Standing Member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education Bui Hoai Son shared his opinion that the participation of cities in UNESCO's network of creative cities isa development trend in the world. However, cities need to choose specific areas of strength and categories to build a creative city profile. This will be the factor that leads the city to develop in the coming time as well as the building of a city brand that will completely change the development mindset of a city.
At the workshop, Ngo Phuong Lan, former Director of the Cinema Department, assessed that, with a relatively large gathering of forces working in the field of cinema, a large audience, a large number of films produced annually, a rich scientific and technical background, and an abundant creative force, sales account for 70% of movie revenue. Ho Chi Minh City has the advantage and potential to become a movie city of Vietnam, soon joining UNESCO's network of creative cities.
UNESCO's Network of Creative Cities was launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that see creativity as a strategic element for sustainable development. Currently, the UNESCO Creative Cities Network includes 246 cities, more than 10 of which are in Southeast Asia. In 2019, Hanoi became a member of the creative city network. The capital is expected to be a model for creating spillover effects towards other Vietnamese cities joining UNESCO's network of creative cities.
