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| Tourists freely take photos on Hanoi's Old Quarter. (Source: VNA) |
Hanoi Old Quarter bears the cultural imprints of different periods, and is also an important factor in identifying the urban cultural identity of the capital.
These values are not only relics, ancient houses with specific planning, construction, architecture but also cultural values that exist inside each house, family, person through daily activities, culinary activities and festivals.
In 2004, the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) decided to rank the Hanoi Old Quarter as a National Historical Relic, a particularly important milestone in preserving and embellishing this area. Also in 2004, the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem District organized the first walking space combined with service - trade - tourism development in Hanoi on Hang Dao - Dong Xuan street.
The past 20 years have been a journey of preserving and promoting heritage values with the joint efforts of leaders at all levels, managers, scientists, cultural experts, conservation officers and the community, demonstrating the efforts and dedication to preserve the quintessential values of heritage cities, combined with the development of services, trade and tourism. Hanoi's Old Quarter has become an attractive destination on the domestic tourism map and attracted a large number of international visitors.
The work of preserving, embellishing and promoting cultural heritage values in Hoan Kiem district has achieved certain results. The values of tangible heritage have always been given attention to preservation and embellishment; the values of intangible heritage have been restored and promoted. Festivals have been restored in association with major holidays such as: Le Kings’ coronation festival; Bach Ma Temple festival; Yen Thai communal house festival, Kim Ngan communal house festival; and Mid-Autumn Festival in the Old Quarter. Over 1,000 exhibitions, displays, introductions of works of art, demonstrations of traditional crafts, traditional music performances, seminars, talks and experiential and interactive activities were organized.
In particular, the Walking Space with many rich, attractive and diverse activities in Hoan Kiem District has contributed to creating a new tourism product of the city, promoting the development of trade, services, tourism, ensuring social security. At the same time, it has created a new valuable cultural space for the people of the Capital, creating a positive change in the awareness of people, organizations and individuals doing business on the street about preserving cultural heritage associated with economic development, services and tourism in the Old Quarter.
In 2014 and 2016, Hoan Kiem District had additional walking spaces in the Old Quarter of Hanoi and walking spaces in the Hoan Kiem Lake area and vicinity. In 2020, the expansion of the walking space from the South of the Old Quarter to the North of Hoan Kiem Lake to create a connection between the two walking spaces has met the needs of people and tourists coming to visit, enjoy foreign affairs, cultural tourism, shopping and cuisine.
The walking spaces in Hoan Kiem are increasingly expanded and operate effectively. The district has organized 9,345 traditional and contemporary art performances, including 2,461 performances at the Hoan Kiem Lake walking space and 6,884 performances at the walking street of Hanoi Old Quarter.
The 20th anniversary of Hanoi Old Quarter receiving the National Monument Classification Certificate and 20 years of walking space operation will take place on the evening of November 30, 2024 at the Center for Culture and Arts, No. 22 Hang Buom Street. This is an opportunity for Hoan Kiem District to review the projects and activities that have been implemented; provide orientations and plans to preserve and promote the value of Hanoi's Old Quarter as well as effectively organize walking spaces and public spaces in accordance with the spirit of Resolution 09-NQ/TU of the Hanoi Party Committee on "Developing cultural industries in the capital for the period 2021-2025, orientation to 2030, vision to 2045" and especially implementing the Capital Law (effective from January 1, 2025).
On this occasion, the People's Committee of Hoan Kiem District organized an exhibition and introduction of some images, projects and activities to preserve and promote the value of Hanoi's Old Quarter and the activities of walking spaces at the Center for Culture and Arts No. 22 Hang Buom Street, from December 1-15. Along with that are art performances, traditional music, exhibitions, experiences introducing craft villages - craft streets at the walking space of Hoan Kiem Lake from November 29 to December 1 and at the following locations: Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Center at 50 Dao Duy Tu Street, Heritage House at 87 Ma May Street, Kim Ngan Communal House at 42 - 44 Hang Bac Street from November 29 to December 15./.