Culture, identity and creativity key to Ha Noi’s development: Party chief

Speaking at the 18th Ha Noi Party Congress for the 2025–2030 tenure on October 16, the Party chief described the event as an opportunity for reflection, goal-setting, and creating new momentum for the city's future development.

He noted that both the nation and the capital are entering a new stage filled with opportunities and challenges, stressing that Ha Noi's Party organization, authorities, and residents must recognize the city's unique position and their responsibility to meet the expectations of the entire country.

To guide Ha Noi forward, he called for a comprehensive and systemic vision—one that unites ideology, institutions, spatial planning, economy, and people into a cohesive and sustainable entity. The first and most crucial breakthrough, he said, is to build a pure, strong, and exemplary Party organization and political system that serves the people.

The General Secretary envisioned Ha Noi as a city of deep-rooted culture, unique identity, and boundless creativity—a "civilized, modern, and sustainable capital" combining traditional wisdom with global stature. He said culture is the root and the essence of national intellect, nurturing resilience and social cohesion. Identity is Ha Noi's competitive edge, preserving its historical soul while attracting talent and fostering knowledge-based growth. Creativity, he added, is the engine that transforms heritage into dynamic, living value while protecting and renewing the city's physical and intellectual legacy.

He stressed that development must harmoniously integrate culture, space, economy, and people. Every decision, project, and investment should honor traditional values, create cultural spaces for future generations, and nurture innovation.

To this end, he proposed developing creative "nodes" across the city, ensuring a steady flow of creative energy from heritage, knowledge, and technology to innovation hubs. This vision includes building three "creative poles" of Ha Noi:

Heritage – the historic inner city and Red River waterfront;

Knowledge – Viet Nam National University and other research and education centers;

Technology – Hoa Lac High-Tech Park and innovation zones.

These three pillars, he said, will become Ha Noi's creative engine, blending history, intellect, and technology to shape a future-oriented metropolis.

At the same time, the Party chief identified four persistent urban challenges—traffic congestion, disorderly urban management, pollution (air, water, and waste), and flooding. He urged Ha Noi to adopt a new governance mindset, shifting from "management to creation," from "fragmentation to integration," and from "short-term fixes to sustainable solutions."

Ha Noi, he added, must also evolve from a "single-pole" to a "multi-pole, multi-center" urban structure—decentralizing functions from the overloaded inner core to interconnected urban centers with specialized roles.

He envisioned the capital as a hub for science, technology, policy innovation, and talent training, working in tandem with Ho Chi Minh City as a twin engine of national innovation and technological advancement.

General Secretary To also called on Ha Noi to prioritize human development, strengthen its role as a political and security stronghold, and expand international cooperation—actively participating in the global network of green, smart, and creative cities. ./.