(VOVWORLD) - Hanoi hosted “Creative Meetups” on the weekend, an event designed to connect creative resources, spark new ideas, and pave the way for the Hanoi Festival of Creative Design in November.
 Products and services in the cultural industry are introduced at the event. (Photo: Thuy Tien/VOV) |
The program was directed by the Hanoi People’s Committee and the Vietnam Association of Architects, and organized by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports in collaboration with Architecture Magazine.
It brought together 200 creative organizations from 8 cultural industry sectors, and created a space for networking and showcasing initiatives, products, and creative models from members of the Hanoi Creative Spaces Network, design brands, individual creators, educational institutions, and businesses.
 The booth "Creative Meetups" attracts many visitors. (Photo: Thuy Tien/VOV) |
Vu Thu Ha, Vice Chairwoman of the Hanoi People’s Committee, said: "The Hanoi Festival of Creative Design 2026 has chosen “Creative Economy” as its theme. This represents a new approach to developing Hanoi as a creative city, which goes beyond heritage and culture to view creativity as a key development resource to boost tourism, education, training, and knowledge-based economic sectors driven by innovation."
"Hanoi seeks to create more dynamic creative spaces for residents, visitors, and young creators, unlock social creative resources, and enhance the city’s identity, attractiveness, and competitiveness at the regional and international level," added Ha.
“Creative Meetups” introduced initiatives from the creative community, designed cultural industry products and services, including handicrafts and art, conducted a survey to identify places with the potential to become creative hubs and cultural industry centers, and promoted dialogue and cooperation between businesses, cultural authorities, and creative partners. The aim of those activities was to build a network to support creative initiatives, products, and models within Hanoi’s creative ecosystem.
 Many experiential and interactive activities are held at the event (Photo: Thuy Tien/VOV) |
Bui Hoai Son, Standing Member of the National Assembly’s Committee for Culture and Education, said: "The event was crucial to shaping Hanoi’s creative ecosystem. By bringing artists together and focusing public attention on creativity, the city breathes new life into artistic expression, heritage sites, and cultural spaces. In a new phase of national development, culture plays a vital role in building soft power and laying the foundation for sustainable growth, with creativity from Hanoi, the nation’s creative capital, having particular importance."
Jonathan Wallace Baker, UNESCO Representative in Vietnam, called the Hanoi Festival of Creative Design 2026 an important milestone reflecting a shift from hosting a single event to building a creative ecosystem with a long-term vision. Hanoi has demonstrated that creativity can be a driver of social cohesion, innovation, and sustainable development, and has affirmed its position as a creative hub and venue for creativity in Asia.