Hanoi Old Quarter marks 20 years of national heritage status

Alongside the ceremony on November 30, an exhibition highlighting images, projects, and initiatives related to the preservation and promotion of the Old Quarter is running at the same venue from December 1-15 to commemorate the milestone.

The celebrations also feature traditional art performances, music shows, exhibitions, and interactive experiences showcasing Hanoi’s craft streets and villages.

These events took place at the Hoan Kiem Lake walking area from November 29 to December 1, as well as at the Hanoi Old Quarter Cultural Exchange Centre, Heritage House, and Kim Ngan Temple from November 29 to December 15.

Hanoi's Old Quarter. Photo: Ho Ha

The anniversary not only reflects on past achievements but also sets out future strategies for enhancing the Old Quarter’s cultural value. These include expanding public spaces and aligning efforts with Hanoi’s 2021-2025 cultural industry development plan, with a vision to 2030-2040. Such initiatives also support the implementation of the Capital Law, effective from January 1, 2025.

Through these endeavours, Hoan Kiem district aims to better meet the needs of residents while fostering collaboration with domestic and international organisations and individuals. Local authorities emphasise the importance of community involvement in maintaining and promoting the Old Quarter’s heritage value.

Over two decades of walking space operations have established a new cultural and tourism product for Hanoi, contributing to commerce, services, tourism, and social welfare. These spaces have created valuable cultural hubs for locals, enhancing awareness of cultural heritage preservation while integrating economic, service, and tourism development in the Old Quarter.

The year 2004 marked a significant milestone for Hanoi’s Old Quarter, when it was recognised as a national heritage site by the Ministry of Culture and Information. That same year, Hoan Kiem district launched its first walking street, combining commerce, services, and tourism along Hang Dao and Dong Xuan streets.

In subsequent years, the district expanded walking spaces, adding areas in the Old Quarter in 2014 and around Hoan Kiem Lake in 2016. By 2020, a connection between the southern Old Quarter and the northern Hoan Kiem Lake walking space was established, meeting the growing demand for cultural tourism, shopping, and dining experiences.

To date, the district’s walking spaces have hosted 9,345 traditional and contemporary art performances, including about 2,500 events at Hoan Kiem Lake and over 6,800 along the Old Quarter’s pedestrian streets, further solidifying their role as cultural and tourism highlights in the capital.

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