Hanoi - Capital of conscience and human dignity, where the strength of Vietnamese culture crystallizes

Baoquocte.vn. It is necessary to implement many synchronous and sustainable solutions to preserve and spread the unique cultural values ​​of Hanoi to the young generation and the whole society.

Dr. Trinh Le Anh emphasized that Hanoi is always associated with civilized values ​​and beauty in communication and behavior. (Photo: Le Anh)

In the memories of many Vietnamese people, the event of the Liberation of the Capital on October 10, 1954 is a brilliant milestone in the heroic history of our nation, opening a new chapter in the struggle for national liberation.

On the occasion of the 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Capital (October 10, 1954 - October 10, 2024), Dr. Trinh Le Anh (University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi) had an interesting conversation with reporters of The World and Vietnam Newspaper about the heroic history of the Capital as well as the core values ​​to preserve and develop a Hanoi - City for Peace, Creative City, Capital of Conscience and Human Dignity...

The beauty of behavior

The Hanoi Party Committee always identifies that building elegant and civilized Hanoians is an important content in the cultural development strategy, forming a system of cultural values ​​associated with promoting the profound human values ​​of Thang Long - Hanoi; considering this an important resource and driving force for the development of the capital. What is your perspective on a civilized and elegant Hanoi?

In my eyes, Hanoi is always associated with elegant and civilized values, which are the beautiful features in communication and behavior that have become the unique brand of the Capital.

Since childhood, I have been imbued with the politeness in every word and every gesture of the native Hanoians, from the way my parents raised me to the way my neighbors treated each other. Those little things have created the overall picture of a gentle, elegant Hanoi.

However, in the context of modern society, with a city of nearly 10 million people and a constant increase in immigrants from all regions, Hanoi is facing great challenges in maintaining those values. Many people living and working in Hanoi today are not “original Hanoians”.

The integration of different social classes sometimes leads to cultural clashes. There are times when I feel worried that the civilized and elegant features that are the identity of Hanoians may gradually fade away in the flow of urbanization.

One of my major concerns is how to ensure that these cultural values ​​are not only something that exists in the memories of previous generations, but also preserved and promoted in the modern young generation. Urban areas develop rapidly, life becomes more urgent, people seem to lose a bit of their composure in daily communication. Preserving good behavioral values ​​in a rapidly changing society is a challenge, requiring not only the government but also each citizen to make efforts.

I still believe that if we can harmoniously combine the preservation of traditional values ​​with the adaptation to social changes, Hanoi will still be a place where elegance and civilization become the foundation for development. It is important to inspire the younger generation to understand and appreciate the cultural values ​​that our ancestors built, and at the same time know how to apply them in modern life.

Unique identity named Hanoi

Elegance and civilization are the personality traits of people who carry the “brand” of Hanoi. So what are the specific solutions to promote and preserve the elegance and civilization of Hanoians, especially for the younger generation, in your opinion?

The “elegance and civilization” brand of Hanoians is a cultural value that has existed and developed over many centuries, closely related to both the characteristics of the original Hanoians and the land of Hanoi. The elegance of the original Hanoians originated from the culture of the intellectual class, mandarins and merchants living in Thang Long (today’s Hanoi) – the thousand-year-old capital of culture.

Since feudal times, Hanoi has been a gathering place for the elite, with codes of conduct and lifestyles considered the norm. The character of the original Hanoians is forged through living in an urban cultural environment, where sophistication and politeness in communication, dress, and lifestyle are emphasized.

Hanoi is a melting pot of people from many different regions. Historically, people from all over the country have come here to live, attracted and influenced by the civilized and elegant lifestyle of this land.

Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Huu Son has stated that Hanoi has the convergence and distillation of the cultural quintessence of the regions, thereby forming its own cultural identity. This makes many people believe that anyone who comes to live in Hanoi will be influenced and gradually integrate into the elegant and civilized lifestyle of this land.

Over many generations, cultural values ​​have been passed down from the original Hanoians to the new residents, enriching the identity of the capital. Therefore, Hanoi’s “elegant and civilized” brand is both characteristic of the original Hanoians and a product of a land of convergence and diverse cultural development, where residents from all over come and together build a standard lifestyle.

In my opinion, the specific solution to promote and preserve the elegant and civilized values ​​of Hanoians, especially for the young generation, requires a synchronous and practical combination of education, community activities and communication.

Firstly, enhance practical education through extracurricular and school programs. Students need to be exposed to cultural and behavioral education programs from an early age, not only through books but also through practical activities such as participating in life skills classes and tours to historical and cultural sites in Hanoi.

Schools can integrate extracurricular programs on public behavior, environmental hygiene, and participation in community activities to raise young people's sense of responsibility for the capital's culture.

Second, organize meaningful cultural events and competitions. Competitions such as “Building elegant and civilized Hanoians” organized by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports are typical examples. These events create opportunities for young people not only to learn but also to practice and demonstrate polite and refined behavior and communication. These cultural playgrounds help the young generation better understand the traditional values ​​of the capital, while developing daily behavioral skills.

Third , promote the role of media and social networks. Social networks are a very important channel in spreading good behavior models. Communication campaigns need to focus on building stories about civilized lifestyles, such as small but meaningful actions in daily life, from maintaining public hygiene to polite behavior. Social networking platforms such as Facebook and TikTok can become effective tools in educating young people about civilized lifestyles.

Fourth, integrate cultural values ​​into community activities. Events such as cleaning up the streets, protecting the environment, or participating in traditional cultural festivals are practical opportunities for young people to experience and promote an elegant lifestyle.

These are practical activities that not only create community awareness but also help young people gain a deeper understanding of Hanoi’s culture through direct participation in activities to preserve and protect this beauty. These solutions need to be implemented synchronously and sustainably to not only preserve, but also spread the unique cultural values ​​of Hanoi to the younger generation and the whole society.

Hanoi will still be a place where elegance and civilization become the foundation for development. (Photo: Le Anh)

How important is the role of education in shaping a generation of elegant and civilized Hanoians in your opinion?

This issue should be viewed from a comprehensive perspective, not only in theory at school but also through practice and application in life.

First, education in schools and communities. In Hanoi, many schools have integrated education on cultural behavior into the official curriculum, especially through life skills and Civic Education classes. These programs do not only stop at teaching theory but also encourage students to practice in real-life situations. For example, many schools have organized extracurricular activities on cultural behavior in public places, helping students experience polite and proper behavior in museums, temples or in daily communication situations.

Second , the combination of education and family in preserving elegant values. Education in Hanoi is not only limited to schools but also originates from the family - where each generation inherits and continues elegant and civilized values. This tradition was formed from the ancient Thang Long period, when Hanoians always attached importance to educating their children about refined behavior from a young age, including speaking, walking and daily communication. Original Hanoi families often focus on imparting polite rules of conduct, which are the foundation for the development of children's personality, creating a community with a civilized lifestyle.

Third , practical activities through extracurricular and community cultural programs. In addition to school education, community cultural activities also play an important role in educating young people about elegant and civilized lifestyles. For example, the program "Friendly School, Active Students" has been widely implemented in Hanoi, combining life skills education and behavioral culture for students through extracurricular activities and cultural events. Organizing cultural festivals and visiting historical sites not only helps students get closer to the culture of the capital but also arouses pride and a sense of responsibility in preserving these values.

Fourth , media and social networks can also play an educational role. Mass media and social networks can play an important role in spreading civilized and elegant role models to the younger generation. Through propaganda campaigns, documentaries, or stories about good behavior in the community, young people can easily access the right role models and learn how to apply them in their daily lives.

Fifth , practical activities with direct impact. Practice has shown that when education is combined with practical activities, such as cleaning the streets, participating in charity activities or maintaining public order, the values ​​of elegant and civilized lifestyle will be more deeply ingrained in each student. Hanoi has organized many cultural programs to build civilized Hanoians, attracting the active participation of young people, thereby helping them better understand their role in preserving and promoting traditional values.

In short , education plays a key role not only in imparting cultural knowledge but also in helping young people practice and imbibe a civilized and elegant lifestyle in a developing and integrated city.

In modern times, Hanoians still maintain a civilized and elegant lifestyle. (Photo: Le Anh)

Hanoi in the "flow" of time

Hanoi is recognized as "Creative City", "City for Peace", "Capital of Conscience and Human Dignity"... So, in your opinion, what should we do to promote those titles as well as preserve the elegant and civilized values ​​typical of Hanoians in the flow of the times?

The elegant and civilized values ​​typical of Hanoians that need to be preserved is a topic that not only refers to the past but also must be linked to the reality and future of the city. Hanoi today is a rapidly developing city with strong changes in society, economy and culture. In that context, preserving elegant and civilized cultural values ​​becomes more important, requiring a change in the approach of each individual and community.

Therefore, it requires subtlety in communication and behavior. One of the most noticeable characteristics of Hanoians is the subtlety in communication. Hanoians, especially native Hanoians, always pay attention to using polite language, showing respect for the other person. However, in modern society, the rush, fast pace of life and pressure of technology have caused many people to lose patience in communication.

Maintaining this subtlety requires a shift in the perception of the value of polite communication. Small actions such as using proper forms of address, keeping appropriate distance when speaking, and listening to others need to be reaffirmed in daily life.

At the same time, mutual respect and community spirit. Mutual respect, a core value in the behavioral culture of Hanoians, does not stop at polite treatment but also includes respect for common spaces and community awareness. Hanoi is a crowded city, with a constantly increasing population due to migration from other provinces. Mutual respect needs to be demonstrated through behavior in public spaces such as keeping public places clean, queuing in the right place, and behaving civilly when participating in traffic.

In this aspect, Hanoians need to clearly realize that, in order to preserve their elegant identity, each individual must contribute to building and maintaining a civilized, clean and beautiful common living environment.

Besides, another important value of Hanoians is their simple yet sophisticated lifestyle. From the way they dress, choose food, to decorate their homes, Hanoians often prefer sophistication and not ostentation.

However, this way of life is gradually being replaced by modern consumer trends, as many young people follow fashion trends and lavish lifestyles. Preserving this value requires education on how to live a balanced life between tradition and modernity, while encouraging young people to cherish simple but sustainable values.

Moreover, in the process of urbanization and modernization, Hanoi has been receiving many cultural features from outside. This raises the question of how to maintain elegance and civilization in such a diverse cultural environment. The important thing is the ability of Hanoians to adapt to new elements, but not lose their own identity. Traditional values ​​​​need to be transformed to suit the modern context, such as polite behavior on technology platforms and social networks.

To preserve these values, there must be close coordination between education in the family, schools and mass media. Cultural education programs, community activities and communication campaigns on social networks need to continue to be strongly developed so that young people understand and appreciate the unique cultural values ​​of Hanoi. It is important to convey the message that elegance is not just an external form, but a sophistication in both action and thinking.

In short, the elegant and civilized values ​​typical of Hanoians not only need to be preserved but also developed in accordance with modern society. This is not only the responsibility of each individual but also the task of the whole society in creating and maintaining a culture of standard behavior in a city that is constantly changing.

Thank you!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/ha-noi-thu-do-cua-luong-tri-va-pham-gia-con-nguoi-noi-ket-tinh-suc-manh-van-hoa-viet-nam-289470.html