The people's wishes are the guiding principle.

“When people love their city and share a common vision for its future, they will strive, work and labour for the place they live in. And this positive and exciting atmosphere will attract new talents and exciting projects, enriching the appearance, values and identity of Hanoi.”

That is the sharing of UNESCO Chief Representative in Vietnam - Mr. Jonathan Wallace Baker with Kinh te & Do thi newspaper on the occasion of 25 years since Hanoi was awarded the noble title "City for Peace" by UNESCO.

2024 marks 25 years since Hanoi was recognized by UNESCO as a "City for Peace", can you share the reason why Hanoi was chosen?

The UNESCO Cities for Peace initiative was institutionalized by the UNESCO General Conference in November 1997, to honor cities that are leaders and exemplary in strengthening social solidarity, improving living conditions and developing urban harmony – essentially to recognize cities around the world that are making every effort to realize a culture of peace.

In the decision of the UNESCO General Assembly to select Hanoi as the sole representative to receive this title in the Asia-Pacific region, it was noted that: “Hanoi has impressive achievements in many fields, especially in preserving relics, cultural and artistic exchanges, promoting traditional crafts, improving health care services for the elderly, protecting the environment and creating green spaces. Hanoi also pays special attention to education and training for young people, which is a priority in the city's development policy.”

In your opinion, how has Hanoi demonstrated its role as a City for Peace over the years?

25 years ago, Hanoi’s population was 2.5 million, while that number has now increased 3.5 times, with an average growth rate of 200,000 people per year. Along with that are challenges in housing, social service provision, waste management…

On the other hand, in the face of these challenges, the social structure that underpinned Hanoi’s recognition in 1999 has been maintained. The city still prioritizes a good quality of life for its people, taking concrete steps to preserve and promote its cultural identity, and becoming a vibrant city for young people.

Walking the streets of Hanoi, you will feel the enchanting peace that pervades. The charm of the architecture, the attraction of the cultural center and the centuries-old craft villages of Hanoi leave a deep impression. Visiting these relics, I felt as if I had gone back in time, finding solace in the embrace of historical beauty.

Besides the attractive landscape, the “sounds and flavors” of Hanoi are also worth experiencing. Especially the openness and warmth of the people here also leave a strong, deep impression in the mind.

In 2019, Hanoi joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network. What does the combination of peace and creativity mean?

I believe that Hanoi's recognition as a Creative City of Design by UNESCO builds on its legacy of inclusion and tolerance as a UNESCO City for Peace.

The title of Creative City is a title for the future, representing Hanoi's new vision, reflecting Vietnam's goals as a dynamic and active "friend" in the region and the world.

A Creative City would be a valuable addition to Hanoi’s status as a City for Peace. Key elements for Hanoi’s development are empowering its people, diversifying its economy through the cultural industry, and moving towards sustainable development. This is precisely the logic underlying the Creative City concept.

In your opinion, what can Hanoi do to continue promoting the title of City for Peace awarded by UNESCO in the coming time?

Rapid economic development brings not only opportunities but also challenges. Hanoi’s urbanization continues, along with issues such as waste management, social service provision, traffic congestion, air quality… all of which put great pressure on planning and all of which Hanoi is trying to cope with. This is a normal story for many cities in a rapidly urbanizing world.

What I can suggest is that, while resources and planning are clearly important, a key element of success is vision. A vision for developing a sustainable peaceful Hanoi needs to reflect the concerns – and desires – of the city’s residents.

It may sound simple, but the desire and pursuit of happiness of the Capital’s people will be the guiding principle. When people love their city and share a common vision for its future, they will strive, work and labor for the place where they live. And this positive and exciting atmosphere will attract new talents and interesting projects, enriching the appearance, values and identity of Hanoi.

What are UNESCO's priorities and focuses in its cooperation with Hanoi in the coming time?

UNESCO understands that Hanoi is proud of its glorious history, while always looking to the future. We believe that the city has all the right elements to become a center of creativity, because this is the main factor – Hanoi has a truly cultural “soul”. Therefore, UNESCO wishes to cooperate with the city not only in the field of historical preservation, but in the coming time will focus on developing new cultural industries for the new era.

We believe that this is the way for the city to maintain sustainable growth, attract talent, create jobs and make Hanoi truly become a creative city of the region and the world.

Vietnam is a trusted partner of UNESCO. I am very proud and excited to have the opportunity to work in this beautiful country as well as with Vietnamese partners.

As UNESCO Representative in Viet Nam, I look forward to further promoting the existing effective partnership between the two sides in all areas to contribute to sustainability, such as communication and information, culture, education, natural and social sciences as well as cross-cutting themes including gender equality and youth engagement.

As a foreigner living and working in Hanoi, do you have any memorable experiences you would like to share?

I came to Vietnam in January 2024 as the Head of UNESCO Representative Office in Vietnam, nearly 9 months now. Although my time here is not long, I have had the opportunity to admire and experience unique cultural features. One of them is a series of traditional Vietnamese cultural activities taking place at Thang Long Imperial Citadel - a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site. Thanks to that, right on the occasion of Lunar New Year, I was able to participate in very meaningful and Vietnamese activities in Hanoi such as the tradition of offering incense, worshiping Ong Cong Ong Tao and making Chung cake.

In a context where society is changing rapidly and traditional cultural features are sometimes forgotten, these experiences taking place at a particularly spiritual place at a very important time - Lunar New Year - brought me mixed emotions.

That helps me understand more about Vietnamese culture, of Hanoi. The tangible and intangible heritages of Hanoi make this land more and more special.

Thank you!