Romantic woman in Trinh street

The gentle, chilly spring afternoon in Hanoi is perfect for chatting with someone who loves Hanoi and is passionate about the walking street like Ms. Phan Thu Hang.

Ms. Phan Thu Hang, Mr. Lai Thanh Nam, Chairman of the Green Science and Technology Association and a British tourist are impressed with the space of the old town. (Photo: Minh Hoa)

The appointment with the founder of the non-governmental and non-profit organization ICEP - Hanoi Classy was scheduled for 5pm, but I arrived at Trinh Cong Son walking street a little early to admire the fruits of her labor.

Turning into a cozy coffee shop at the end of the street, I sat down to sip and wait. Ms. Phan Thu Hang arrived – right on time. Her working style was quick and professional compared to her age of U50, she ordered a drink and then turned to answer my interview as if afraid that time would pass. She must be a busy person all the time, but I know, she is preparing for projects for the relaxation of many people. Those are walking streets, cuisine and meaningful community cultural spaces, cultural projects, fine arts and heritage…

“Walking Street Expert”

Phan Thu Hang shared: “I am simply a person who acts for the community through perspectives, ideas and endless creativity…”.

The opportunity for the “walking street” came to her during her son’s summer vacation from studying in Beijing. “He participated in the project “Peaceful and Converging Hanoi”, which included a walking street as part of the content. I helped him gain a deeper perspective on Hanoi, through historical documents and experiences that I, as well as our generation, have gone through. This gave me many ideas about the walking street,” she said.

By chance, in 2016, she was invited to participate in a survey around West Lake with the Hanoi Department of Tourism, then accepted an invitation from the Hoan Kiem District Department of Culture as an expert to support the implementation of the plan to open a walking street. Fortunately, she was trusted and supported by the leaders and colleagues.

Hoan Kiem walking street has been a great success, bringing cultural and economic values ​​and becoming a special tourist destination of Hanoi Capital. “Although it only contributed a very small part, I am really proud!”, she confided.

In fact, walking streets help preserve cultural values ​​through diverse and rich experiences from music to souvenirs and traditional cuisine, along with the general development of society, creating a meaningful space for exchange and connection.

Sipping coffee, recalling the journey she has gone through, Phan Thu Hang shared more about the common wish of the ICEP team: "After the difficulties I have overcome with all my passion and dedication in my dedication and also my love, I wish for nothing more than to protect my intellectual talent, to be recognized and to be properly evaluated."

A place of connection and healing

In 2017, Ms. Phan Thu Hang accepted the invitation of the Vice Chairman of Tay Ho District at that time, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Khuyen - a romantic person who was very enthusiastic about the project. ICEP-Hanoi Classy coordinated with the West Lake Management Board to survey, build and implement the project "West Lake Walking Street" called "West Lake Street Food and Art Performance Space" until May 11, 2018, officially opened.

She said: “Art and music are always connected, healing all wounds, so when we built the walking street, we brought in paintings and music first, then we implemented other activities. The implementation process was very difficult, there were times when we were discouraged, but if we gave up, who would continue? No one would take risks, because we were so passionate, so we overcame them little by little. When the image of the old house with a small porch, a tinkling tram and a familiar street corner with Du Ca music nights gradually took shape, the people were very happy. Everyone shouted: “Wonderful!”. Later, the people here supported and protected us a lot, so I always believe that nothing touches the heart like sincerity.”

In her story, Ms. Thu Hang repeatedly mentioned and expressed her gratitude to her colleagues, seniors, teachers, friends and family... who have always supported and helped her, such as Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau, Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son, former Director of the National Institute of Culture and Arts, Dr. Architect Nguyen Quang, former Director of UN - Habita Vietnam, Ngoi Concept and many other people who are artists, experts, artisans who have supported her from the very first days until now, especially the media, journalists, and lawyers.

She said: “When recreating this old space, I invited researcher/painter Nguyen Manh Duc and painter Nguyen Trong Ha to advise and carry out the construction. Painter Tran Hoang Hai Yen and her friends painted on the painting bridge. There is a glass painting by artist Vinh Coba depicting musician Trinh Cong Son given to the project to show that our project has received a lot of love and support from everyone. Now it has become a special highlight of Trinh Street, I still call these works because they are made by the hands of artists. Extremely precious!”.

Pioneers are always under a lot of pressure, but you will be very proud of being the one who paved the way.

The author and Ms. Phan Thu Hang share about the beauty of old Hanoi recreated in Trinh Cong Son walking street. (Photo: George John Newman)

Many projects ahead

As a person full of ideas, passion and high responsibility, her reputation is increasingly affirmed. Localities are also "keeping an eye" on the founder of ICEP - Hanoi Classy. She accepted an invitation from the People's Committee of Hai Duong city to implement the walking street project along Bach Dang river. Following that is the Tue Tinh culinary street project, "That is also one of the happy things when my projects bring such value to the community", she confided.

Phan Thu Hang shared: “We cooperated with Thong Nhat Park and launched and launched the Creative Space and Walking Street Connection project of Thong Nhat Park (Hanoi) on September 1, 2023. There are many difficulties and doing culture has never been easy. Our ICEP team puts responsibility and passion first and together with our partners, we will gradually overcome them. I believe in the good things in life.”

ICEP - Hanoi Classy received the introduction of Dr. Architect Nguyen Quang to consult on the idea for the Ponl de Long Bien Walking Street project - Splendora urban area (Bac An Khanh, Hanoi), and the invitation of Dr. Le Xuan Kieu, Director of the Temple of Literature Cultural Center, to consult on the idea for the Temple of Literature and some general planning spaces. Typical activities and projects that ICEP is sponsoring are aimed at the community and prioritize young people such as the Vietnam Telling project (3D light projection) by author Nguyen Cam Tu, Young Warriors to Destroy Corona, Emotions in Me by Art Tree Art Studio... large and small projects of high school and university students nationwide.

Seeing Mr. George John Newman (a British tourist) attentively looking at the handicraft stalls in front, Ms. Hang invited him to have coffee with us and introduced: "This guy has been to Vietnam three times and the total time spent here is about a year". Listening to us talking about the walking street, George shared: "I always like walking streets that are both beautiful and traditional like the Ho Guom walking street and Trinh Cong Son walking street by West Lake. The street by the lake is very poetic and fresh".

“I find that walking streets provide us with the perfect opportunity to escape from our busy lives. As an expat, I love spending my time in these areas around the city to relax and always feel welcomed by the wonderful people of Hanoi. Music and laughter always fill the air whenever I walk these streets, and I am so grateful to the wonderful people who work hard to provide us with the opportunity to relax and enjoy these beautiful spaces,” added George.

Saying goodbye to Ms. Hang, Mr. George… I believe that what people like Ms. Hang and her colleagues have done for Hanoi today will be remembered by the people and future generations. In my heart, I seem to resound the lyrics of the masterpiece that the late musician Trinh Cong Son wrote about Hanoi: “Hanoi in Autumn, walking among the people/ My heart silently asks: Who am I missing/ There will be a day when Hanoi’s Autumn sky will answer me/ There will be a day when each small street will answer me…”.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nu-nhan-lang-man-o-pho-trinh-265055.html