Measures to effectively and sustainably feature industrial heritage was the focus of a conference on ‘Repurposing Heritage in the Heart of Hanoi – Approach from Creative Exploitation and Value Promotion” held recently at the Gia Lam Train Factory in Hanoi.

The event was part of activities within the framework of the Hanoi Creative Design Festival 2023.

The concept of industrial heritage has been clearly defined internationally. It consists of the remains of industrial culture, including buildings, workshops, mills and factories, mines and sites for processing and refining, warehouses and stores, places where energy is generated, transmitted and used, transport and all its infrastructure, as well as places used for social activities related to industry.

Industrial heritage is an inseparable part of cultural heritage in general, closely tied to each historical stage of the world industrial civilisation. They carry great value and significance in terms of history, society, science and aesthetic.

The industr
ial heritage of Hanoi consists of factories and workshops dating back to the French colonial period and in the socialism building in the North. They are not merely architectural works but also serve as vivid testimony to a challenging period in the nation’s history.

According to research by architect Dinh Thi Hai Yen, existing industrial buildings built before 1945 in Hanoi include the Hanoi Brewery, Hanoi Wine Factory, Yen Phu Power Plant, and Gia Lam Train Factory.

Industrial heritage always carries historical, aesthetic, and social traces. Many heritage sites have great value for people, associated with the memories and life of an era. Therefore, industrial heritage always has vitality even in modern life, said architect Yen.

She highlighted the important role played by State management agencies in coordinating, developing plans and resolving conflicts related conservation, development and reconstruction of industrial heritage sites.

Meanwhile, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Hanoi Architectural U
niversity, architect Vuong Hai Long, emphasised the necessity to have measures and planning to effectively use and preserve industrial heritage sites in Hanoi.

“Therefore, it needs a roadmap for planning to change the functions of old buildings and factories to meet the demands of modernity and ensure that traces and memories of the history and culture of the sites are still preserved,” Long said./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vietnam was elected as the Vice Chair of the UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage on December 8 during the committee’s 18th session in Kasane, Botswana.

This is the second time that Vietnam has been elected to the position after the first time in the 2006-2010 tenure, representing the Asia-Pacific region.

According to Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van, Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the UNESCO, this is another success of Vietnam this year, besides other good news including being elected as the Vice President of the UNESCO’s General Conference.

The diplomat said that becoming the Vice Chair of one of the key specialised committees of the UNESCO affirms Vietnam’s position and reputation in the world arena, showing the support and confidence of the international community in Vietnam’s ability to make contributions and management capacity at the UNESCO, as well as the recognition of Vietnam’s positive contributions to cooperation in the field of culture in
general and intangible cultural heritage in particular, helping promote the role of culture and cultural heritage in sustainable and inclusive development and self-reliance in nations and regions.

This is also evidence for Vietnam’s success in implementing its external policy of multilateralisation, diversification and comprehensive international integration in line with the spirit of the 13th National Party Congress’ Resolution, and the Directive of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat on strengthening and enhancing multilateral diplomacy until 2030, said Ambassador Van.

As the Vice Chair of the UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage, Vietnam will have more favourable conditions in completing and implementing goals and priorities of the UNESCO’s Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage (the 2003 Convention), thus enhancing the significant role of intangible cultural heritage as a motivation for sustainable development, cultural
diversity, creativity and dialogue among cultures, connecting the society with the increased engagement of the community, women and the youth, she said.

The 18th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage took place from December 4-9 with the participation of more than 500 delegates and observers from 24 member states as well as international organisations and non-governmental organisations on culture and art.

The Vietnamese delegation to the event included Dao Quyen Truong, Vice Director of the Department of Cultural Affairs and UNESCO under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, members of Vietnam National UNESCO Committee’s Secretariat, among others.

At the session, participants approved a list of 56 new dossiers of intangible cultural heritage, while evaluating the implementation of the 2003 Convention in member states in the Arab region, discussing and approving a mechanism to simplify the process of building nomination documents, and preparing activities
to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the 2003 Convention.

Truong said that the Vietnamese delegation made active engagement in all contents of the session.

The Secretariat and members of the committee hailed Vietnam’s policies and strategies and practical measures in promoting the role of intangible cultural heritage as a driving force for sustainable economic, cultural-social development, environmental protection, and biodiversity protection, he said.

The official said that Vietnam’s efforts in early researching and integrating many contents of the 2003 Convention into Vietnam’s Cultural Heritage Law were highly appreciated internationally.

Vietnam’s experience in designing management, protection and promotion plans for all 15 UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage and 534 national ones with the engagement of the community and administration was also highly evaluated, he added.

The UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage comp
rises 24 members, acting as an UNESCO important executive agency for the protection of intangible cultural heritage, deciding on key issues related to recognising intangible cultural heritage and allocating funds to support the conservation of intangible cultural heritage in different countries, and designing policies and development orientations of the 2003 Convention.

The 19th session of the committee is slated for December 2024 in Paraguay, during which participants will consider Vietnam’s nomination of the Festival of Ba Chua Xu Goddess at Sam Mountain as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Doctors from the Ho Chi Minh-based Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine have provided free health check-ups and medicines for disadvantaged Vietnamese and locals living in Khammouane during a programme in the central Lao province from December 5-10.

Hundreds of Vietnamese and local residents living in Thakhek town have been given initial examination and health consultation during the programme which is jointly organsised by the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association in HCM City, the Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, and the HCM City’s Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs.

On the occasion, representatives of the HCM City Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs presented Vietnamese-language books worth five million VND to Thong Nhat primary school in Thakhek. This activity aims to implement the Prime Minister’s plan to honour the Vietnamese language among the Vietnamese community abroad.

The activity is expected to contribute to further strengthening the traditional friendship, special soli
darity and comprehensive cooperation between the two Parties, two States and people of Vietnam and Laos.

It also aims to popularise Vietnam’s foreign policy, and policies of the Party and State related to OVs, contributing to increasing their trust in these policies./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency