Elegant Hanoians – When the Capital's beauty enters the digital era
WVR - Elegance is not something to display, but a cultural strength of Hanoians amidst a changing world…
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| Dr. Trinh Le Anh believes that elegance is how Hanoi communicates its development to the world without losing its essence. |
The Capital Liberation Day (October 10) not only recalls a historical milestone but also evokes the spiritual values of the people who have shaped this place: The elegant, kind-hearted, and sophisticated individuals are the most unique legacy Hanoi leaves for today's era.
Elegance is not just a memory
Every October, as the yellow leaves of the sau trees fall on the streets, Hanoi returns to itself – quiet, contemplative, yet full of pride. I vividly remember the period of 1992–1993 when I was named Elegant Student of Hanoi in a meaningful contest. It was not just a title, but a special feeling as if I was entrusted with a piece of Hanoi's cultural etiquette.
Back then, we were taught that elegance was not just about appearance: clothes or hairstyles, but about saying thank you, bowing in greeting, maintaining self-respect in front of others, and living without troubling anyone...
Looking back now, I still regret that the "Elegant Student" movement has faded, giving way to vibrant, trendy contests like Mr & Miss, Got Talent – more glamorous but also making people talk less about living beautifully. So, in today's modern Hanoi, what makes an "Elegant Hanoian"? Perhaps the answer lies in three words: Preserve – Adapt – Spread.
Elegance is a characteristic embedded in Hanoi's space – from the gentle voice, composed demeanor to the bow on the street. The elders once advised our generation of the 70s and 80s "Speak with culture, act with feeling", perhaps this "moderation" is what creates the enduring beauty of Hanoians. From a thousand-year tradition, through over 70 years of capital liberation, these values still exist but in a new form.
When Hanoi became a UNESCO Creative City (2019), we not only discussed design or technology but also how the city renews its "etiquette heritage". Therefore, elegance is not something fixed in memory, but a living quality present in young people who queue at the metro, keep quiet in theaters, or voluntarily pick up trash on Hoan Kiem walking street. This shows that elegance does not become outdated, it just changes its attire. It moves from ancient houses to urban life – where politeness sometimes is as simple as a nod or a friendly smile amidst the bustling crowd.
In a city of nearly nine million people, elegance cannot be a luxury. It appears in countless everyday situations: When a driver smiles and gives way, when young people say sorry instead of honking, when a group of friends stops to let an elderly person cross the street or helps a lost tourist find their hotel. These small actions, if done by many, will transform into urban culture.
| "On the world map, Hanoi possesses a rare beauty: Serenity in motion. Amidst the noise of urbanization, there are still slow-paced streets, gentle smiles, a modest demeanor that leaves a lasting impression. That is elegance". |
Hanoi made the right move by issuing the Public Conduct Code (2017), but its value truly lives when each person sees it as a habit, not just a regulation. In reality, elegance does not lie in slogan boards, but in small, natural behaviors. In the digital age, elegance is also challenged in another space – the online space.
Civilized, measured comments, responsible information sharing, or simply knowing "when to stop before saying something hurtful" – all are manifestations of digital elegance. Today's Hanoians are recognized not only by their voice or gait but also by how they appear and behave on online platforms. A kind comment, a proper compliment sometimes also beautifies the city they live in. Of course, amidst modern life, we sometimes easily forget the necessary slowness of culture. Social media, work pressure, and crowding can make thank-yous sound rushed. But it is precisely in those moments that Hanoi needs "elegance anchors": People who live kindly, gently, and know how to soothe the city's noise with courteous attitudes.
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| The capital Hanoi is a symbol of elegance and civility. (Photo: Hanoimoi) |
Development without losing oneself
Hanoi is entering an era where elegance can become a cultural tourism brand. Visitors to Hanoi remember not only Hoan Kiem Lake or the Old Quarter but also the friendly smiles, gentle directions, or the bow in a small tea shop. This is "soft power" – something no media campaign can replace.
In recent years, pedestrian spaces have been expanded throughout the city, along with many public art projects associated with the community, contributing to reviving the elegant spirit of the capital in a new form: Dignified yet youthful, creative yet distinctly Hanoi.
Additionally, interactive museums, vibrant day-and-night relics, and heritage sites where visitors can hear stories about Hanoi in a modern language are shaping a city that tells its history with sophistication and pride. These spaces not only bring art but also evoke pride and awareness of preserving the beauty of Hanoians in modern life.
| "Today's Hanoians are recognized not only by their voice or gait but also by how they appear and behave on online platforms. A kind comment, a proper compliment sometimes also beautifies the city they live in". |
For the youth, elegance doesn't have to be rigid. A 30-second TikTok clip about a Hanoian giving up a seat for an elderly person, or a video "A Day Living Civilly in Hanoi" can spread more powerfully than many slogans. This soft power starts from each individual, from their choice to act beautifully, then narrate it in the language of the era.
On the world map, Hanoi possesses a rare beauty: Serenity in motion. Amidst the noise of urbanization, there are still slow-paced streets, gentle smiles, a modest demeanor that leaves a lasting impression. That is elegance, what makes Hanoi different from any other city in Southeast Asia.
Perhaps, Hanoi is gaining global attention not just as a political-economic center, but for how it preserves dignity in development. Many tourists have shared that they love Hanoi because "everything has its own rhythm" – not too hurried, not ostentatious but subtle in every detail. This unique rhythm, this "moderation", has made Hanoi one of the rare cities in Asia to retain its soul amidst globalization waves.
To spread this image, Hanoi needs more than slogans; it needs to practice elegance as a sustainable development strategy: Teaching etiquette skills from schools, encouraging public art, developing model cultural zones, and integrating elegance criteria in all service, tourism, and educational activities.
Every citizen, from motorbike taxi drivers, and street vendors, to students and officials, are "cultural ambassadors" of the capital. Because Hanoi is not remembered for how tall its buildings are, but for how its people behave. Therefore, elegance is not something to display, but a cultural strength of Hanoians amidst a changing world: How we speak, how we handle conflicts, how we respect differences. It requires patience, sophistication, and self-respect – qualities that seem small but create the "Hanoi essence".
A beloved city must first be a place where people feel respected. And "elegance" is how Hanoi tells the world about its development without losing itself. In Hanoi, you will be listened to, shared with, and treated with all the respect of a city that knows how to love its people.
