Shaping Hanoians - From a thousand-year tradition to a contemporary identity
WVR - The capital city of Hanoi – a land of thousand years civilization – is not only the political, economic, and cultural centre of the nation but also a symbol of elegance and civility.
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| Shaping Hanoians - From a thousand-year tradition to a contemporary identity: Over the years, Hanoi has preserved many beautiful cultural traits, yet it needs to integrate new values to stay relevant in modern times. (Photo: Giang Nam) |
In the ever-changing rhythm of modern life, preserving and promoting the refined and courteous culture of Hanoians has become more essential than ever - as a way for every citizen to express their love, pride, and responsibility for a heroic, cultured, peaceful and creative capital.
Elegance - The timeless hallmark of Trang An people
For generations, the word “elegant” has been inextricably linked with Hanoi. It is not merely about appearance or speech, but a reflection of lifestyle and inner character. Hanoians of the past were known for their grace, integrity, and respect for etiquette. In every aspect, from eating and dressing to speaking and behaving in public, they embodied moderation and propriety. Expressions such as “speaking gently”, “walking calmly”, “respecting elders and yielding to others”, and “showing respect for people around you” became unwritten standards of daily life.
Elegance was also manifested in how Hanoians treated nature and their communities. They have long taken pride in keeping streets clean, caring for every corner of their homes, trees, and lakes. For many generations, protecting a green, clean and beautiful living environment has become a habit - a way of practising urban civility.
Yet in the rapid currents of integration and development, these values are facing many challenges. The fast pace of life, the explosion of technology, and the pressures of livelihood have sometimes blurred traditional virtues. Scenes such as littering, impolite speech in public, and inconsiderate behaviour in traffic or online have, unfortunately, become too familiar in the capital.
It should be remembered that elegance is not an innate quality, but the result of long-term education and self-cultivation, starting from family, school, and extending to society. The civility and grace of Hanoians cannot remain only in books or slogans; they must be expressed through concrete actions - in every gesture, word, and deed.
As many cultural researchers note, nurturing a civilised and elegant Hanoian today means renewing traditional values to fit the times - preserving the essence of the past while harmonising with modern life.
Civility and elegance are not distant ideals but begin with the smallest acts: dressing neatly, speaking politely, saying “thank you” and “sorry” when needed, and refraining from pushing in public places. Small actions create great identity, the identity of a truly civilised city. It is also how each person shows respect for both the community and themselves.
In recent years, Hanoi has launched numerous practical movements to raise awareness and encourage action among its citizens: “All People Unite to Build a Civilised Lifestyle”, “Friendly Schools, Active Students”, “Building Civilised Streets”, “Bright - Green - Clean - Beautiful City”, “Cultural Families”, “Friendly Public Offices”, and “Five Nos, Three Cleans” at local levels.
These campaigns have gone beyond slogans to become habits and ways of life. Many neighbourhoods, schools and offices have integrated codes of conduct into their internal regulations, using them as criteria to assess performance and personal conduct.
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| Hanoi during the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day . (Photo: Ngo Minh Chau) |
Building character for sustainable development
A civilised and elegant Hanoi cannot be built solely through administrative regulations; it must begin from the root - education. Teaching civility and elegance should start early, within families, schools and communities.
In Hanoi’s schools today, the programme “Educating Students in Elegant and Civilised Behaviour” has been implemented for years, helping children learn and practise small but meaningful actions: speaking kindly, doing good deeds, keeping clean and showing respect to others. This lays the foundation for personality development and shapes cultural habits from a young age.
Equally important are parents and adults, who serve as living examples. Children learn not only through instruction but through observation. A gentle word or a polite gesture in public can be a lifelong lesson. Therefore, teaching cultural behaviour should not be viewed as an extracurricular subject but as a continuous journey intertwined with daily life
As cultural experts affirm, building a civilised and elegant Hanoian is not only about developing culture but also about developing people, the core of sustainable growth. Humans are at the heart of every development policy. A modern city should not be measured only by its skyscrapers, wide roads, or grand projects, but above all by the quality of its people - citizens who live with kindness, culture and community spirit.
Hanoi has repeatedly issued important policies and directives to foster a civilised citizenry, such as the “Code of Conduct for Public Officials and Employees” and the “Code of Conduct in Public Spaces” (2017). Most recently, in 2024, the Hanoi Party Committee issued Directive No. 30-CT/TU on “Strengthening Party Leadership in Building Civilised and Elegant Hanoians”.
More importantly, over time, this goal has transcended administrative directives to become a shared aspiration - the desire of every Hanoian to live in an orderly, friendly, safe and proud environment.
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| Today's Hanoians contribute to further enhancing the identity of the land of the capital – a place where cultural quintessence converges. (Photo: Quang Thái) |
A modern and integrated Hanoi
Today, Hanoi is undergoing a dynamic transformation amid global integration. The city welcomes millions of visitors and hosts countless international events. A friendly smile, a polite gesture, or courteous speech from a Hanoian can leave a lasting impression on guests from around the world.
In the digital era, civility and elegance also extend to online behaviour - respecting others, avoiding misinformation, refraining from inflammatory language, and helping maintain a healthy digital environment. This too reflects the responsibility of Hanoians in modern society. Preserving elegance and civility is not the duty of a few, but a shared responsibility of all. Every word and action contributes to the collective image of the capital.
Hanoi is striving towards the vision of becoming a “livable city” - where people are respected, cultural behaviour is a social norm, and every citizen feels proud to live, work, and contribute.
As scholar Nguyen Van Huyen once wrote: “An elegant Hanoian knows how to live for themselves and for others, who loves beauty, hates ugliness, values self-respect, and respects the community”.
Preserving that spirit is how the thousand-year-old capital continues to shine in the new era.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Tran Huu Son, former Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Folk Arts Association, affirmed: “The cultural essence of Hanoians truly shines when it exists within a society guided by both the law and moral standards”.
Meanwhile, Dr Nguyen Viet Chuc, Vice Chairman of the Cultural and Social Advisory Council under the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, emphasised that building elegant and civilised Hanoians is an essential step toward comprehensive and sustainable development.
According to Dr Chuc, in this new era, Hanoians must reaffirm the unique qualities of a heroic capital - a City for Peace and a Creative City: pioneering spirit, courage, creativity and tolerance. Among these, tolerance is a defining virtue - one that has allowed Hanoi to nurture talent and welcome people from all regions.
Notably, creativity has become a hallmark of modern Hanoians. It is no coincidence that Hanoi took the lead as the first locality in the country to adopt Resolution No. 09 - a specialised resolution on “Developing the Cultural and Creative Industries of Hanoi (2021–2025), with Orientation to 2030 and Vision to 2045”.
Through the many changes of time, Hanoi remains a symbol of intellect, culture and compassion. The Capital Liberation Day (10 October) is not only a time to honour heroic traditions but also a moment for every Hanoian to reflect upon themselves.
Preserving and promoting the elegance and civility of Hanoians is not only about safeguarding a cultural heritage - it is about protecting the very soul of the capital: the soul of a heroic, peaceful and creative city.
