From community cultural spaces to driver of development

Building community cultural spaces

In mid-May, the Happiness Lake Park in Kien An Ward became the focal point of the "Kien An – Happiness Festival 2026" for the first time.

More than just a cultural week, the event introduced a new development model by combining public space with artistic performances, cuisine, OCOP product showcases, community experiences, and the nighttime economy.

The success of the Happiness Festival was soon followed by the 11-day Kien An Beer Festival 2026, featuring nightly performances, giant screens for residents to watch FIFA World Cup matches, as well as food and commercial activities. A space once used primarily for community gatherings has become a vibrant cultural and entertainment destination for residents and visitors alike.

In recent years, the private sector has played an increasingly active role in organizing large-scale cultural and artistic events in Hai Phong. This has also become one of the key factors contributing to the development of the cultural industries market.

Pioneering the organization of commercial music concerts in Hai Phong about six years ago, Ta Huong, Director of Shining Media JSC, said audiences are now able to enjoy more high-quality music events in Hai Phong instead of traveling to Ha Noi or Ho Chi Minh City.

Following the successful organization of numerous major music events, Shining Media was entrusted by the city in 2026 with organizing a series of cultural and tourism activities at the city's central park as part of the Red Flamboyant Festival. The company also coordinated music programs at Doi Rong International Tourist Area and in Kien An Ward, attracting large numbers of residents.

Toward a "City of Music"

At the second meeting of the Central Steering Committee for the Development of Vietnamese Culture, reviewing the implementation of the Politburo's Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam stressed that preserving culture in the digital era is not merely about safeguarding heritage. Heritage must continue to thrive in contemporary life. Digitalization should serve not only for preservation, but also for education, creativity, wider dissemination, and as a resource for the development, cultural industries, and artificial intelligence of Vietnam.

The Party General Secretary and State President called for continued efforts to translate Resolution No. 80 into concrete actions so that culture truly becomes the spiritual foundation, an intrinsic resource, and a key driving force for national development in the new era.

That vision is being translated into reality in Hai Phong through a range of concrete programs and projects. The "City of Music" project for the 2026 – 2030 period is expected to establish a new cultural brand, promote Hai Phong's musical advantages, and develop an ecosystem encompassing professional performances, festivals, creative spaces, arts education, and community activities. The project is also expected to create new tourism products and promote the cultural industries.

Major General and musician Duc Trinh, President of the Vietnam Musicians' Association, said that with its cultural traditions, well-developed cultural infrastructure, and strong support from city leaders, Hai Phong has favorable conditions to become a venue for national music competitions, festivals, and major music events. Regularly organized artistic activities will help build the city's distinctive cultural brand and establish Hai Phong as a center for major artistic events.

Hai Phong is gradually transforming cultural values into a resource for development. These models have not only enriched the spiritual life of local residents but also created new opportunities for tourism, services, and the cultural industries, contributing to the city's goal of making culture a key driver of development in the new era.

HAI HAU