Artists perform in the opening ceremony of the Hà Nội Festival of Creative Design 2026. — Photos courtesy of organisers

HÀ NỘI — The Hà Nội Festival of Creative Design 2026 officially opens on November 13 night leading to 16 days full of activities, aiming to make the cultural industry a strong force for development.

Nearly 1,000 local and international artisans and artists will take part in more than 150 programmes which will be held in range of Hà Nội's heritage sides until November 30.

Under the title Thăng Long Kẻ Nghệ (Thăng Long – Land of Artisans) and Kinh Tế Sáng Tạo (Creative Economy), the festival celebrates craftsmanship, skills and creative capacities that have been cultivated and passed down through generations.

The festival seeks to connect and mobilise cultural, heritage and creative resources, generating new values that contribute to urban development.

For the first time, it introduces a model of international artistic collaboration, enabling foreign artists and creators to engage directly in co-creation with their Vietnamese counterparts.

"Guided by the message Connecting Talents, Weaving Assets, the festival aims to transform cultural heritages, knowledge and creative capabilities into lasting assets that can generate sustainable livelihoods and employment opportunities, foster collaboration and position cultural industry as a driving force for the capital's economic growth," says Vũ Thu Hà, vice chairwoman of the Hà Nội People's Committee, at the opening ceremony.

"The festival provides an opportunity to strengthen international connections, exchanges and cooperation, showcasing Việt Nam's cultural identity and creative vitality to the world."

Jonathan Baker, head of office and UNESCO Representative to Việt Nam, speaks at the opening ceremony.

Attending the ceremony, Jonathan Baker, head of office and UNESCO Representative to Việt Nam, says this year's theme is especially fitting for a city whose identity has been shaped by more than a thousand years of history, craftsmanship and cultural exchange.

"For centuries, the streets and markets of Thăng Long were places where artisans, merchants and communities came together, exchanging not only goods, but also knowledge, skills and ideas. These traditions remain deeply embedded in the cultural fabric of Hà Nội today," he says.

"Yet heritage is not simply a legacy of the past. It is a living resource, continuously renewed through the creativity of those who inherit, practice and reinterpret it. By placing traditional craftsmanship in dialogue with contemporary art, architecture and design, this year's festival invites us to imagine how the knowledge and ingenuity of generations of artisans can inspire new creative expressions, products and opportunities."

He adds that the festival also reminds people that the creative economy is not built by artists and designers alone. It depends on the participation of local communities, the engagement of young people, and the collaboration of public institutions, businesses and creative practitioners.

An installation work display in 16 days of the festival.

"With nearly 150 activities and close to 1,000 participating artisans and artists, including international talents, the festival is a testament to the collective energy and ambition that continue to shape Hà Nội's creative landscape," he says.

Activities for discover

The exhibition Patron Saints and Eminent Scholars of Việt Nam is open daily until December 5 at the Temple of Literature, No 58 Quốc Tử Giám Street.

Initiated and curated by artist Nguyễn Thế Sơn, this exhibition bridges the legacies of craft ancestors with artworks, handcrafted objects, and contemporary art practices through nine thematic zones.

Tháp Ẩn Ca (The Tower of Hidden Songs) is a sound installation at the Hàng Đậu Water Tower, running till November 25.

The work is created and artistically directed by Patrick Kessler, a Swiss double bassist, composer, and curator.

Inspired by the study of vibrational communication (biotremology), the artists incorporated 59 scientific recordings into the Tower of Hidden Songs, sourced from 13 researchers across 10 institutes in eight countries and territories.   

Nam Hương Communal House will host the exhibition In Dialogue with Hàng Trống Folk Paintings.

The exhibition In Dialogue with Hàng Trống Folk Paintings is open daily till November 28 at Nam Hương Communal House No 75 Hàng Trống Street.

It introduces the traditional craft of Hàng Trống folk painting and features works inspired by this artistic tradition across a variety of mediums and genres, including painting, relief sculpture, photography, lacquer, silk, and woodcut prints. The exhibition serves as a setting for a dialogue between cultural heritage and contemporary creativity.

The "Mirror Lake" Pavilion is open to the public till November 28 at the Creative Square exhibition cluster - East Square of Hoàn Kiếm Lake.

An overview of the "Mirror Lake" Pavilion, one of key works of the festival.

Created by Architect Nguyễn Hồng Quang, the work is a public art installation marking the 50th anniversary of Việt Nam joining UNESCO (1976–2026). The "Mirror Lake" Pavilion aims to offer an "urban pause" where people can pause, observe, and reconnect with themselves and the space around them.

The craft, design and illustration fair Chăm Hoa Đua Nở (Makers Market) takes place from November 13–15 at the Information and Exhibition Centre, 45 Tràng Tiền Street. 

The fair features 57 stalls showcasing products across craft, design and illustration, consistently offers a highly diverse range of products for all age groups.

The Touching Đồng Xuân art tour, led by curator Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, runs on November 15 and 22. The tour starts at the main entrance to Đồng Xuân Market and takes visitors through three floors of the market.

The curator will introduce the routes through the exhibition and guide visitors along one of them. At each stop, visitors can learn why a work was placed there and how the activity around it shapes the way it is experienced. From the aisles between stalls to the spaces linking the floors, the tour offers a fresh look at familiar parts of Đồng Xuân through the eyes of artists who have observed and worked with the market. — VNS