HẢI PHÒNG — The coastal city of Hải Phòng has everything a music city needs: heritage, identity, people and a resilient spirit, according to Bùi Hoài Sơn, a permanent member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Education.

When these elements are connected through visionary leadership and effective policies, the city will not only preserve the soul of the past but also embrace the future, where music becomes a driving force for economic development and a distinctive cultural brand of modern urban Vietnamese life, he said.

Sơn, along with many experts and researchers, attended a scientific conference on Hải Phòng’s potential, opportunities, and solutions for its development into a music city. 

The event was organised by the Hải Phòng Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Union of Hải Phòng Scientific and Technological Associations.

Trần Thị Hoàng Mai, director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that Hải Phòng is widely recognised as a city of industry and seaports, known for its dynamism, creativity, and resilience.

Hải Phòng is also a region rich in cultural traditions, where music resonates alongside the rhythms of life. It is home to various forms of folk music, including ca trù (ceremonial singing), chèo (Northern traditional opera), trống hội (festive drumming), and especially hát văn (ceremonial folk singing).

The city is also home to several Vietnamese musical talents, including legends like Văn Cao, Hoàng Quý and Đoàn Chuẩn, as well as contemporary artists such as Vũ Tự Lân, Vũ Loan, Duy Thái, and Tùng Ngọc, showcasing a diverse range of styles.

After the merger with Hải Dương Province, Hải Phòng has developed particularly strong performing arts troupes, such as the Contemporary Art Theatre, the Traditional Stage Theatre, and the Chèo Theatre of East Việt Nam.

According to Sơn, striving to join UNESCO's Creative Cities Network in the field of music is not just a goal for recognition, but a declaration of Hải Phòng's ambition to rise and uphold the cultural values of Việt Nam on the global creative map.

Phạm Hữu Thư, vice chairman of the Union of Hải Phòng Scientific and Technological Associations, proposed four main solutions for Hải Phòng to become a music city in line with UNESCO's criteria.

The focus, he said, should be on enhancing the role and digitising the values of folk music forms, creating a space for musical heritage innovation, and developing a creative ecosystem and music industry.

Also key to this effort will be promoting international cooperation and building a global brand by studying the experiences of, and signing cultural music partnerships with, international music cities such as Liverpool (the UK), Daegu (South Korea), Adelaide (Australia), and Ambon (Indonesia). This includes inviting international artists to reside in and produce music in Hải Phòng.

"The development orientation of Hải Phòng into a music city is not merely a cultural and artistic goal but a strategy for building a comprehensive, creative urban environment that connects identity, economy, technology, and international integration,” he said.

“This is also an important step in realising the vision of making Hải Phòng a leading centre for industry, tourism, and maritime culture in Southeast Asia.” VNS