Story 1: Hanoi – picture of opposite colours

Hanoi’s Flag Tower (Photo: Vietnam+)

On July 16, 1999, Hanoi was officially honored by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as the "City for Peace" in La Paz (Bolivia). In particular, Hanoi is the only city in the Asia-Pacific region to receive this title.

On the occasion of Hanoi's 20th anniversary of receiving the title of UNESCO, VietnamPlus introduces readers to the series: "Hanoi: From the city for peace to the creative city."

Hanoi is the only capital in the Asia-Pacific region to be named a "City for Peace” by UNESCO" (Photo: Dinh Na / Vietnam News Agency)

Story 1: Hanoi – picture of opposite colors

"Attention, people! Attention, compatriots! Enemy aircraft is 60km from Hanoi! ... Cautious! Attention compatriots! Enemy aircraft is 50km away from Hanoi! ... Reviewing a documentary film about the capital on fiery days, People's Artist Lan Huong suddenly went silent.

More than 40 years have gone by, from a little girl wearing a straw hat, a shoulder wearing a cross bag (carrying bandages, red medicine) to school, Lan Huong has become an old woman, tasting all the bumps and downs on the road of life. And yet, whenever suddenly heard the old sounds on the loudspeaker, imagined the scene of bright anti-aircraft artillery and the sound of aircraft roaring in Hanoi in the 1960s, 1970s, she still felt so cold in her spine.

Taking a deep breath, Lan Huong pulled the door frame, her eyes on the flow of people on the street.

“At that time, Hanoi was mostly visualized with trade streets. Referring to Thanh Xuan, Cau Giay, everyone saw far away. Those areas were already considered suburbs. I remember forever, Buoi and Hoang Quoc Viet streets used to be just wasteland. There is a market with dealers selling all kinds of bamboo products to pigs, chickens, buffaloes and cows. But now, that area is only full of high-rise buildings and streets crowded with people and vehicles,” the artist told.

Artist Lan Huong in the film “Em be Ha Noi” (The Little girl of Hanoi) by the late director-artist Hai Ninh. (Photo: Character provided)

Memories of the hard days and months were the luggage that followed her along the way of life. Now, “Hanoi is different. The children in Hanoi are also very different,” Lan Huong thinks.

Sharing the same feeling, Colonel-writer Chu Lai said that he could not imagine the day when Hanoi would change to become a modern, busy but still not losing the peacefulness and romance as today.

It was not until later, when he became a sapper soldier during the US resistance war, that he gradually forgot his obsession with hunger. In the memory of the old colonel, Hanoi at the time when he stepped into the battlefield is still a poor land. The sound of a tinkling train, the image of kerosene lanterns, days of waiting in line to buy food have become a part of the memories deeply engraved in the heart of every Hanoi citizen.

Hanoi in the old time (Photo: Le Vuong Photography Artist)

From a capital which has experienced long years of resistance, Hanoi has strived to change and become a civilized, modern, dynamic and proactive city. To date, Hanoi remains the only capital in the Asia-Pacific region to be named a "City for Peace" by UNESCO for its positive contributions to the struggle for peace and unceasingly efforts in the construction, construction and development of the city.

The Western region of the capital is increasingly spacious and modern (Photo: Trong Dat / TXVN)

Specifically, Hanoi has met the UNESCO’s criteria in regard to equality in the community, urban construction, the preservation of living environment, promoting cultural-educational development and educating citizens and young generations.

The relentless effort in the process of preserving and promoting the title value has created a strange Hanoi that is familiar to the people of this place as well as domestic and international friends./.