Hanoi’s culture center promotes old quarter heritage

Located at 50 Dao Duy Tu Street in downtown Hanoi, the Culture Center is the result of a collaboration between the governments of Hanoi and Toulouse, France, to preserve the Old Quarter. A three-floor edifice covering more than 450 square meters, the Center is an ingenious combination of old and new architectural features. The first two floors are reserved for exhibitions and displays, while the third floor serves as a venue for cultural exchange activities such as traditional music performances.

Historian Duong Trung Quoc told VOV "I hope this venue becomes a frequent destination for younger generations. The Center provides spaces for educational programs to teach young people about the Old Quarter, which is a very important heritage of the ancient Thang Long Citadel."

Since its establishment, the Center has hosted diverse events introducing visitors to different aspects of the Old Quarter, including exhibitions called “Old Hanoi”, “Hanoi’s city dwellers”, and “Music of the Old Quarter”. Unplugged music shows of Hanoi’s traditional music have promoted Vietnam’s unique musical heritage.

"The Center caters to youngsters interested in exploring Hanoi’s Old Quarter. The Ancient Music Group of Tonkin, which includes some of Vietnam’s leading People’s Artists and Emeritus Artists performs at the Center once a month. The shows always attract a huge audience," said Nguyen Thi Trang who works at the Center. 

The Center is open until 10 pm on weekends. Nguyen Thuy Linh of Hanoi’s Dong Da district told VOV "The Center’s exhibitions give me a deeper understanding of the Old Quarter’s unique heritage. I enjoy them a lot and visit the Center often to learn more about Old Hanoi."

Center also provides tour guides with good foreign languages skills. It’s no wonder that Hanoi’s Culture Center in the Old Quarter has become one of the city’s most popular tourist attractions.