Hanoi Launches Community Learning Center to Bridge Tradition and Digitalization

The Hanoi Department of Education and Training, in coordination with the Thanh Oai People's Committee, launched a flagship Community Learning Center on July 22. This is one of three pilot models to be implemented in 2026, aiming to realize the goal of building a learning society following Hanoi's accession to UNESCO's Global Network of Learning Cities. Unlike traditional models, the Thanh Oai Community Learning Center is oriented to become an open learning space where all citizens, regardless of age, profession, or educational background, can access knowledge, update scientific and technical knowledge, enhance professional and life skills, and adapt to the demands of digital transformation. According to Mr. Nguyen Hong Hai, Vice Chairman of the Thanh Oai People's Committee, for the center to be effective, learning content must stem from the practical needs of the people and be linked to the locality's advantages. Therefore, the first selected theme is "Chuông Village's Nón - From Traditional Heritage to Modern Economic Value." Beyond discussing the preservation of the nón-making craft, the theme also focuses on solutions for applying digital technology, developing e-commerce, building brands, developing OCOP products, and connecting experiential tourism to enhance the economic value of the craft village. "Learning to preserve, learning to create, learning to develop, and learning to enrich oneself based on the traditional cultural values of one's homeland" is the goal that the Thanh Oai Community Learning Center aims for. Following the theme, many local students expressed their excitement at hearing artisans share for the first time about the history of the craft village and how to bring Chuông Village's nón to e-commerce platforms. Ms. Nguyen Thu Ha, a student from Ta Thanh Oai Secondary School, said the session helped her better understand the value of traditional crafts and she hopes to contribute to promoting her hometown's products using digital technology in the future. Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Department of Education and Training, emphasized that building a learning society should not be limited to formal education but must expand flexible learning spaces connected to people's lives and production. Within the continuing education system, Community Learning Centers are the closest educational institutions to the people, disseminating knowledge, transferring science and technology, enhancing life skills, providing short-term vocational training, orienting livelihoods, and contributing to preserving local cultural identity. According to Mr. Nguyen Quang Tuan, the model in Thanh Oai not only honors the traditional nón-making craft but also opens up new economic development directions for the craft village. Cultural values will be combined with innovation to create environmentally friendly products that meet the demands of tourism and the market. To ensure the effective operation of the Community Learning Center, the Hanoi Department of Education and Training proposed that the locality continue to leverage the advantages of the craft village; build experiential tourism models, develop OCOP products, standardize brands, apply QR codes for traceability, and strengthen linkages with businesses and travel agencies to expand markets. According to the plan, two other pilot models in Thanh Liet ward and Hoai Duc commune will be launched in the coming time, contributing to the spread of lifelong learning, bringing knowledge closer to life, and creating momentum for sustainable community development.