Hoi An ancient town in Quang Nam province is located on Hoai Pho river bank (Photo: Hong Dat/ VNA)

UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay announced UNESCO’s decision on Tuesday on the occasion of World Cities Day.

 On Wednesday, people in Hoi An took part in a street parade to celebrate the announcement.  Huynh Suong, an artisan from Hoi An’s Kim Bong carpentry craft village, said: “This is a great honor for Hoi An and for local artisans. Joining UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network poses a challenge. It will require local artisans to make an effort to be more creative to meet UNESCO’s requirements.”

With the latest additions, the Network now includes 350 cities in 100 countries, representing seven creative fields – Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.

The newly-designated cities will cooperate with other Network members to strengthen their resilience in the face of evolving threats like climate change, rising inequality, and rapid urbanization.