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| Thuan An SeaportOverpass expected to be open to traffic by the end of 2025 |
Past hardships
35 years ago, when the province was reestablished (1989), Thua Thien Hue (now Hue City) faced numerous economic challenges - little to no industry, poor infrastructure, and barely enough budget to cover daily needs. People living along Tam Giang Lagoon, on the slopes of Truong Son Mountains (Annamite Range), or even within the city, shared the same hardships. Storms and floods, especially the historic flood of in 1999, wiped out much of what Hue had painstakingly built.
In the first two decades of the 21st century, Hue gradually took on a new face. Straight roads connected the city with surrounding communes and wards; numerous bridges crossed Tam Giang Lagoon; Hai Van Tunnel opened a gateway to Central Vietnam. Locals rejoiced as Phu Bai Airport grew busier, as Hue Festival became an international cultural brand name, and as visitors from around the world came to the Ancient Capital.
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| Infrastructure in mountainous communes having been connected |
Mr. Nguyen Trung Chinh, former Standing Deputy Secretary of Thua Thien Hue Provincial Party Committee (now Hue City Party Committee), recalled that after the division of the (Binh Tri Thien) province, in Thua Thien Hue, there were very few businesses, services were underdeveloped, and the economy depended heavily on agriculture. The province’s (now the city’s) budget at that time was only 19 billion VND; when compared it to the 12.88 trillion VND collected by the end of 2024, Hue’s growth is astonishing.
In the area of Tam Giang Lagoon, people’s lives have changed day by day. In the past, simple thatched houses collapsed every storm season; fish and shrimp catches barely fed the family. Now, shrimp ponds and fish cages stretch across the water. Many families live in sturdy houses and send their children to school.
Mr. Phan Van Thanh (Phong Quang Ward) shared: “In the past, my family relied only on the few fish and shrimp we caught in the lagoon. Now, thanks to applying advanced techniques in shrimp farming, we can make investment on a larger scale. Traders come directly to buy from us. Life is totally different, and all my children can go to school.”
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| Hue’s industry increasingly developing (A visit to Phu Bai Brewery production line) |
In the city center, the urban area of Huong So (Huong An Ward) stands as a vivid testament to change. After implementing the relocation and resettlement project for Zone I of Hue Citadel, hundreds of households now live in spacious houses; streets are clean and beautiful, schools, and clinics are synchronized. Mrs. Tran Thi Hoa, aged 67, said emotionally: “All my life I never dared to dream that one day my family could live in such a solid, bright house.”
Aspiring to reach new heights
Over 35 years, the city’s socio-economic development has achieved many remarkable results, following a green and sustainable growth direction. The economic scale has increased 8.5 times compared to 1989 (based on 2010 constant prices). Between 1989 and 2025, the average GRDP growth rate reached 6.1% per year; average annual budget revenue increased by 22.6%; total investment capital in 2025 is expected to reach 42.5 trillion VND; and the average per capita income in 2025 is 70 million VND - 55 times higher than before.
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| Hue preserving traditional cultural values amid development (The North Bank of the Perfume River viewed from above) |
Mr. Nguyen Trung Chinh reflected: “During times of hardships, without the unity and determination of the Party, Hue would never obtain what it has today.” His simple words reflect a truth: the Party has been the guiding light leading Hue through every storm.
Affirming this, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People’s Council, and Head of Hue’s National Assembly Delegation, Mr. Le Truong Luu, emphasized: “Over the 35-year journey, the key factor that helped Hue rise was the strong and correct leadership of the Party Committee. Prioritizing Party building, streamlining the organizational structure, developing capable, people-oriented cadres who listen to citizens; anti-corruption efforts, administrative reforms, and digital transformation, all have been carried out comprehensively, resulting in building firm public trust.”
At the end of 2024, when the National Assembly approved the Resolution to elevate Hue to a centrally governed municipality, the entire city was moved to tears. This was not merely an administrative decision but recognition of generations’ dedication and sacrifice - a reward for a long, persevering journey of growth.
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| The number of tourists visiting Hue increasing |
Today, Hue is remembered not only for its royal palace roofs and the folk melodies sung on the Perfume River but also as a leading hub for specialized healthcare in Central Vietnam with Hue Central Hospital and University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University. Hue University is growing stronger day by day, and continues to expand toward a national university model. Especially, Hue boasts 8 UNESCO-recognized heritages and holds titles such as “Festival City,” “Green City,” and “ASEAN Environmentally Sustainable City.”
Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man, during a working session with the city’s leaders to present the decision recognizing Hue as a centrally governed municipality, emphasized: “Hue’s becoming a centrally governed municipality is a well-deserved achievement, fulfilling the nation’s expectations for a land rich in culture, heritage, and identity.”
From hardship to progress, Hue proves one thing: with the wise leadership of the Party, as well as the faith and unity of the people, no difficulty is insurmountable. With that same belief, Hue is moving toward becoming a distinctive national and regional hub of culture, tourism, healthcare, education, and science–technology.