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| Planting forests to increase green space for Hue |
Harmony between conservation and development
Experts, researchers, and residents alike share a common aspiration: that Hue must develop in a harmonious, sustainable, and human-centered way, allowing its people to enjoy the pure values of nature and the beauty and aesthetics of a heritage city.
According to Arch. Tran Ngoc Tue, M.A., Vice President of Hue City Association for Urban Planning and Development, the central area of Hue, especially the Citadel and the north-south banks of the Perfume River, is the “heart” of the city. This is the area that concentrates cultural, historical, and administrative values, and also bears the greatest pressure from urban development. Without good planning, Hue will gradually lose its irreplaceable values: its landscape, green spaces, and architectural identity.
In reality, the urban area north of the Perfume River still retains its ancient, tranquil character as part of the heritage zone, while the southern area is oriented toward a more modern and dynamic city. However, this boundary is increasingly blurred by the pace of urbanization and inconsistent planning, resulting in an urban image still lacking distinct identity.
Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, a long-time resident near Da Vien islet in Thuan Hoa Ward, shared: “Hue has the Perfume River, mountains, trees, and cool breezes. I just hope that as the city develops, it still keeps enough green spaces for residents to relax and for visitors to see a peaceful Hue”.
The desire of many Hue residents is also the direction that the city is pursuing: to preserve its heritage while developing it harmoniously and sustainably with a long-term vision. Experts suggest that Hue should make better use of its system of waterways, like Ho Thanh Hao (the Citadel Moat system), Ngu Ha Canal, and dozens of natural lakes, to form a “water park” within the urban area. The restoration of royal gardens, green corridors around the Imperial Citadel, the creation of walking paths and riverside rest spaces, or the maintenance of tropical rainforests in areas such as Kim Long, Thien An Hill, and Vong Canh Hill, … would not only serve tourism but also enhance residents’ quality of life.
The rivers and green spaces in Hue’s central area are important resources that have not yet been effectively utilized. In the past, people valued the principle “Nhat can thi, nhi can giang, tam can lo” (first, near the market; second, near the river; third, near the road). Around the world, many countries have made good use of the advantage of “rivers running through the city” such as the Seine River (Paris, France), the Thames River (London, UK), and the Danube River (Vienna, Austria) to develop tourism and services in a harmonious, culturally rich way. Meanwhile, along both banks of the Perfume River, most areas remain underdeveloped; local communities have not yet been empowered nor found meaningful ways to engage with the river. Therefore, it is necessary to rethink how to transform Hue’s naturally gifted rivers into valuable landscape assets.
Smart city - Smart people
Hue is being oriented to become a heritage, cultural, landscaped, environmentally friendly, and smart city. To achieve that, a smart city must begin with smart citizens, those who understand and accompany the city’s transformation. With the consistent viewpoint of placing people at the center, culture as the foundation, and science as well as technology as the driving force, Hue City has made steady progress and achieved many proud results, being recognized as one of the pioneering and exemplary localities in smart city development in Vietnam.
The city is promoting the application of digital technology in urban planning, infrastructure, and management. Hue is also actively developing a green transportation system, encouraging the use of electric vehicles and public bicycles, and reducing exhaust pollution; at the same time, digitizing the management of urban infrastructure, green spaces, and water surfaces for more efficient operation. In addition, a smart city is one where residents can participate in monitoring, giving feedback, and proposing ideas for urban planning and management. This “interaction” and connectivity have indeed been realized in recent years, most clearly demonstrated through the Hue-S platform - an intelligent and convenient application integrating more than 50 services and attracting over 1.3 million users to install and use it.
According to experts, building a smart city is not only about installing sensors or digitizing data, but also about creating a sustainable, safe living environment that fosters community connection. Arch. Tran Ngoc Tue (M.A.) also emphasized the development of “sponge city” models, which enhance the ability to absorb, store, and regulate water, and “water” models, of which urban structures allocating more space for water that can be integrated into low-lying areas such as An Van Duong and Dong Nam Thuy An new urban zones. This is an important non-structural solution using green space to increase water absorption and regulation capacity, while adapting to climate change and creating ecological landscapes for the city.
In addition, it is necessary to limit constructions that obstruct natural water flows, such as roads cutting across streams or concrete surfaces that prevent rainwater from seeping into the ground. Residential and service areas should be planned and managed based on ecological architecture, with low density, environmentally friendly materials, and more open spaces.
Dr. Ho Dac Thai Hoang, Chairman of the Union of Science and Technology Associations of Hue City, said that Hue has a great advantage in its intellectual community, cultural behavior, and strong local identity and affection for the homeland. If this strength is well utilized in urban development, Hue will create a distinctive and impressive identity, a technological city that still retains the look of a heritage-green-smart-sustainable city, rich in humanity and truly a place worth living in.