On the afternoon of January 14th, Hue City People’s Committee organized a workshop to gather opinions on the adjustment of Hue City Planning (the Planning) for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050.
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| Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the City People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Toan delivering the opening speech at the workshop |
Strategic significance
In his opening speech at the workshop, Chairman of the City People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Toan emphasized that, with its status as a centrally-governed municipality, Hue City is not only a major cultural, educational, healthcare, and tourism center of the Central region, but also a transport hub and a gateway to the sea of the East–West Economic Corridor, closely linked with the North Central region and the country as a whole. Therefore, adjusting the Planning is not merely a technical requirement, but a task of strategic significance aimed at reshaping the spatial development organization model, better exploiting potential and advantages, and creating spillover momentum for the entire region.
Accordingly, the orientation for adjusting the Planning needs to prioritize five major pillars: culture and heritage as the foundation; knowledge economy, high-quality services, and marine-lagoon economy as the driving forces; ecological planning, river-lagoon-sea urban development adapted to climate change; smart infrastructure and interregional connectivity “from mountains to sea”; and Hue people and river-based communities as the center.
Architect Ngo Viet Nam Son, Chairman of NgoViet Architects & Planners Consulting Company, stated that by 2050, Hue should be shaped as a distinctive heritage-culture-ecological city of Asia, with international competitiveness, where “heritage lives alongside modern life”, harmonizing conservation with sustainable development. Therefore, adjusting Hue City’s planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, requires a new mindset: planning for heritage, planning to develop the heritage economy, associated with a two-tier urban governance model. This would help affirm Hue’s position as a distinctive centrally-governed municipality of national stature.
The planning adjustment needs to clearly define heritage orientation as a special economic asset and a foundation for developing high-quality tourism, cultural industries, education, and specialized healthcare; heritage must not be traded for short-term growth. Instead, the growth model should be based on cultural values, creativity, and knowledge. Creative spaces, startups, night-time economy, and cultural–artistic services associated with Hue’s identity should be encouraged.
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| Overview of the workshop to gather opinions on the adjustment of Hue City Planning for the 2021-2030 period, vision to 2050 |
Key and breakthrough missions
According to the draft on approving the adjusted Planning, Hue City is envisioned to have a modern urban governance model; to be a distinctive heritage city of Vietnam; one of the major and unique centers of Southeast Asia in culture, tourism, and specialized healthcare; one of the country’s major centers for science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, and high-quality, multidisciplinary education and training; to develop sustainably on the foundation of a green economy and digital economy, with national defense and security firmly ensured; and with a high level of material and spiritual life for its people.
Specific targets set include an average GRDP growth rate of approximately 10 - 11 percent per year. Per capita gross product by 2030 is projected at 5.800 - 6.000 USD. Average growth of realized investment capital is expected to reach 10-11 percent per year. Average growth of budget revenue is projected at 14 - 15 percent per year. Export turnover is expected to increase by an average of 10 - 12 percent per year. The urbanization rate is targeted at 70 percent.
Looking toward 2050, Hue City is envisioned to be innovative and transformative, characterized by culture, heritage, green development, Hue identity, intelligence, orientation toward the sea, adaptability, and sustainability; to be a major city among those with a high level of economic development and leading quality of life nationwide; to be a Festival city; and a national and a center for culture and tourism, education, science and technology, and specialized healthcare in the country as well as Asia.
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| A corner of Hue City. Photo: Van Hoang |
Chairman Nguyen Khac Toan assessed that the dedicated and scientific consultative contributions of experts and scientists constitute an important basis for the city to continue researching, reviewing, and refining the planning adjustment dossier, ensuring quality, scientific rigor, practical suitability, and a long-term strategic vision.
This planning adjustment is both an opportunity and a challenge for the city. Only when the city has a truly scientific, breakthrough, and feasible master plan can Hue’s potential and advantages - from heritage to lagoons, from the Huong River to Thuan An Sea, be awakened and brought into full play. The city commits to seriously listening to and incorporating feedback so that the adjusted Planning truly becomes a guiding framework for a new phase of development that is rapid, sustainable, and full of ambition.