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| Experts and managers discussing the current situation and the orientation of developing Hue City at the conference |
Opportunities and challenges in the journey of development
The foundation and key resources for Hue’s urban development lie in its priceless system of cultural and historical heritage. At the same time, one of the most important factors in building Hue as a model city for green, smart, and sustainable development is the role of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Over the past six years, Hue has achieved remarkable results. The Hue-S application has become an effective interaction tool between the government and residents. An AI-powered camera surveillance system has contributed to public security. Administrative reforms and digital economy development in Hue have been recognized nationwide, with 100% of public services now available online and the digital economy contributing more than 11% of GRDP.
In smart city development, Hue has applied modern digitalization technologies to build e-government and core data infrastructure, while also expanding smart applications and services for locals. In green urban development, the city has implemented numerous structural and non-structural programs and solutions for environmental protection and climate change adaptation. For sustainable development, Hue continuously applies science and technology, as well as digital transformation, to improve quality of life, citizen satisfaction, administrative reforms, and the digital economy, while promoting the knowledge economy and innovation.
However, there are still many challenges, particularly financial resources, facing the development of a smart city. Dr. Ho Dac Thai Hoang, Chairman of the Union, emphasized that developing synchronized digital infrastructure, a robust data center, and a highly skilled workforce requires large-scale, long-term investment. Therefore, expanding public–private partnership (PPP) models is deemed key to mobilizing social resources, drawing lessons from successful cases such as those in Singapore and Dubai.
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| Heritage and cultural values, combined with science and technology, as well as innovation, affirming Hue’s development goal of becoming a ‘Green – Smart – Sustainable’ city |
Alongside smart development, Hue also pursues the goal of building a green and climate-resilient city. Hue has the highest green space density in Vietnam and has been recognized as the “National Green City.” However, green spaces and water bodies are at risk of shrinking and pollution due to uncontrolled urbanization. Suburban villages, once ecological belts and home to traditional garden houses, are being urbanized with concrete structures, disrupting their heritage character. Additionally, Hue, being a low-lying area, often suffers from severe flooding, requiring urgent adaptive planning and architectural solutions.
To realize the vision of a sustainable Hue City, developing the green economy and circular economy is key. Hue has significant potential in industries leveraging its heritage and natural resources, such as green tourism, organic agriculture, and the cultural industry.
Elevating values and advancing Hue’s urban development
At the conference forum, domestic and international experts from Japan and South Korea had in-depth discussions on major topics: strategies for smart urban development, heritage preservation and promotion, green urban planning and climate change adaptation, green economy development, and sustainable tourism.
Dr. Phan Thanh Hai, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Director of Hue’s Department of Culture and Sports, affirmed that Hue consistently committed to the principle of development based on preserving and promoting the cultural and historical values of the Ancient Capital. Heritage is identified as a key pillar for sustainable tourism development, creating momentum for harmonious and sustainable socio-economic growth.
Discussing the ecological landscape of the Perfume River basin and Hue’s future orientation through community eco-museum development, Prof. Dr. Satoh Shigeru, Honorary Professor at Waseda University (Japan), noted that Hue’s unique mountain-and-water landscape, rich cultural heritage, and evolving community structures have positioned the city as a pioneering model for sustainable and human-centered regional revitalization. By combining traditional wisdom with participatory governance and ecological design, Hue could provide inspiration for new heritage-based development models not only in Southeast Asia but also regionally and globally.
Prof. Dr. Shigeru Satoh also suggested that in urban development, Hue should aim to focus on five strategic areas to grow into new industries: high-tech and digital industries, healthcare and medical industries, cultural and creative industries, green industries and circular economy, and smart and sustainable tourism.
At the conference, Mr. Nguyen Duong Anh, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology, also emphasized the role of science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation in promoting the building of Hue’s into a pioneering model smart city in Central Vietnam. Hue should prioritize integrating and upgrading essential services such as healthcare, education, transportation, and digital payment on the Hue-S platform; expanding applications of modern technologies such as AI, Big Data, IoT, and blockchain in urban management and operations; completing synchronized digital infrastructure and policies; as well as developing integrated platforms, data sharing systems, and digital-based operational reporting, thus creating a transparent, efficient, and citizen-friendly digital government.
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| Several eco-friendly products being introduced at the conference as contributions to Hue’s green, smart, and sustainable urban development solutions |
Experts, managers and scientists from Vietnam and abroad also discussed and clarified Hue’s outstanding achievements in green growth, heading toward sustainable development with a vision to 2050. They proposed recommendations to improve green growth efficiency for sustainable development in Hue City. In addition, many experts contributed practical and feasible solutions to help realize the aspiration of building Hue into a green – smart – sustainable city with distinctive heritage identity.