 |
| The city leaders presenting flowers to congratulate on the event |
Held annually since 2022, the event has become an important academic and international dialogue platform, bringing together policy makers, experts, and researchers from Vietnam and abroad to exchange ideas and contribute policy recommendations aimed at developing Hue into a distinctive heritage city of Vietnam.
In his opening remarks, Permanent Vice Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh underscored the city’s expectations for practical contributions from international experts, especially those from the Republic of Korea, a country with extensive experience in urban development, city branding, and heritage governance closely linked to economic growth.
 |
| Mr. Reigh Young Bum, Chairman of Hue International Forum (HIF) speaking at the forum |
According to Mr. Binh, Hue has earned a number of prestigious titles such as Green City, ASEAN City of Culture, and UNESCO Creative City, etc. However, the key question is how these titles can truly become a “living brand”, which is clearly recognized both nationally and internationally. This requires Hue to skillfully “piece together” its heritage, cultural, historical, and human values into a compelling and sustainable development narrative.
“Hue places great emphasis on promoting international cooperation, particularly with the Republic of Korea, not only in terms of economy but also through cultural exchange and the sharing of development models. We hope that drawing on international experience, experts will work alongside Hue to find effective solutions for exploiting cultural and heritage values, thereby contributing to the development of a heritage city worthy of its stature,” Mr. Binh stated.
The forum featured 3 thematic discussion sessions. In which, the first session focused on Hue and city branding, with presentations addressing strategic positioning of the city’s brand, as well as developing Hue based on cultural soft power, festival economy, night-time culture, and creative experiential models. These suggestions were offered to turn Hue City into a culturally creative city with international influence.
 |
| Dr. Le Thi Minh Ly sharing insights on the digital data of Hue’s cultural heritage |
The second session addressed Hue and culture-heritage, highlighting the role of digital data and technology in heritage conservation and utilization, particularly in the context of the revised Law on Cultural Heritage 2024, which has taken effect since July 1, 2025. Experts noted that heritage digitization and the development of heritage data platforms not only help safeguard traditional values but also create opportunities for the growth of cultural industries, transforming heritage into a sustainable and transparent digital economic resource.
The third session focused on Hue and the environment in the context of the Central region’s continued exposure to severe impacts from climate change and natural disasters. Proposed solutions included green urban development, sustainable infrastructure design, rainwater management based on Low Impact Development (LID) models, and enhancing urban resilience and smart adaptation, aligning with the orientation to build Hue into a green-ecological-safe-smart city.
 |
| The Cultural - Heritage - Technology Experience Space at the Royal Treasury Palace, Hue Imperial Citadel |
At the forum, Mr. Reigh Young Bum, Chairman of the Hue International Forum (HIF), reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to accompanying and supporting Hue on its path toward sustainable development by connecting experts, sharing international experience, and promoting multi-sectoral cooperation.
According to Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of Hue Monuments of Conservation Center, the 4th Hue International Forum continued to affirm its role as a knowledge-connecting platform, helping to concretize the vision of developing Hue into a heritage city with strong creative capacity, a four-season cultural - tourism - festival hub, and a regional destination for data and innovation in Central Vietnam.
“Through the forum, Hue seeks to build consensus around its long-term development goals: placing cultural identity at the foundation, science and technology as the driving force, and climate adaptability as the essential condition for sustainable development,” emphasized Mr. Trung.
The initiatives and proposals put forward at the forum are expected to serve as strategic orientations for a closer coordination among the authorities, the expert community, and the business sector in the time ahead, gradually realizing the shared goal of “Accompanying Comprehensive Development - Building a Sustainable Future”, and shaping Hue into a Heritage City - a UNESCO Creative City commensurate with its stature and aspirations.