 |
| Ms. Lam Thi Phuong Thanh, member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, concluded the working session. Photo: Provided by the city People’s Committee Office |
Attending the meeting, from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism were Ms. Lam Thi Phuong Thanh, member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Mr. Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism; along with leaders of departments, agencies, and units under the Ministry.
From Hue City were Mr. Nguyen Khac Toan, member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of the Hue City People’s Committee; Mr. Tran Huu Thuy Giang, Vice Chairman of the Hue City People’s Committee; and representatives of relevant departments and sectors.
Toward a “distinctive heritage urban area” model
At the meeting, Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Toan stated that Hue is facing a major opportunity to shape a development model tailored to a heritage city. According to him, Hue’s greatest advantage lies in its depth of culture and history, along with a rare and extensive heritage system.
Currently, Hue is the only locality in the country possessing eight UNESCO-recognized heritage elements. In recent years, many key structures within the Complex of Hue Monuments have been restored, rehabilitated, and put into operation, such as Kien Trung Palace, Thai Hoa Palace, Gia Long’s Mausoleum, and Hai Van Frontier Post. Beyond their preservation value, these sites are gradually becoming key tourist attractions, generating additional revenue and opening up a pathway for developing a “heritage economy”.
Hue has also intensified efforts to revive intangible cultural values such as Nha Nhac (Vietnamese court music), Hue singing, royal court festivals, and traditional crafts; while developing community cultural spaces, pedestrian streets, food streets, and nighttime artistic activities.
According to a report by Hue City People’s Committee, in 2025 the locality welcomed approximately 6.3 million visitors, with tourism revenue reaching about 13.2 trillion VND. In just the first four months of 2026, Hue received more than 2,6 million visitors, with estimated tourism revenue exceeding 6.234 trillion VND, an increase of over 70% compared to the same period. Notably, during the April 30th and May 1st holiday, Hue recorded a surge in visitors, with around 610.000 arrivals over the five-day break. On May 1st alone, the Complex of Hue Monuments welcomed more than 31.000 visitors, generating 4.2 billion VND in revenue - the highest level ever recorded.
In implementing Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW dated January 7, 2026 of the Politburo on the development of Vietnamese culture, the locality aims to build Hue into a distinctive center of literary and artistic creativity and a model “distinctive heritage urban area” of Vietnam by 2030.
 |
| Chairman of the Hue City People’s Committee Nguyen Khac Toan speaking at the meeting. Photo: Provided by the city People’s Committee Office |
Looking further ahead to 2045, Hue aims to become a “distinctive and smart heritage city,” serving as a prominent cultural center in Asia, while developing cultural industries into a key economic sector contributing over 20% of the city’s GRDP.
To realize these goals, Hue has identified three development pillars: heritage preservation linked with the heritage economy; building a modern tourism and cultural industry ecosystem; and promoting human factors and Hue’s identity.
In the new strategy, cultural industries are regarded as a focal sector. The city is oriented toward strongly developing areas with advantages such as cuisine, ao dai, performing arts, cinema, night tourism, and cultural experience products.
One notable initiative is to develop the “Imperial Citadel by Night” into a flagship cultural - tourism product, connected with pedestrian streets and commercial services around the Citadel to extend visitor stays and increase spending. Hue also aims to develop internationally standardized royal and folk culinary streets, ao dai tailoring experience centers, MICE tourism, cruise tourism via Chan May Port, railway tourism under the theme “Connecting Central Heritage”, as well as green and low-carbon tourism models. This will be accompanied by a digital transformation strategy in culture and tourism.
Expanding growth from heritage
At the meeting, Hue City People’s Committee also proposed that the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism support several key areas to create momentum for a new development phase. These include assisting in completing UNESCO nomination dossiers for selected heritage elements; expediting approval procedures for the master plan on preservation, restoration, and rehabilitation of the Complex of Hue Monuments through 2030 with a vision to 2050; and prioritizing resources for cultural, heritage, and digital transformation projects.
Hue also proposed that the central government consider allowing pilot mechanisms and special policies to create further room for the development of cultural industries, the heritage economy, and sustainable tourism in the coming period.
 |
| Delegates speaking at the meeting. Photo: Provided by the city People’s Committee Office |
In her concluding remarks, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lam Thi Phuong Thanh praised Hue’s achievements in recent years, particularly in heritage preservation and cultural tourism development. She urged Hue to continue promoting its unique identity to refine the model of a distinctive heritage city; to accelerate the development of cultural industries in areas of strength such as ao dai, cuisine, and performing arts; and to study the development of a Hue film studio.
According to Minister Lam Thi Phuong Thanh, Hue should continue to identify tourism as a key economic sector, while enhancing international cooperation capacity and proactively organizing major regional and international events to promote the cultural image of Hue and Vietnam.
Regarding the city’s proposals, the Minister stated that the Ministry would assign relevant units to study, coordinate, and provide guidance, and to advise competent authorities for consideration in accordance with regulations.