The Imperial Citadel, the riverside areas, the Western Quarter, and the student areas are the four proposed models for study, aiming to tap into the potential of culture, heritage, tourism, and services while expanding Hue City’s economic development space.

Hue Today Weekly, Issue No. 96, features a special series on investment attraction and the ripple effects created by ‘leading cranes’ (leading investors) on its front page, highlighting the role of investment attraction in achieving the city’s socio-economic development goals. The issue also offers in-depth perspectives on politics, education, digital transformation, culture, and the arts, etc.

Hue has identified tourism and services as its spearhead economic sector. Under the scenario for developing tourism in line with the double-digit growth target, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has set a target for Hue to welcome approximately 2.5 million international visitors in 2026, up 31.5% from 2025. This is both a target and a test of the city’s ability to turn its tourism advantages into revenue, investment opportunities, and ripple effects across other economic sectors.

On October 14, the Department of Science and Technology, the standing board of the Organizing Committee for the 2026 Hue City Creative Startup Competition, held the semifinal round for 30 outstanding projects selected from the preliminary round. This semifinal round was held under the theme ‘Promoting Cultural Heritage Values in the Digital Economy’.

As Hue moves toward its goal of becoming a distinctive heritage city and a major cultural and tourism hub for Vietnam and Southeast Asia by 2030, external relations, particularly cultural diplomacy, are taking on a strategic role. This is what Vice Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee Tran Huu Thuy Giang announced about how Hue can turn its cultural ‘soft power’ into a driving force for sustainable socio-economic development.

“With its advantages in geographical location, seaport infrastructure and regional connectivity, Hue City has considerable potential to develop its logistics sector,” said Do Thai Duong, Project Director of LEC Group at the Chan May - Lang Co Economic Zone, in an interview with Hue Today Weekly.

Hue has significant room for industrial development, especially as the city expands its development space. This was affirmed by Mr. Phan Quy Phuong, Member of the Standing Committee of Hue Party Committee and Head of Hue Economic and Industrial Zones Management Board, in an interview with Hue Today Weekly on the advantages driving the growth of the city’s industrial sector.

On the evening of September 21, Hue City Young Entrepreneurs Association, in coordination with Kim Dong Park, and the Youth Union Chapter of the Faculty of Marketing and Commerce, University of Economics, Hue University, organized a Mid-Autumn Festival program themed ‘Enjoying Mid-Autumn Festival’ for children facing difficult circumstances in the city.

With considerable room and momentum for development, Hue City has many advantages in pursuing a modern, green and sustainable industrial sector. However, for industry to become a true engine of growth and contribute to the city’s goal of double-digit economic expansion, a comprehensive set of coordinated solutions is needed.

In this issue, Hue Today Weekly brings readers in-depth perspectives from experts and experienced writers across the fields of culture, the arts and the heritage economy. It also explores topical issues of public interest, including regulations on caps for service fees at public educational institutions across the city, on green tourism, and how Japan preserves its historic villages. ​