More than just a series of promotional activities showcasing one of the world’s most beautiful bays, the program “Lang Co – World Beautiful Bay 2026” reflects the local community’s aspiration to build a green, civilized, and environmentally friendly tourism destination, with local communities and indigenous values serving as the foundation for sustainable development.

The title “National Winner” recognizes Hue City’s efforts in building a green, smart, and environmentally friendly urban area.

The City People’s Committee has issued a decision to issue the Green Tourism Criteria. The implementation of these criteria aims to concretize the orientation for sustainable, environmentally friendly tourism development, in alignment with the national green growth strategy.

On the morning of April 25th, at Dang Van Ngu Secondary School, the Zhi Shan Foundation, in coordination with the People’s Committee of An Cuu Ward, held a ceremony to inaugurate two “friendly libraries” and hand over bookcases to local schools.

In an effort toward green and eco-friendly transportation, this issue of Hue Today Weekly features insights from the Director of Hue Institute for Development Studies on this topic.

“Thuan Hoa is a local publishing house, but not merely a local one, as Hue is a long-established historical and cultural center of the country and is also the one being internationally recognized. Therefore, from the very beginning, the publishing house has strived to produce works worthy of the historic land of Thuan Hoa,” Dr. Nguyen Duy To, Director of Thuan Hoa Publishing House, quoted the late journalist Hoang Tung, former Secretary of the Party Central Committee, when addressing the functions and development orientation of Thuan Hoa Publishing House at a friendly gathering marking its 45th anniversary (1981-2026), held on the morning of February 10.

From areca sheaths once regarded as agricultural waste, Truong Van Toi (born 2000, Hue City) has built a model to produce bowls and plates from areca sheaths, aiming to reduce plastic waste, create livelihoods for local people, and open up an environmentally friendly consumption pathway.

A friend of mine just came from the Southeastern region to visit Hue. After a day visiting various destinations, from the Imperial Citadel to the tombs of Emperors Gia Long and Minh Mang, then heading to the Van Thanh - Vo Thanh temples and Thien Mu Pagoda, my friend warmly remarked: “In Hue, wherever you go, you can see the Huong River. Now I understand why people here are so gentle and friendly. In this scene, by this river, it’s hard even to get upset!”.

Aiming to create a clean, friendly tourism environment for the health of the community, efforts to prevent and control the harmful effects of tobacco at accommodation facilities, hotels, and resorts in Hue City have recently been strengthened and effectively implemented. Many hotels not only strictly comply with legal regulations but have also creatively developed smoke-free models in alignment with green and sustainable tourism development.

At the specialized session on “Green and Sustainable Tourism Development” held on the morning of June 6th within the framework of the 14th East Asian Local Government and Regional Conference, Hue affirmed its pioneering position in the region regarding the development orientation of environmentally-friendly tourism that harmonizes with communities and preserves heritage.