Hue can generate additional resources from its heritage while preserving cultural spaces and providing livelihoods for local residents. Drawing on heritage management experience and international models, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dang Van Bai, Vice Chairman of the National Cultural Heritage Council and former Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage, proposes mechanisms for Hue to shift from a pure conservation mindset to creating a heritage economy. Hue Today Online sat down for an interview with him.

Stepping up infrastructure investment and addressing existing obstacles to facilitate the early implementation of tourism and service projects will unlock the Thuan An coastal area’s potential, attract investment, generate employment, drive socio-economic growth, and improve residents’ quality of life.

The growth model relying heavily on capital and low-cost labor is gradually showing its limitations, while science and technology, AI, semiconductors, blockchain (a decentralized digital database), and digital assets are opening up new growth opportunities. However, turning these potentials into real resources requires a shift in institutional thinking from passively managing problems as they arise to proactively creating space for development.

At Vietnam - Japan Local Cooperation Forum 2026, the thematic session ‘From Heritage Conservation to Cultural Industries: Unlocking Potential and Connecting Opportunities for Local Cooperation’ highlighted how heritage is increasingly being seen as a resource for development when connected with communities, technology, tourism and cultural industries.

Rather than focusing on sheer visitor numbers, the Hue Monuments Conservation Center is shifting its service strategy at the Imperial City and other heritage sites toward product selectivity and enhanced visitor experiences, to attract high-spending tourists.

On July 8, 2026, the Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 2376/QD-UBND approving the Project ‘Exploiting and Promoting the Value of the Complex of Hue Monuments to 2035’.

Developing Hue-tuong in association with unlocking tourism potential offers a promising path to safeguarding one of Vietnam’s most distinctive intangible cultural heritage traditions while contributing to the growth of the local tourism economy.

From electric boat rides along the Ngu Ha River to ideas for night streets, culinary routes, and community cultural spaces, Phu Xuan Ward is gradually unlocking the potential of a “heritage ward”.

On May 22, the City People’s Committee, in coordination with the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency (LuxDev) and WWF-Vietnam, organized the conference on “Unlocking Green Investment for Nature-based Development in Tam Giang - Cau Hai Lagoon”, with the participation of representatives from Central and local ministries and agencies, international organizations, investment funds, and development partners.

On the evening of May 15, the Department of Finance, in collaboration with the City Young Business Association, and Soc do Joint Stock Company - socsdo.vn e-commerce platform, organized a program titled “Unlocking Revenue Growth with Zalo - AI - CRM Ecosystem”. The program attracted the participation of over 100 businesses and household enterprises in the area.