For Hue, Resolution 80-NQ/TW (Res 80) opens up a vital opportunity to transform cultural and heritage potential into resources for sustainable development. However, to achieve this goal, it is necessary to fully recognize the existing “bottlenecks” in the management, preservation, and promotion of heritage values.

On the morning of October 31, Hue City People’s Committee held a conference to announce its tourism stimulus policies and give a press briefing on new tourism products.

Medical tourism and wellness tourism are not new development trends. Hue possesses many favorable conditions to develop these two types of tourism. However, to effectively exploit existing advantages, it is necessary to create products that align with market demand, based on linkages among medical facilities, service providers, and travel enterprises.

The highlight of this issue of Hue Today Weekly is an article by Phan Thanh titled ‘Tourism Leading the Way for Cultural Industries’.

Beyond its heritage attractions, Hue is becoming a choice of culinary destination for many travelers. The distinctive local dishes of the former imperial capital are contributing to the formation of a unique appeal for Hue’s tourism.

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 in Hanoi, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Hue City People’s Committee signed an Action plan for cooperation on the development of culture, sports, and tourism through 2030. Hue City is the first locality to sign such a cooperation plan, aiming to tap into the potential and advantages of the city as a heritage city, a Festival City, and a distinctive cultural center of Vietnam.

Hue has the potential not only to become a prominent culinary destination in Southeast Asia but also to work towards a position among Asia’s leading culinary centers. Therefore, preparing an application dossier to join UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of cuisine would strengthen Hue’s culinary brand name, promote its cultural values more widely, and boost tourism.

On September 8, 2026, Hue City People’s Committee issued Plan No. 519/KH-UBND to implement Conclusion No. 372-KL/TU of the City Party Committee. The plan continues the implementation of Resolution No. 04-NQ/TU on building Hue into one of the country’s major and distinctive centers of culture and tourism, and Resolution No. 37-NQ/TU on developing tourism and tourism services for the 2025–2030 period, with a vision to 2045.

Alongside aspirations for future UNESCO inscription, Hue Nam Temple Festival (also known as Hon Chen Temple Festival) is increasingly being viewed as a distinctive form of spiritual tourism. Together with safeguarding core values, the festival is seeking to harness the depth of cultural heritage to attract visitors, while avoiding excessive commercialization that could erode the identity.