The ancient capital of Hue enters a new era

From January 1, 2025, Hue officially became a centrally-governed city, the 6th centrally-governed city in the country. This important event opens a new chapter for the development of the ancient capital.

From January 1, 2025, Hue officially became a centrally-governed city, the 6th centrally-governed city in the country. This important event opens a new chapter for the development of the ancient capital.

Becoming a centrally-governed city will open up many new opportunities for Hue.

More than 30 years of aspiration and effort

On the night of December 29, 2024, at the historic Ngo Mon Square, Politburo member and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man presented Resolution 175/2024/QH15 of the National Assembly on the establishment of Hue City under the Central Government to the government and people of Thua Thien Hue province. This is considered a historic moment for this land.

Secretary of the Hue City Party Committee, Mr. Le Truong Luu, said that becoming a centrally-governed city is a major event, marking an important step forward in the process of building and developing the locality. This is the result of the continuous efforts, determination, and striving of the entire political system, the entire people, and generations of leaders through the periods.

“The goals and aspirations of the Party Committee, government and people of Thua Thien Hue have come true today. Hue City has entered a new phase, the phase of construction and development with the mindset of being the first cultural heritage city of Vietnam. This is an important foundation, creating new momentum and spirit for Hue to continue to promote its glorious historical and revolutionary traditions, build and develop into a smart and unique heritage city, continue to maximize its potentials and advantages, create breakthroughs for rapid and sustainable development”, Mr. Le Truong Luu affirmed.

The leaders and people of Hue City must strive and be more determined so that by 2030, Hue City will be one of the major and unique centers of the Southeast Asian region in terms of culture, tourism and specialized healthcare. It will be one of the major centers of the country in terms of science - technology, multi-disciplinary, multi-field, high-quality education and training according to the orientation of Resolution No. 54-NQ/TW dated December 10, 2019 of the Politburo.

- National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man

Going back in time, today's Hue, the ancient Phu Xuan used to be the capital under the Tay Son and Nguyen dynasties... Therefore, in the flow of history, Hue always holds an extremely important position and role on the S-shaped strip of land. These characteristics have given Hue its unique cultural features that no other place has, both ancient, quiet, solemn, and modern.

Hue City was officially established after September 2, 1945 by Decree No. 77 dated December 21, 1945 of the President of the Provisional Government of Vietnam (along with the cities of Hanoi, Hai Phong, Nam Dinh, Vinh, Da Nang, Da Lat, Saigon). In 1989, after the re-establishment of Thua Thien Hue province from Binh Tri Thien province, Hue City became an administrative unit under the province. By 1992, Hue became a class II city and by 2005, it was officially recognized as a class I city under Thua Thien Hue province.

The issue of turning Thua Thien Hue province into a centrally-governed city was first mentioned in the 1990s after the separation of Binh Tri Thien province. At that time, Prime Minister Vo Van Kiet wanted Thua Thien Hue province to become a centrally-governed city, a major educational, medical and cultural center of the country, and a locomotive of the Central region. However, the construction and approval of the province's project at that time encountered difficulties due to the scale of urban infrastructure, population, socio-economics... which still had many unfulfilled requirements.

In 2014, Thua Thien Hue province continued to develop a project to become a centrally-run city and submit it to the Government and the Politburo for consideration. By 2019, the Politburo issued Resolution 54, clearly stating that by 2025, Thua Thien Hue province will become a centrally-run city on the basis of preserving and promoting the value of the ancient capital's heritage and Hue's cultural identity.

On August 30, 2024, the Government issued Decision No. 924/QD-TTg on recognizing the area of ​​Thua Thien Hue province planned to establish a centrally-run city meeting the criteria of a class I urban area. On November 30, 2024, National Assembly deputies pressed the button to approve Resolution No. 175/2024/QH15 on the establishment of Hue city directly under the Central Government on the basis of the entire area and population of Thua Thien Hue province.

Thus, after more than 30 years of waiting, effort and hard work, the "dream of going to the Central" of many people, many generations of Hue people has become a reality. Compared to 30 years ago, the stature and position of Hue today are different. Hue has gradually built and become a center of culture, tourism, education, training, and specialized healthcare of the entire Central region.

Chairman of Hue City People's Committee, Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong said that after 4 years of implementing the Resolution of the 16th Provincial Party Congress (term 2020 - 2025), Hue has achieved and exceeded 11/15 targets. The average GRDP economic growth rate in the period of 2021 - 2024 reached 6.94%/year - a good level compared to the provinces and cities in the North Central region and Central Coast.

GRDP per capita reached 2,840 USD. Budget revenue increased by an average of 9.75%/year, of which, in 2024, revenue is estimated to reach about 13,600 billion VND, an increase of 12% over the same period. Total social investment capital in the period of 2021 - 2024 increased by an average of 8.7%/year. Urban infrastructure is invested in a synchronous and modern direction, with spillover effects, creating space and momentum for sustainable development. Provincial planning and urban master planning have been approved. Important projects serving the goal of building a centrally-run city have also been completed.

Develop worthy of a centrally-governed city

At the ceremony to announce the National Assembly's Resolution on the establishment of Hue City under the Central Government and the Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee on the arrangement of administrative units at district and commune levels of Hue City, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man emphasized that Hue is a land of unique culture and civilization, the only place in Vietnam and Southeast Asia with 8 heritages recognized by UNESCO, including a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO since 1993 and becoming an official member of the international heritage network. This is the specific factor and standard of the first centrally-run city with the nature of a "heritage city" in Vietnam.

The National Assembly Chairman noted: “Looking back at the journey of construction and development, Hue has made great efforts to transform itself and achieved many extremely important results. Hue has built an urban model in the direction of a heritage urban area, ecology, and environmentally friendly landscape. Forming and developing cultural and tourism centers, multi-sector and multi-field education and training centers, and specialized medical centers of the region and the whole country. The work of preserving and promoting heritage values ​​has achieved many important results. The economy has achieved a fairly good growth rate, the material and spiritual life of the people has been improved. National defense and security have been maintained. Party building work, preventing corruption, negativity, and waste have achieved positive results.”

The National Assembly Chairman directed that the Hue City government must have a specific, clear, and feasible plan to solve the difficulties and challenges when becoming a centrally-run city, such as: Changing the state management model from a province to a centrally-run city with a higher level of urbanization, the government apparatus must be organized in a more unified, specialized, and professional manner to operate smoothly and effectively, meeting well the state management functions, especially the tasks of urban management, construction order, land management, ensuring political security, order, and social safety.

In addition, Hue must focus on prioritizing economic restructuring associated with in-depth growth model innovation; prioritize the development of advantageous service industries; develop tourism based on the foundation of promoting heritage and cultural values; develop industry towards increasing added value, high technology content, environmentally friendly; develop high-tech, sustainable agriculture, adapting to climate change. Focus on mobilizing resources to invest in urban development infrastructure, production infrastructure and economic development. Promote administrative reform, improve the investment and business environment associated with digital government and smart urban services.

The National Assembly Chairman requested the Hue City government to pay special attention to implementing policies on scientific and technological innovation towards green development, meeting the goals set out in national strategies and programs on environmental protection, green growth, and the use of clean technology.

“Hue will continue to maximize its potential, strengths, and resources to innovate, dare to think, dare to do, dare to make breakthroughs to become a peaceful, livable central city, a green, modern, smart, and happy Hue,” National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man believes.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/co-do-hue-buoc-vao-van-hoi-moi-d243614.html