Together with the course of national history, the ancient capital of Hue is changing itself vigorously to become a central-governed city on the basis of preserving and promoting the value of the ancient capital’s heritage and Hue cultural identity, with characteristics of culture, heritage, ecology, environmental friendliness and smart urban landscape, and to deserve one of the big, special centres of the whole country and region in terms of culture, tourism, intensive care medicine, and so on.

Since the 17^th and 18^th centuries, Phu Xuan (now known as Thua Thien Hue) was established as a political centre and capital city of Nguyen Lords. This place witnessed the process of territorial expansion and establishment of sovereignty over seas and islands in the south of Viet Nam. It served as a bridge to connect the north and the south, the past and present, the great imperial intelligence and folk culture, the capital city of the south and capital of the last dynasty in Viet Nam. Since then, a new cultural centre came into being in Phu Xuan, which occupied an especially important position in the course of national history. Thanks to territorial expansion during Nguyen Dynasty, today we have a populous and rich South Viet Nam, which serves as an iron bulwark against the enemies. Thanks to Phu Xuan during the reign of Quang Trung – Nguyen Hue, we can forever take pride in the victory against Qing military forces in early Spring 1789.

Inhabiting an area key to the country, Hue people have soon realised and been proud of their history since the era of Thuan Hoa – Phu Xuan; been united to overcome difficulties, preserved and protected their invaluable heritage; been resilient and indomitable in the struggle against foreign aggressors. When French-Spanish allied forces attacked Da Nang to start their invasion of Viet Nam in September 1858, Hue became a centre of patriotic movements against colonialism. It also bore the hallmarks of outstanding feudal intellectuals such as Phan Boi Chau, Phan Chu Trinh, Huynh Thuc Khang, and so forth. It was the place which tempered patriotism and resolve to save the country of the youngster Nguyen Tat Thanh (later President Ho Chi Minh) for about 10 years before his journey for national salvation.

Since the leadership of the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV), the people of Thua Thien Hue used to struggle bravely against foreign occupation to be determined to gain independence and freedom, and together with people all across the country successfully conducted the August General Uprising in 1945. Victory of revolution in Hue forced King Bao Dai to abdicate and put an end the role of Nguyen Dynasty, making a decisive contribution to the complete victory of the August Revolution. The capital city of Hue has transformed into an ancient city since then.

The General Uprising in Hue in 1945 (A file photo)

Vietnamese history has proved that any divisions are temporary and national unification and development are always aspirations and willpower of the whole people. Given these aspirations and willpower, right after triumph of the August Revolution, together with the entire nation, Thua Thien Hue soon participated in strengthening, building, and protecting the fledgling revolutionary administration. It stood side by side with the whole people during 30 years of resistance war against French colonialists and American Imperialists and achieved many resounding victories of strategic importance at each turning point and opportunity of Vietnamese revolution. Given the General Offensive and Uprising in the Spring of 1968, Hue went down in history as one of heroic cities in the world. This victory had created great momentum and premises for the posture of “blocking Buon Me Thuat, shaking the whole Tay Nguyen, sweeping through Hue – Thua Thien, toppling Da Nang” 7 years later. Triumph of Hue Campaign substantially weakened the enemy and served as a leverage for the historic Ho Chi Minh Campaign, resulting in the complete liberation of the South and the reunification of the nation. During this process, given its role and position, Hue used to be a bridge linking Ha Noi – Hue – Sai Gon, a symbol of solidarity, willpower, aspiration for independence, freedom, and reunification, thus preventing foreign aggressors’ plots to use the Ben Hai River as a boundary between North and South Viet Nam.

In the period of national construction and defence, the ancient capital of Hue has continued to affirm its role and position, making worthy contribution to the cause of reform, integration, and development of the country; proactively enhance economic development, industrialisation, modernisation, and international integration. On deeply grasping and implementing Conclusion No. 48-KL/TW dated 25 May 2009 of the Politburo on “Building and developing Thua Thien Hue, the city of Hue through 2020,” the province persistently carries out the green growth and sustainable strategy; facilitates the development of economic sectors and types of business; ensures balanced socio-economic development amongst regions; aligns economic development with resource management, environmental protection, and response to climate change. Consequently, its economic growth is fairly good, at an average of 7.22 per cent per year, and the economic structure is developed in favour of service and industry sectors. The province concentrates efforts on developing the service sector in the direction of specialisation and increased quality. Types of services, including commerce, transport, finance, banking, post and telecommunication, and insurance, witness development in terms of scopes and areas of operation. The service sector accounts for 48.3 per cent of the province’s GRDP by 2020, which plays the leading role in its economic structure. Tourism becomes the key economic sector with 5.1 million annual visitors, which sees an average annual increase of 12 per cent in turnover. Tourism products are increasingly diversified. Tourism promotion and cooperation in tourism development are enhanced. Tourist infrastructure is step by step improved, which leads to the formation of tourist areas at national and international levels.

Hue leaders inspect the irrigation system in the province

The industry and construction sectors have experienced an average annual increase of 10.72 per cent, accounting for 32.63 per cent of the province’s GRDP by 2020. The province has adopted many policies to attract investment, especially in clean industries, high-tech industries, and deep processing industries. The industrial structure is developed in a positive direction with a gradual increase in the ratio of processing and manufacturing industries. Rural industry sees an average annual increase of 10 per cent. Attention is paid to investment in technical infrastructure for economic zones, industrial areas, clusters, and craft villages, thus attracting 148 projects with total registered capital of over VND100,000 billion. The province redoubles efforts to apply advances in science and technology to agriculture and develop models of value chains in production and consumption to gradually set up areas specialising in cultivation of high-value crops. Additionally, it multiplies many cultivation models according to VietGap standard, concentrated livestock farms, and so forth. Therefore, the agriculture achieves an average annual growth rate of 0.64 per cent, which accounts for over 10.8 per cent of the province’s GRDP by 2020. Annual economic value of the sea and lagoon gradually becomes impetus for development in connection with protection of security and sovereignty over seas and islands. Many projects have been licensed and carried out, which creates essential preconditions for promoting economic development in the coming time. Attention is paid to developing socio-economic infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure, which facilitates linkage amongst localities in the region and nationwide.

Moreover, the province always pays attention to socio-economic development to gradually affirm its position as a special centre for culture, tourism, and intensive care medicine of the whole country and strive towards a major centre for interdisciplinary, multisectoral, high-quality science and technology, and education and training of the whole country. People’s material, spiritual lives are ceaselessly improved, which is expressed in a sharp decrease in poor households, below cross-country average of Gini coefficients, and good social security. Given its geographical position and terrain, as well as its extremely special history of foundation, Hue is blessed with both the lyrical, poetic nature and specific cultural values, typical of Vietnamese traditional culture. The ancient capital of Hue is also the place that treasures values of important cultural heritage of the country. In 1993, the Complex of Hue Monuments was recognised as the first UNESCO’s World Cultural Heritage site in Viet Nam. This is the pride of Hue culture and Vietnamese culture on the path of integration and development. Thus, the province always attaches importance to harmonising the preservation of historical, cultural values and the need for building a modern city in its development strategy. This is an inevitable need which ensures Hue prosperity and sustainable development, ability to keep pace with other regions of the country, and connection with the two major centres at both ends of the country, namely the political centre of Ha Noi and the economic centre of Ho Chi Minh City.

On correctly grasping the two strategic tasks – national construction and defence, the province attaches importance to strengthening national defence and security and establishing robust defence zones. To successfully accomplish these two missions requires the province to bring into play power of the entire sociopolitical system and mobilise resources for national defence and security. It also needs to well conduct propaganda and education about patriotism, sense of defending sovereignty and national interests; closely combine socio-economic development with strengthening national defence and security in both potential and posture; and proactively prevent and defeat any plots of hostile forces without being passive and surprised. It is necessary to pay constant attention to making the province’s armed forces comprehensively strong and possess enhanced overall quality and combat power, capable of successfully completing the mission of safeguarding the Homeland in the new situation. The province is also requested to well carry out border diplomacy to build borders of peace, friendship, stability, and development and ensure political security, social order and safety; leverage the leading role of the Public Security in building the people’s security and people’s security posture. Many projects and plans to protect national security, social order and safety must be realised effectively in order to proactively prevent and defeat any sabotage schemes of hostile forces, reactionary forces, illegal groups, and criminals without falling into passiveness, surprise, and leading to the emergence of “flashpoints.” There needs to pay attention to generating resources and technical infrastructure to meet the demand of protecting national security and preserving social order and safety in any situations. Foreign relations and international integration are to be expanded. Friendship activities, cooperation, interaction, and people-to-people relations should be promoted on all three aspects, including politics, economy, and culture. The province has established cooperative, friendship relations with 45 nations, localities, and territories so far, contributing to attracting investment and promoting the images of Viet Nam and Thua Thien Hue in the region and the world.

In the process of reform, integration, and development, given its cultural tradition and history as well as its position as an engine for development of the central key economic region, also a key area in terms of national defence and security, Thua Thien Hue has been effectively tapping into its potential and advantages to facilitate integration and development, and strive to become a city under the direct leadership of the central government by 2025 according to Resolution No. 54-NQ/TW, dated 10 December 2019, of the Politburo on “building and developing Thua Thien Hue Province through 2030 with a vision for 2045,” making worthy contribution to the cause of national construction and defence in the new situation.

Le Truong Luu, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council