Preserving and effectively promoting the heritage values ​​of the ancient capital

Presenting the Proposal on the Establishment of Hue City under the Central Government, Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra stated that the construction and development of Thua Thien Hue province into a centrally-governed city aims to preserve and effectively promote the heritage values ​​of the ancient capital, Hue's cultural identity with the characteristics of culture, heritage, ecology, environmentally friendly landscape and intelligence. At the same time, exploit and promote comprehensively and effectively the potential and advantages of the heritage city, bringing Hue to develop rapidly and sustainably and creating a driving force to spread to the North Central and Central coastal regions. Solve well the relationships between inheritance and development; between economic - cultural and environmental development; between preserving traditions and promoting heritage values, in which preservation is the core; between heritage urban development and development of a centrally-governed city and placed in the overall Hue urban area; ensure more favorable and better conditions for the preservation and development of heritage urban areas.

Regarding the plan, the Minister said that Hue City under the Central Government will be established on the basis of the entire natural area and population of Thua Thien Hue province. Hue City under the Central Government has an area of ​​4,947.11 km2 and 1,236,393 people; has 9 district-level administrative units (2 districts, 3 towns, 4 districts); has 133 commune-level administrative units (78 communes, 48 ​​wards, 7 towns); urbanization rate of 63.02% (779,207 people/1,236,393 people).

The conditions for establishing Hue City under the central government have ensured that all 5 conditions specified in Article 128 of the Law on Organization of Local Government 2015 (amended and supplemented in 2019) are met.

Hue City, directly under the Central Government, has ensured that it meets all the standards prescribed in Resolution No. 1211/2016/UBTVQH13 (amended and supplemented in Resolution No. 27/2022/UBTVQH15). In particular, it has applied the specific standards of "heritage city" when evaluating 2 indicators under 2 standards, including: the ratio of districts, towns, and cities (under the standard of "direct administrative units"); average income per capita/month compared to the national average (under the standard of "socio-economic development structure and level").

Currently, the planned establishment of Hue City under the Central Government has exceeded the standards according to specific regulations. In the coming time, implementing the urban development plans and programs approved by competent authorities, Hue City will achieve these two targets according to regulations without having to apply specific standards.

Have a direction to solve arising difficulties and challenges

In a summary report on the review of this content, Chairman of the Law Committee Hoang Thanh Tung stated that the Law Committee agrees with the submission to the National Assembly for consideration and decision to establish Hue City directly under the Central Government on the basis of the entire natural area and population size of Thua Thien Hue province with the reasons as well as the political basis, legal basis, and practical basis stated in the Government's Submission and Project.

The establishment of Hue City under the Central Government on the basis of preserving and promoting the value of the ancient capital's heritage and Hue's cultural identity in the current context is of great significance, demonstrating a breakthrough innovation in thinking about urban development, contributing to the implementation of the policy of sustainable urban development in the direction of green, civilized, and identity-rich urban areas, suitable for each region and area, and investing in the development of urban areas with heritage and tourism values ​​as set forth in Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW of the Politburo on planning, construction, management and sustainable development of Vietnamese urban areas to 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Regarding standards, the Law Committee finds that the establishment of Hue City under the Central Government with a focus on preserving and promoting the unique values ​​of the ancient capital and tangible cultural heritage recognized by UNESCO is consistent with the directions and orientations of the Central Executive Committee and the Politburo and is eligible to apply the provisions in Point d, Clause 1, Article 31 of the Resolution of the National Assembly Standing Committee on standards of administrative units and classification of administrative units in the case of establishing urban administrative units with heritage conservation elements.

Compared with the current development status of Thua Thien Hue province in recent times, the area planned to establish Hue city directly under the Central Government has met all the standards of a centrally-governed city according to the provisions of law.

Regarding the name, the Law Committee agrees with the proposed name "Hue City under the Central Government" for the reasons as explained in the Government's Project.

During the review process, some opinions suggested that the Thua Thien Hue provincial government continue to pay attention, have directions and plans to solve difficulties and challenges that may arise when becoming a centrally-run city, such as issues of changing the state management organization model associated with the organization of urban government; transforming the social-professional structure to solve the employment problem for people; the issue of forming and improving the quality of urban life of people; implementing policies on scientific and technological innovation towards green development; improving the level of socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas...