As of January 1, 2025, Hue City, with an area of nearly 5,000 square kilometers and a population exceeding 1.2 million, will officially become a centrally run city. This milestone will bring Vietnam’s total number of centrally governed cities to six.
The resolution to establish Hue as a centrally-run city was passed by the National Assembly on the morning of November 30, with 458 out of 461 deputies in favor (accounting for 95.62% of total votes).
The resolution designates the entire natural area of 4,947.11 square kilometers and the population of 1,236,393 from Thua Thien Hue Province to the newly established city. Hue City will border Da Nang City, Quang Nam Province, Quang Tri Province, Laos, and the East Sea.
The resolution will take effect on January 1, 2025. At that time, Vietnam’s centrally governed cities will include Hanoi, Da Nang, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Hue.
The National Assembly has authorized the Standing Committee to decide on the arrangement and establishment of district- and commune-level administrative units within Hue City, ensuring their alignment with the effective date of this resolution.
Organizations and entities with names associated with Thua Thien Hue Province will also adopt the name Hue City starting January 1, 2025, in accordance with the resolution.
According to the National Assembly’s resolution, in addition to the regimes and policies applicable to centrally-run cities, the special mechanisms and policies previously granted to Thua Thien Hue Province will continue to apply in Hue City until the end of their respective terms or until further decisions are made by relevant authorities.
Regarding proposals for enhanced mechanisms and policies for Hue City, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly has urged the Government and local authorities to implement measures that improve economic and social development, and to attract diverse investment sources to the region following Hue’s upgrade.
In a report summarizing feedback on the draft resolution, Chairman of the Legal Committee, Hoang Thanh Tung, noted that all National Assembly deputies strongly supported the establishment of Hue as a centrally-run city.
The Standing Committee emphasized the significance of this decision, describing it as a milestone recognizing achievements in urbanization and urban economic development nationwide.
Addressing concerns about Hue’s lower urban administrative ratio and per capita income compared to the national average, the Standing Committee clarified that the city’s primary mission is to preserve and promote the unique heritage of the former imperial capital and UNESCO-recognized cultural heritage. Thus, the focus will be on sustainable and high-quality urban development rather than simply increasing urbanization rates.
The establishment of Hue City is expected to catalyze the implementation of approved urban development plans and programs. This transformation will drive specific investments and development strategies, enhance urban quality, and achieve robust and sustainable urban economic growth, contributing to improved per capita income and other development indicators in the region.
