The Central Province of Thua Thien Hue Aspires to Establish a Municipality Directly Under the Central Government, Meeting the Criteria of a First-Class Urban Area

The scope of the urban classification evaluation encompasses the entirety of Thua Thien Hue province’s existing administrative boundaries, spanning an area of 4,947.11 km². The inner city area comprises the proposed site for the establishment of two districts directly under the jurisdiction of the centrally-governed city. It encompasses the entirety of the existing administrative boundaries of Hue city, with a total natural area of 266.46 km².

Previously, on July 22, 2024, a conference was held at the Ministry of Construction to appraise the project for recognizing the area of Thua Thien Hue province, which is expected to become a centrally-governed city, as a first-class urban area and to assess the infrastructure level of the area proposed for the establishment of districts and wards in Thua Thien Hue urban area. The conference was chaired by Nguyen Tuong Van, Deputy Minister of Construction and Chairman of the Appraisal Council. It was also attended by members of the appraisal council from various central ministries, branches, and agencies. The provincial side included Le Truong Luu, Member of the Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council, and Head of the Delegation of the Provincial National Assembly; and Hoang Hai Minh, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee.

According to Resolution No. 54-NQ/TW dated December 10, 2019, of the Politburo; Decision No. 1745/QD-TTg dated December 30, 2023, approving the Master Plan for Thua Thien Hue province for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050; Decision No. 108/QD-TTg dated January 26, 2024, approving the Master Plan for Thua Thien Hue urban area until 2045, with a vision to 2065, approved by the Prime Minister; and the Program for the Development of Thua Thien Hue urban area, by 2025, Thua Thien Hue will become a centrally-governed city. The proposed urban model comprises 9 administrative units, including 2 districts, 3 towns, and 4 districts.

Specifically, for the area proposed for the establishment of districts, including: Phu Xuan district with an area of 127.05 km², a population of about 203,142 people, and 13 wards (including An Hoa, Dong Ba, Gia Hoi, Thuan Loc, Tay Loc, Thuan Hoa, Kim Long, Huong So, Huong Long, Phu Hau, Huong An, Huong Vinh, and Long Ho) of Hue city under the existing Thua Thien Hue province. And Thuan Hoa district, based on the remaining area of the current Hue city (with an area of 139.41 km², a population of about 297,507 people, and 19 wards, namely An Cuu, An Tay, Vy Da, Phuoc Vinh, Truong An, Phu Nhuan, Thuy Bieu, Phu Hoi, An Dong, Vinh Ninh, Phuong Duc, Thuy Xuan, Xuan Phu, Thuy Van, Phu Thuong, Huong Phong, Thuy Bang, Thuan An, and Duong No).

For the 3 towns: TX. Phong Dien, TX. Huong Thuy, and TX. Huong Tra are subordinate towns with the role of preserving and supporting the central urban area, promoting the unique values of the ancient capital and cultural heritages, both tangible and intangible, recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

And 4 districts: Phu Vang, Quang Dien, A Luoi, and the proposed merger of Phu Loc district with Nam Dong district.

After reviewing and evaluating the current status of Thua Thien Hue province based on the criteria and standards specified in Resolution No. 26/2022/UBTVQH15 dated September 21, 2022, and Resolution No. 1210/2016/UBTVQH13 of the National Assembly Standing Committee, Thua Thien Hue has met the criteria and standards of a first-class urban area directly under the Central Government. The two areas proposed for the establishment of districts and the areas proposed for the establishment of wards have also met the standards for the level of infrastructure development of districts and wards in a first-class urban area directly under the Central Government.

In terms of infrastructure, the reviewing agencies highly appreciated the urban infrastructure development in Thua Thien Hue, gradually affirming the role, potential, and strengths of Hue with a clear system of functional areas. It is a modern urban area that still preserves the cultural identity of Hue, characterized by its cultural, heritage, ecological, scenic, environmentally friendly, and intelligent values.

The Appraisal Council agreed to pass the project, evaluating the area of Thua Thien Hue province as a first-class urban area directly under the Central Government with a total score of 82.91 points.

The Appraisal Council also assessed that the two areas proposed for the establishment of districts met the standards for the level of infrastructure development of districts in a first-class urban area directly under the Central Government. They also agreed on the assessment of five areas proposed for the establishment of wards, ensuring the standards for the level of infrastructure development of wards in a first-class urban area directly under the Central Government.

Existing urban areas in the province have also been reviewed and ensured to meet the urban classification criteria as stipulated (including: Huong Thuy town; Huong Tra town and class V urban areas: A Luoi town, Khe Tre town, Sia town, Phu Loc town, Lang Co town, Phu Da town, Thanh Ha urban area, Vinh Thanh urban area, La Son urban area, and Vinh Hien urban area).