From heritage cities to innovative institutional spaces: When identity meets reform

HNN - On July 1, 2025, the whole country will officially operate under the two-tier local government model (CQDPHC). A major, historic reform step in the organization of the state administrative apparatus, associated with efforts to build an honest, modern, streamlined, efficient and people-serving administration. In that flow, although not in the group of localities changing boundaries or merging provinces, Hue city still plays a very special role.

  The heritage system is preserved and restored, the pride of Hue people. Photo: Le Dinh Hoang

Hue is not as noisy as other places with economic breakthroughs, not ostentatious in the short-term growth race, but is always present at profound turning points of the country - with a calm temperament, with deep thinking, and with the inner strength of a cultural, heritage, and knowledge city.

This institutional reform can be seen as a big push for Hue to affirm its unique development model: Not chasing after expanding administrative space, but persisting with the orientation of "Endogenous development from the depth of culture, heritage and people".

In the CQDPHC model, communes and wards will have stronger authority in many areas such as public investment, land management, environment, urban order, relics, tourism,education , health, etc. This is a very favorable condition for Hue to be more proactive in managing the ancient urban space, heritage buffer zone, landscape of Huong River - Ngu Mountain and the system of temples and mausoleums. Hue City will now be able to be more responsive in handling arising issues, effectively promoting the local governance model suitable for heritage urban areas.

At a time when the whole country is transforming its governance model, Hue is showing its forward-thinking. For many years, the city has been gradually moving towards building a “friendly, people-friendly government”, combining digital technology and traditional behavior. Models such as “Green Sunday”, “Digital Heritage Corridor”, “Community Cultural Space”, or policies to encourage the preservation of traditional houses and ancient houses managed by the people themselves… are vivid manifestations of the management model associated with culture - something that not many other localities can successfully apply.

The transition to CQDHC also helps free up resources and accelerate key development programs that Hue City is pursuing, such as: Urban beautification associated with heritage, relocating residents in area I of the Imperial City, developing green tourism, cultural and spiritual tourism, preserving Bao Vinh ancient town, restoring the water surface system along the Huong River, and expanding some roads such as the "cultural avenue" across the city.

From a national perspective, Hue at this moment is a precious balance between the new and the sustainable, between reform and preservation. Not every place can preserve the depth of traditional culture in a strong administrative reform process; but Hue can. Because Hue culture itself is a governance model. From the strictness in the administrative language of the Nguyen Dynasty, to the royal rituals, the harmonious lifestyle between people and nature - all are the foundation for Hue to adapt to new models without losing itself.

And from that depth, Hue does not stand outside of reform, but stands exactly where it needs to stand: Calm but proactive, quiet but creative, unpretentious but full of courage. In the new model, Hue's development space will not only be geographical, but also a creative space, a cultural space, a decent living space - where people are respected, the past is cherished and the future is sown from the soil of the Ancient Capital.

It can be said that Hue today does not need too many declarations. Because of the city's quiet persistence, the institutional depth accumulated through the dynasties of kings - mandarins - people, and the philosophy of "Taking culture as the foundation for development" is the strongest declaration for the new era.

On July 1, 2025 - the whole country will reduce administrative units and innovate the organizational model - while Hue will still keep its space, but breathe into it a new institutional flow: Proactive, flexible, close to the people, transparent and bearing the identity of the Ancient Capital. That is not only a historic moment for the country, but also a very Hue moment.

Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Son (Full-time National Assembly member at the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society)

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/tu-do-thi-di-san-den-khong-gian-the-che-doi-moi-khi-ban-sac-gap-go-cai-cach-155211.html