HUE – The year 2025 left a historic milestone as Hue became a centrally-governed city, opening new horizons for international integration. At its recent year-end review conference, the city’s foreign affairs department showcased breakthrough achievements, reinforcing Hue’s position as a dynamic and resilient heritage urban center on the global stage.
Amidst the broader economic landscape, Hue maintained a robust growth momentum with a growth rate estimated at 8.5% to 9%, ranking 12th out of 34 major provinces and cities nationwide.
The city’s global outreach in the past year was clearly demonstrated through the expansion of practical and effective international cooperation networks. Hue successfully signed three new cooperation agreements with Nara Prefecture (Japan), Chungcheongnam Province (South Korea), and the Vietnam-Switzerland Economic Forum, bringing its total number of local-level partnerships to 17.
In 2025, Hue remained a trusted destination, welcoming 749 international delegations at various levels while organizing 102 outbound missions to strengthen ties with potential partners.
On the economic front, global connectivity has become a vital driver for sustainable structural shifts. The city granted licenses to 11 new foreign direct investment (FDI) projects with total registered capital of US$39.27 million. Additionally, international aid mobilization yielded significant results, with 39 grant projects worth over VND41 billion (US$1.6 million) directly supporting social welfare, healthcare and education.
Beyond economic highlights, Hue solidified its role as a regional hub for international conferences by successfully hosting several world-class events. These included the 45th International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF) General Assembly, the fifth OWHC Asia-Pacific Regional Conference, and the 14th East Asia Local Government Conference. Leveraging the “soft power” of its heritage and culture, the image of the ancient capital has spread widely, creating an effective communication channel with global friends.
Looking ahead to 2026, the city aims for a powerful transformation from a “receptive” to a “proactive” stance and from “participating” to “shaping” international initiatives. Hue will focus on key pillars: green economy, digital economy, and circular economy, while effectively utilizing free trade agreements to integrate deeper into global value chains. Furthermore, prioritizing the development of a professional diplomatic workforce—proficient in foreign languages and international law—will be essential to meeting the requirements of comprehensive integration, befitting the status of a centrally-governed city in a new era of development.
