A breath of fresh air in the heart of the heritage site.

Hue, without noise or haste, is gradually transforming from a heritage city into a green urban center with a green lifestyle. Hue is changing, quietly but uniquely.

Cycling along Le Loi Street, one of the most beautiful streets in Hue and also the first model route chosen by the city to deploy environmentally friendly integrated BTS stations, under the shade of ancient trees and in the cool breeze of the Perfume River, you will feel as if you are lost in a peaceful realm of memories, completely separate from the hustle and bustle of city life.

Hue, Vietnam's sixth centrally-governed city, boasts eight UNESCO World Heritage sites, which form the "original material" of Hue's identity. Living amidst such a vibrant heritage, the people of Hue are deeply imbued with a spirit of preservation and conservation. However, Hue is not resting on its past. Over the years, this heritage city has been transforming itself into a green city, with a green lifestyle, a green economy , and a friendly environment and people.

The heritage city of Hue is developing in a green and sustainable direction. Photo: Van Dinh.

Having suffered heavy losses during the war, the heritage sites are now not only reviving but also becoming models for preserving heritage while protecting the environment. Walking around the sites, the system of thousands of surrounding trees creates a harmonious landscape and improves air quality. Many sites have been equipped with water stations to reduce plastic waste. Hundreds of environmentally friendly vehicles such as bicycles, electric bicycles, and electric cars have been invested in by Hue within the heritage area to develop green tourism .

Nowadays, the city government has renovated both banks of the Perfume River. The pedestrian walkways are paved with stone, grassed, and shaded, bustling with the footsteps of passersby. From dawn to dusk, the sight of Hue residents strolling, cycling, practicing yoga, and enjoying the scenery has become familiar, a part of the new, gentle rhythm of life, close to nature.

Since 2019, the "Green Sunday" movement, launched by the Hue City People's Committee, has spread the spirit of environmental protection to all levels of society. Having participated in many garbage cleanup campaigns organized by the city, I have felt this very clearly. Now, every weekend, from leaders to citizens, from urban to rural areas, from young to old, everyone joins together to collect garbage, plant trees, and clean canals, streets, and beaches... The movement is gradually becoming a habit, a cultural feature, sowing the seeds for a positive lifestyle to build a green and sustainable Hue. Recycling collection points and sorting bins are also placed everywhere, and "say no to plastic bags" campaigns are spreading from schools to residential areas. In Hue, it is very natural for people to pick up garbage and put it in the right place.

The peaceful pace of life along the Perfume River. Photo: Dinh Hoang.

You may have heard of the Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon system, covering 22,000 hectares, the largest lagoon system in Southeast Asia, located in Hue City. This area is not simply a source of livelihood for the local people but also a "giant" ecological lung, regulating the climate, controlling hydrology, preventing saltwater intrusion, preserving freshwater, supporting aquaculture, and creating a unique lagoon culture. Projects for mangrove reforestation, natural habitat conservation, environmental protection, and community tourism development are being implemented comprehensively by the government. In 2020, Hue established the Tam Giang - Cau Hai Wetland Conservation Area, a strong testament and commitment from the city government to protecting this valuable ecosystem.

Hue City currently boasts over 67,000 street trees of dozens of species, exceeding the green space standards for a Class 1 urban area and having the highest green space density in the country. Hue has also been voted the "ASEAN Sustainable City".

It is neither luck nor coincidence that Hue is the first city in Vietnam to be chosen as a "National Green City" by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). To be recognized, a city must meet stringent standards regarding greenhouse gas emission reduction, climate change adaptation, and sustainable development. Having surpassed these criteria, Hue is honored to be included in the list of global green cities, becoming a model of environmentally friendly urban development in Vietnam.

Whenever my friends and acquaintances visit Hue, they always want to stay as long as possible. They aren't captivated by the grandiose structures or the bustling pace of life, but rather by the unique "green" character of this heritage land, its harmonious connection with nature. As a Hue native, not only I, but everyone in this region is proud to live in a city that is greener and has some of the cleanest air in Vietnam.

From a heritage city, Hue is continuing its journey to become a green city. Visitors to Hue will be captivated by the unique "green" features of this ancient capital. Photo: Van Dinh.

Associate Professor Hoang Cong Tin, Head of the Environmental Science Department (Faculty of Science, Hue University), noted that green spaces in Hue are not only evident in heritage trees, shady street trees, pedestrian walkways along the Perfume River, or the green living movement of the people, but also extend comprehensively to the ecological space of the entire city. From Bach Ma Forest – part of the Truong Son mountain range – to the vast lagoon system, Hue currently connects urban areas and nature in a sustainable whole. Preserving urban green spaces, conserving forest and lagoon resources, and intelligently developing ecotourism will be key to Hue's green development in the future.

Hue is not hurried or bustling. Hue is slow-paced. From a heritage city, Hue is continuing its journey to become a green city, a desirable living space for its residents and an attractive destination for tourists, as clearly stated in Resolution 54 of the Politburo: "Building and developing Hue into a centrally-governed city on the foundation of preserving and promoting the heritage values ​​of the ancient capital and the cultural identity of Hue, with distinctive cultural, heritage, ecological, landscape, environmentally friendly and smart characteristics."

Source: https://nongnghiepmoitruong.vn/hoi-tho-xanh-giua-long-di-san-d767450.html