Thua Thien Hue province:
Thua Thien Hue province, a coastal province situated in the southernmost of North Central Vietnam, carries a rich historical and cultural heritage.
In 2018, this province was Vietnam’s 36th most populated administrative unit, ranked 39th in Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), 42nd in per capita GRDP, and 52nd in GRDP growth rate. Home to 1,163,500 residents, the GRDP was around 2,060 billion USD with an average per capita GRDP of 1,770 USD, and a growth rate of 7.08%.
Positioned along key North-South and East-West trade routes, Thua Thien Hue is famous for its cultural landmarks and history. It is known for the two first physical and intangible World Heritage Sites of Vietnam – the Hue Monuments and Royal Court Music.
Covering an area of 4,902.4 km² and with a population of 1,133,700 people by 2020, its city Hue was once the capital of Phu Xuan under the Nguyen Dynasty from 1802 to 1945.
Geography of Thua Thien Hue province:
Geographical location:
Situated on the coastal belt of Central Vietnam, Thua Thien Hue province is part of the North Central Region. It spans the terrestrial and maritime parts of the East Sea continental shelf. Moreover, it is identified by coordinates between 16° – 16.8° North latitude and 107.8° – 108.2° East longitude.
Lying 675 km south from Hanoi and 94 km north from Da Nang city, the province is naturally bordered by the Bach Ma Mountain range. Additionally, it neighbors various regions. To the north, it adjoins Quang Tri and the East Sea, while the East Sea again lies to the east. On the west, it neighbors Quang Tri and Saravane Province of Laos, and to the south, it borders Quang Nam province, Da Nang city, and Sekong Province of Laos.
Lastly, it extends to four cardinal points. The northernmost point lies in Giap Tay village, Dien Huong commune, Phong Dien district. In contrast, Thuong Nhat commune, Nam Dong district is the southernmost. The westernmost point is found in Pare village, Hong Thuy commune, A Luoi district, while the easternmost point is on the eastern side of Son Cha island, Lang Co town, Phu Loc district.
Limit and area:
Thua Thien Hue province, nestled in Central Vietnam, showcases impressive geographical reach. Its northern border, stretching 111.671 km, connects with Hai Lang and Dakrong districts in Quang Tri province. Meanwhile, its southern edge adjoins Dong Giang and Tay Giang districts in Quang Nam province and Hoa Vang district in Da Nang city.
The province’s western frontier, marking a national border, extends 87.97 km from its boundary with Quang Tri and Saravane Province in Laos to its southern border with Quang Nam and Sekong Province in Laos. Facing the East Sea, the province’s eastern boundary boasts a coastline of 120 km that includes 21 districts and towns within four districts and Hue city.
Covering a land area of 503,320.52 ha, Thua Thien Hue stretches along the Northwest-Southeast axis, with its longest point reaching 120 km along the coast and its shortest at 44 km to the west. Additionally, the province features an exclusive economic zone extending up to 200 nautical miles from the baseline.
The province is home to Son Ca island, located approximately 600 m northeast off Khem Cape on the East Sea continental shelf. Though small, this 160 ha island plays a significant role in socio-economic development and national defense.
Positioned on a vital North-South transportation corridor and an East-West corridor connecting Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam via Route 9, Thua Thien Hue occupies a central location between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, the two major economic hubs of Vietnam.
Boasting a 120 km coastline, the province houses Thuận An port and the deepwater Chan May port, capable of accommodating large vessels. It also features Phu Bai international airport, located along National Highway 1 and the trans-Vietnam railway.
Natural condition:
Topographic:
Thua Thien Hue’s western region is home to the Truong Son mountain range. Significant peaks include Dong Ngai, standing at 1,774 m, Dong Truoi at 1,154 m, and Co A Nong at 1,228 m. Additionally, Bol Droui, Tro Linh, Hoi, Coc Bai, Bach Ma, Mang, Dong Chuc Mao, and Dong A Tay mountains rise to heights between 514 and 1,708 m.
Despite their short lengths, the province’s rivers, such as O Lau, Rao Trang, Rao Lau, Rao Mai, Ta Trach, Huu Trach, An Cuu, An Nong, Nuoc Ngot, Lang Co, Bo, Rau Binh Dien, Da Bac, Van Xa, and Song Truoi, are large downstream. In particular, the Tam Giang – Cau Hai lagoon system, the largest in Southeast Asia, is a noteworthy feature.
Moreover, Thuan An and Tu Hien, the province’s two significant estuaries, provide vital links to the sea. They complete Thua Thien Hue’s diverse topographical picture, characterized by impressive mountain ranges, a network of rivers, and expansive lagoons.
Climate:
Thua Thien Hue, resembling Quang Tri’s climate, is characterized by a tropical monsoon climate with warm sunshine in the early months, yet it occasionally sees flooding in May. Concurrently, strong winds occur from June to August while September and October usher in rainy and windy conditions. Additionally, November typically experiences floods and the year concludes with extended rainfall.
In contrast, the current impacts of climate change induce heatwaves from March through August, culminating in peak temperatures. Moreover, September to November often face storms while the northeastern monsoon, from December to February, carries heavy rain and prompt flooding in rivers.
Notably, the climate consists of two distinct seasons. Firstly, the hot season from May to September sees temperatures soaring to 35-40°C, induced by the southwestern winds. Secondly, the cold season, extending from October to the following March, is distinguished by heavy rainfall under the influence of the northeastern winds, triggering occasional floods from October. The average cold season temperature in the plains stands at 20-22°C.
Interestingly, Thua Thien Hue is endowed with substantial rainfall, averaging above 2700 mm, predominantly from September to the ensuing February. Certain areas even register over 4000 mm, constituting 70% of the annual precipitation. November alone accounts for 30% of the annual rainfall. Hue’s rainy season diverges from North and South Vietnam. It implies that when these regions receive rain, Hue tends to be hot, and vice versa. Given that Hue’s rainfall pattern is irregular, escalating from East to West and North to South, high-intensity rainfall over a few months often results in floods and erosion. The region also witnesses an average humidity of 85-86%.
Economy of Thua thien Hue province:
In 2021
In 2021, the economic growth rate (GRDP) achieved 4.36%, twice the national average. Concurrently, the budget revenue reached nearly 11,000 billion VND for the first time, surpassing 80% of the estimate. Meanwhile, total social investment capital touched more than 25,500 billion VND, marking a 4.5% increase compared to the same period. Furthermore, export-import turnover reached 1.87 billion USD, demonstrating a 30% rise compared to 2020’s 1.45 billion USD. Notably, exports exceeded the 1 billion USD mark, indicating a 13% increase from 2020’s 950 million USD.
Industrial and construction sectors have grown by 7.74%, with industry expected to achieve an 8.42% increase. The agriculture, forestry, and fishery sectors have grown by 3.62%. The town of Huong Thuy has been recognized for completing its new rural construction mission. Four more communes achieved new rural standards, raising the total to 63/94 communes across the province.
Investment promotion has seen 25 new projects licensed with a total investment capital of 12,500 billion VND. Some major investors, such as Vsico Maritime JSC, FLC Group JSC, Western Pacific Co., Ltd., are exploring investment opportunities in the province. Notably, the province recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with AEONMALL Vietnam Co., Ltd., to develop the AEON MALL commercial center project in Thua Thien Hue.
In 2022
In 2022, the estimated economic growth rate (GRDP) significantly exceeded expectations, achieving 8.56% against the planned 6.5-7.5%. Consequently, the GRDP per capita reached VND 57 million ($2,429 USD), a 10.9% increase, surpassing the planned amount by $79 USD. Additionally, the total social investment capital was estimated at VND 28,000 billion, marking a 9.6% rise from the same period.
Exports were projected to reach $1.23 billion USD, achieving 109% of the plan. Meanwhile, total revenue from tourism was approximately VND 4,500 billion. Moreover, the estimated total retail sales of consumer goods and services reached VND 52,442 billion, a 20.4% increase from the same period, exceeding the annual plan by 16.3%. Remarkably, the estimated state budget revenue reached VND 12,701 billion, surpassing 85.1% of the estimate, a 12% rise from the same period.
By 2022, the disbursement rate of public investment capital was estimated to reach over 95% of the total planned capital. This includes 100% of the balance of local budget capital and about 96% of central budget capital allocated by the Prime Minister at the beginning of the year.
The number of newly registered businesses and re-entries into the market increased compared to the same period. As of November 21, 2022, 745 new businesses were established with a total registered capital of VND 5,847.5 billion, an increase of 35.5% in quantity and 47% in capital compared to the same period. By October 31, 2022, there were 6,079 active businesses in the province.
As of November 21, 2022, 28 projects were licensed with registered investment capital reaching VND 14,002 billion. Of these, there were 5 FDI projects with registered capital of $231.7 million USD, equivalent to VND 5,321.5 billion, a 40% capital increase compared to the same period. There were 23 domestic investment projects with registered capital of VND 8,680 billion.
Social:
Residential:
As per the national census results as of April 1, 2019, the province had a population of 1,128,620. Among these, 746,935 individuals followed one of the ten recognized religions. Buddhism was the most prevalent with 680,290 followers, followed by Catholicism with 65,997 adherents, Protestantism with 392, and Cao Dai with 220 adherents. Other minor religions include Hoa Hao Buddhism with 18 followers, Islam and Minh Su Dao each with six followers, and Tinh Do Cu Si Buddhism, Baha’i, and Brahmanism each with two adherents. By 2022, the urbanization rate in the province reached 56%.
Healthcare:
Thua Thien Hue serves as a specialized medical center for the Central Highlands region and the entire country, housing three key institutions. These include Hue Central Hospital, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, and the Central Drug Testing Center.
The province is home to numerous hospitals:
1. Hue Central Hospital: A national hospital under the Ministry of Health with over 3000 beds and the only special-class hospital in the Central and Highlands region.
2. Hue International Hospital with 200 beds.
3. Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, a class I central line hospital with nearly 700 beds.
4. Hue Central Hospital branch 2 in Phong Dien district with 500 beds.
5. Hoang Viet Thang General Hospital with 90 beds.
6. Nguyen Van Thai External Medicine Hospital with 30 beds.
7. Hue Transport Hospital.
8. Traditional Medicine Hospital.
9. Rehabilitation and Recovery Hospital.
10. Hue Odonto-Stomatology Hospital.
11. Hue Eye Hospital.
12. Psychiatric Hospital.
13. Chan May General Hospital.
14. Binh Dien Hospital.
15. Orthopedic Trauma and Plastic Surgery Hospital.
16. Military Hospital 268.
17. Thua Thien Hue Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Hospital.
18. Hue Dermatology and Leprosy Hospital.
These hospitals play crucial roles in the healthcare system of Thua Thien Hue and beyond.
Education:
Thua Thien Hue has long been recognized as a significant educational hub for the Central region and the country.
Hue University, with a history spanning over 63 years, is a multi-disciplinary high-quality university, catering to the Central Highlands region. The institution is preparing to upgrade to Hue National University following the Resolution 54 of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam.
Other educational establishments include the National Academy of Public Administration branch in Thua Thien Hue, Hue Music Academy, Phu Xuan University, and a network of private and international colleges, and vocational schools. These institutions offer high-quality training, supplying human resources for the Central Highlands region and the country, a significant advantage for Thua Thien Hue.
The province spreads an extensive network of schools, ranging from kindergarten to high school, and includes public, semi-private, private, and international institutions. The authorities distribute these schools in accordance with suitable conditions in urban, rural, and mountainous areas. Importantly, the Prime Minister has designated Quoc Hoc Gifted High School as one of the three high-quality high schools in the country.
Thua Thien Hue also boasts an effective network of continuing education centers, vocational practice centers, and community learning centers operating in communes/wards, towns, contributing to literacy eradication, universal primary and secondary education, knowledge enhancement, technology transfer, and vocational training.
