ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY
Entry to the Imperial Palace. Source: Author
BY DR ELIZABETH PERKINS
ACTIVATING THE CITADEL OF HUE
INTRODUCTION
In an urban planning context, site activation most
often consists of the application of quite simple
placemaking principles and the odd event driven
by community involvement to create a ‘sense of
place’ in which people are drawn for the purposes
of recreation, social and commercial interactions
through specific interventions. So, when asked
to consider the activation of sites within UNESCO
World Heritage site of the Citadel of Hue I felt
that this model maybe insufficient. The Citadel
of Hue is not an underutilised suburban park or
neglected city laneway; it is a site of significant
cultural significance and the Imperial City is an
internationally renowned tourist attraction. It
was a privilege to be invited to work on such a
project, but necessary to for the site to be treated
with the utmost cultural sensitivity. I feared
that suggested interventions such as seating,
constructed pathways or clustered commercial
operations maybe too simplistic for a site of this
historic magnitude. Initial reading outlined some
of the local complexities such as the relocation of
residents, pollution and flooding, also the devasting
damage after years of war. However, on-the-
ground research enabled me to explore, but more
importantly challenge my bias and motivate me to
contribute to a meaningful and practical outcome.
This paper explores three identified themes
consisting of tourism development, local identity
and use of space, influenced by readings and
practical undertaking by Australian and Vietnamese
university students from the University of South
Australia and the Hue University of Sciences.
Firstly, I need to acknowledge the contribution of
these (Australian and Vietnamese students) that I
had the privilege to work with on this project as they
provided a Vietnamese perspective to balance the
western lens, introduced frameworks such as urban
acupuncture, and reminded me that some of the
best ideas are simple interventions regardless of the
nature or stature of the site.
AND, WHO DO WE HAVE HERE TODAY?
Attempting to understand the tourism market in
Hue.
Local guides awaiting the arrival of
packaged tour groups Source: Author
A group of 20
Australian tourists
wandering the
Citadel in the
midday sun was
possibly a source
of bemusement
to locals and
the packaged
tour groups from
China and Korea
travelling in electric
minibuses into
the Imperial City
Forecourt for their
cultural experience
of Hue. Whilst
these tourism
groups are vastly
different in their
preferences of
modes of transport
and level of service
expectation, one
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