The Republic of Korea (RoK) has pledged a non-refundable aid package for the central province of Thua Thien-Hue to aid a planning scheme to improve the poetic Huong River, following the success of a similar project for Hue imperial city.

The 6-million-USD project will be carried out within two and a half years by the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), starting from September 2014. It aims to promote eco-friendly developments along the river and maximise the site’s local historical and cultural values, boosting economic growth.

Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Cao said he hopes to receive more support from the Korean agency in implementing official development assistance (ODA) funded projects in Vietnam.

He expressed the wish at a meeting held in province on June 12 to announce the planning scheme for Hue city to 2030, with a vision to 2050, which has already been approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

The project, which has been realised over two and a half years, has met basic development targets such as preserving and promoting the city’s heritage values, and turning it into a provincial trade centre in the near future.

These achievements were attributed to the close coordination between local authorities and the KOICA, Cao said.

Recognised as a world cultural heritage site by the UNESCO in 1993, the Hue imperial city is a must-see destination for any tourists visiting Vietnam.

Cutting through the city centre, the Huong (Perfume) River is around 80km in length and owes its name to its path through aromatic forests. Dotted with rowing boats and running past the citadel, gardens, pagodas, towers and temples, the poetic landscape has long mesmerised travellers.-VNA