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| Cloisonné ceremonial gate at Trung Đạo (Middle Way) Bridge. Photo: Tuyet Mai |
In 2002, in the article "The Vietnamese language gains a new word: Festival", People's Artist Đặng Nhật Minh wrote: "Thus, Huế can officially become a Festival City. Many such cities exist worldwide: Avignon in France, Barcelona in Spain, Venice in Italy, etc. But nowhere else is there a crystal-clear and emerald-green river flowing through the city's heart like here. Nowhere else do people feel as close to nature as they do here".
This affirmative statement is a tribute to the creative genius of past generations in building a magnificent Hue. They left behind a vast architectural heritage, including palatial complexes, mausoleums, citadels, pavilions, and ancestral temples—grand and splendid structures that embody invaluable material and spiritual values. These elements form Hue’s cultural tradition which is both distinctly local and inseparable from the national cultural heritage, giving Hue a unique identity.
As former UNESCO Director-General A. M. M'Bow stated: Hue is "a poetic masterpiece of urban architecture." Or as writer Hoang Phu Ngoc Tuong said: "… Even to this day, Hue remains one of the few cities in the heart of the modern world that still immerses itself in the profound poetry of nature..."
In August 2007, the Vietnamese Government approved the development of Hue as a Festival City. More recently, on November 30, 2024, the National Assembly passed a resolution to establish Hue as the sixth centrally-governed city in Vietnam, based on the existing province of Thua Thien Hue. The city is characterized by its cultural heritage, ecology, landscape, environmental friendliness, and smart urban planning, aiming for rapid and sustainable development. This resolution also indirectly affirms that culture is a key factor in ensuring the sustainable growth of Hue as an urban center.
Alongside the festival, Hue has contributed to the preservation, restoration, and innovation of royal, folk, and modern festivals, various art forms, and even the art of living itself. The exploitation and promotion of heritage values have also driven the revival of traditional crafts, rituals, and arts to meet the demands of visitors. Over the past 20 years, the cultural products showcased through festivals have significantly contributed to shaping Hue as a city of culture, heritage, ecology, scenic beauty, environmental friendliness, and intelligence, fostering its rapid and sustainable development.
Through the Hue Festivals and the Hue Traditional Craft Festivals, the pottery kilns of the ancient Phuoc Tich Village have been rekindled by artisan Luong Thanh Hien, reviving the spirit of "Hương Xưa Làng Cổ" (Ancient Scent of the Old Village ) since the 2006 Hue Festival. This 600-year-old village, once bustling and prosperous with its renowned pottery craft, is home to 200-year-old wooden houses. The potter’s wheels are once again spinning, shaping traditional ceramics and reaffirming the enduring vitality of this ancient village. Following this revival, other traditional crafts have also been rejuvenated — bàng (Lepironia fiber) mats, bàng hats, bàng handbags, and white lotus variety from Tịnh Lake, revived by entrepreneur Nguyen Thi Hue. Additionally, the cultural traditional performances such as Hát Sắc Bùa (Sac Bua Folk Singing, a traditional New Year’s singing ritual), Thiên Hạ Thái Bình Dance (Dance and Singing for Peace and Prosperity), and Bài Bông Dance (Flower Offering Dance) have been brought back to life by researcher Nguyen The and artisans Nguyen Đuc But and Le Trong Dien.
Thanh Tien paper flowers have been present since the very first Hue Festival programs, gracefully held by beauties dressed in áo dài (traditional long dress)and nón lá (conical hat). Making paper flowers in Thanh Tien Village has been documented as a traditional handicraft dating back to the 16th–19th centuries.
The ancient Thanh Tien Village, formerly known as Tan Lan or Tan Lan, is one of the rare places that still preserves the secret techniques of crafting bông lùng (hibiscus flowers) and bông bụp (reed flowers)—traditional flowers once commonly found on ancestral altars in old Hue. The craft revival in the early 2000s, under the guidance of the meritorious artisan Than Van Huy, transformed the village into a must-visit destination for travelers worldwide.
Hue kites, resurrected in the 1980s, now soar proudly in Festival events, thanks to master artisan Nguyen Van Be and his successors, Nguyen Van Cu and Nguyen Đang Hoang. These vibrant Vietnamese kites have dazzled audiences across five continents. Meanwhile, Hue lanterns, once fading into obscurity in craft alleys of Gia Hoi’s old quarter, have reemerged in the form of bánh ú (pyramid-shaped) lanterns—simple yet imbued with ancient soul. These bright, colorful lanterns, crafted by artisans Nguyen Ngọc Man and Nguyen Đang Hoang now illuminate Hue’s streets.
At the 2006 Hue Festival, a grand lantern parade spanned nearly a kilometer, with thousands of glowing lanterns lighting up the night, reminding everyone that Hue's lantern tradition is alive and will continue to shine brightly at festivals worldwide. The Zèng fabric from A Luoi, once seen only in ethnic minority garments, now graces contemporary fashion in Hue, Ha Noi, and even luxury markets in Japan, France, and beyond. Zèng has gained international admiration thanks to the craftsmanship of artisan Mai Thi Hop.
Hue cloisonné is an enamelware technique that involves coating metal surfaces with colored glass enamel. Originating in Europe, it traveled through China before arriving in Vietnam during the reign of Emperor Minh Mang (1820–1841). It was widely used in interior and exterior decoration for royal palaces in Hue.
After fading into obscurity following the reign of Emperor Đong Khanh (1885-1889), Hue cloisonné was revived in the 2000s by artisan Đỗ Hữu Triết, the first and only person to restore this lost art. He gained unexpected success at the Hue Traditional Craft Festival. Then Hue lotus, Hue cuisine, Hue áo dài (traditional long dress), Hue nón (conical hat), Hue bronze casting, Hue woodcraft, Hue rattan and bamboo crafts...are also experiencing a resurgence.
From Hue Festival and Hue Traditional Craft Festival—festivals of aspiration, not only have many traditional craft villages and distinctive court and folk festivals been revived, but numerous people’s and meritorious artisans, artisans in kite-making, ao dai, jewelry, bronze casting, lantern-making, traditional dance and singing, etc. have also been revitalized. Additionally, unique cultural traditions from rural villages have been brought back to life: Azakohn Dance in A Luoi, Thiên Hạ Thái Bình (Peace and Prosperity) Dance in, Sắc Bùa Folk Singing in Phong Đien, Bả Trạo Chanting in Quang Đien, Cầu Ngư (Whale-Worshiping) Festival in Thuan An, and Tuồng (classical opera) mask-making in Hue.
"Hue’s cultural heritage is no longer just relics of the past but will serve as a vibrant foundation for the future development of yesterday’s ancient capital and today’s centrally-governed city".