 |
| Carefully adding the finishing touches when making wagashi |
Interactive and creative
Inside a room on Pham Ngu Lao Street in Thuan Hoa Ward, the clear, resonant tones of a handpan fill the space. Unlike many instruments played with sticks or mallets, the handpan is played directly with the hands, with the player tapping different areas of its surface to create melodies.
For Hong Anh from An Cuu Ward, the experience was completely new. She had never played the instrument before. After three sessions learning how to use both hands, sensing the different tonal areas, and connecting the notes, she went from tentative movements to creating simple melodies of her own.
“As a music lover, the handpan has given me a very interesting and refreshing experience. Playing it myself and feeling the clear, resonant sounds helps me relax,” Hong Anh said.
One distinctive feature of the experience is that participants do not need any prior musical knowledge. Starting with basic techniques, they can gradually become familiar with the instrument, listen to its sounds and experience the music they create themselves. The workshop is therefore more than simply a music class; it also offers time to relax, explore personal interests and meet other people.
According to Anahata Handpan from Ho Chi Minh City, the workshop was brought to Hue to introduce this relatively new instrument to a wider audience while creating a space for music lovers to meet, connect and share their passion.
If handpan offers an experience through sound and emotion, the wagashi workshop introduces participants to another culture through their hands, colors and small, intricate cakes.
At a workshop by Song Thuy Wagashi from Ho Chi Minh City, participants make traditional Japanese wagashi inspired by nature and the beauty of the seasons. Rather than simply learning a recipe, they also explore color combinations, shaping techniques and the aesthetic ideas associated with wagashi. Each step requires concentration, dexterity and patience.
Since its first workshops were organized in Hue in 2024, Song Thuy Wagashi has continued returning to the Ancient Capital in subsequent years. This return highlights experiences that combine creativity, cuisine and cultural discovery that have found an interested audience group in Hue.
More than just watching
Handpan and wagashi represent two different facets of the growing range of experiences available in Hue. One centers on music, emotion and relaxation; the other begins with food but expands into aesthetics and culture. What they have in common is that participants do not simply stand on the sidelines and watch; they become an active part of the experience.
 |
| Hand-embroidery workshops offer participants an enjoyable and engaging experience |
There are also painting, baking, handicraft and other short-term creative workshops. Some are organized by groups based in Hue, while others are brought in by organizers from Ho Chi Minh City and elsewhere, giving residents and visitors a wider range of activities to choose.
To Hue residents, particularly young people, these workshops create new opportunities to learn and be creative within the city itself. The participation of organizers from other places also brings new forms of creative expression, skills and novel cultural stories to Hue.
Hue already has a rich foundation for experiential tourism, from its heritage and cuisine to festivals and traditional craft villages. These new workshops do not replace those existing values; instead, they offer another way to engage with them through direct participation. When visiting Hue, there are not only things to see, hear and taste, but also more opportunities to make something with your own hands, try something new and experience the city in a more personal way.