White lotus flowers in early summer

While the morning mist still lingers over the streets, Hue’s flower market is already awake before dawn. At the market along Ngo Kha Street in Phu Xuan Ward, near the wholesale market, warm yellow lights spill over bundles of flowers still in bud. The sharp revving of motorbikes, vendors calling out to one another, and brisk bargaining create a unique rhythm of the final days of the lunar year.

As Lunar New Year is coming to town, public spaces throughout the heart of Hue City are slowly turning into spring destinations for both residents and visitors. These days, Hue Green Parks Center is putting the finishing touches on its preparations, bringing fresh and vibrant spring colors to the city’s public spaces.

People say that after days submerged in floodwater, when the water recedes, the ground is left with a dull, gloomy gray. Yet it is within that muted palette that the resilient life force of nature begins to sprout - taking root, greening again, and stirring with new vitality through the caring hands of the city’s green-park workers.

In Thanh Thuy Ward, I met Minh, a 10-year-old boy in a Taekwondo uniform. Three years ago, he was a shy child, often sick and reluctant to communicate. But in the summer of 2024, his mother enrolled him in a nearby Taekwondo class. After just three summer months, Minh not only became healthier but also gained the confidence to give presentations in front of his class - something he had never dared to do before.

On the occasion of the 78th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27, 1947 - July 27, 2025), a delegation from the City People’s Committee, led by Mr. Nguyen Chi Tai, Deputy Chairman of the City People’s Committee held a memorial ceremony, laid wreaths, and offered incense at Truong Son National Martyrs’ Cemetery and Road 9 National Martyrs’ Cemetery.