Phan Vu Tuan, a painter, was born in 1994 in Son Tien Commune, Ha Tinh Province. He grew up in a midland village, surrounded by mountain ranges and immersed in the rhythms of life in a farming family. After studying at the University of Fine Arts in Hue, he decided to remain in the city beside the Huong River, where he has made his home and continued to paint. Over time, Tuan has become deeply attached to Hue, which has come to feel like a second homeland. His native Son Tien village and Hue City have become the two central subjects of his watercolour paintings.

These days, along several alleys on Bao Vinh Street, many old walls are being given a new look with murals depicting ancient houses, riverside landing stages, boats, and the daily life of what was once a trading port.

On September 2, the first visitors officially experienced a combined journey by sightseeing bus and electric boat, connecting the Imperial Citadel with the Huong River via the Ngu Ha and the Dong Ba routes.

Amid celebrations marking the 81st anniversary of the success of the August Revolution and National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2026), the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism held the opening ceremony of the 37th Traditional Boat Racing - 2026 on the morning of September 2.

A procession of boats taking part in the Hue Nam Temple Festival (Hon Chen Temple) traveled one after another from downtown Hue City upstream along the Huong River toward Mount Ngoc Tran, creating a lively atmosphere on the river.

If you saw giant freshwater prawns nearly as thick as an adult’s wrist, three of which may weigh a kilogram on average, few of you would guess they were wild-caught from the Bo River. Their firm, succulent flesh, naturally sweet flavor, and rich, golden roe make them truly exceptional. It would come as no surprise if this remarkable prawn earned its place among the signature delicacies of the ancient imperial capital one day.

Every land has memories of its own. Some memories are preserved in history books, stone steles, communal houses, pagodas, and temples. Others, however, remain in the most ordinary forms - in the name of a village, a small hamlet, a riverside wharf, or a field.

The medium of watercolor may appear delicate, yet in the hands of skilled painters, it becomes a powerful means of expression. At the exhibition “There Is… a River”, visitors can experience both the talent of the painters and the distinctive allure of a medium known for its transparency, lightness, and poetic charm.

Held under the theme “Flow of Heritage”, the first O Ly Artshow officially opened on the evening of June 6 at Hue Book and Cultural Space (23-25 Le Loi Street, Thuan Hoa Ward), on the banks of the Perfume River, attracting the participation of a large number of artists and art enthusiasts.

From electric boat rides along the Ngu Ha River to ideas for night streets, culinary routes, and community cultural spaces, Phu Xuan Ward is gradually unlocking the potential of a “heritage ward”.