On the evening of December 18, in Hue City, a ceremony was held to officially receive the national intangible cultural heritage title for folk knowledge related to Bun Bo Hue (Hue Beef Noodle Soup), alongside the opening of the International Culinary Festival “Hue - Culinary Capital”.

Once being the Imperial Capital under the Nguyen Dynasty, Hue has undergone many historical phases, and today the city is regarded as one of Vietnam’s few cities where multiple architectural traditions coexist. It brings together folk, royal, colonial, and modern styles, developing in a way that balances the architecture, landscape, and culture, forming a distinctive urban identity.

During a career orientation session at Byron Nelson High School in Texas, USA, my daughter and I had the opportunity to experience an exceptionally well-organized Culinary Arts vocational training model. In the U.S. education system, students are guided toward basic career paths as soon as they enter middle school, preparing them for vocational training in high school if they choose not to pursue a university pathway.

To the tune of soothing music, models and beauty queens from many countries around the world delivered an impressive and captivating fashion show right on the stage in front of the Noon Gate, inside Hue Citadel.

In celebration of Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day on November 23, Hue Monuments Conservation Center will organize a series of educational, exhibition, and experiential activities to honor the heritage values of the Ancient Capital. These activities aim to spread appreciation for cultural heritage within the community, especially among young people.

Coming to Hue as part of the “2025 International Art Workshop and Exhibition”, artists immersed themselves directly in the heritage life of the Ancient Capital to find material for creation. Through their lens, the heritage appeared differently: vibrant, transformative, and ready to accompany contemporary art.

In recent years, along with the orientation of building Hue into the first bicycle city in Vietnam, green transportation solutions have been increasingly emphasized, in which, the electric-assist conversion kit for bicycles developed by VierCycle, a young engineering team, is being considered a new solution, which is both modern and suitable for the characteristics of a small and peaceful city like Hue.

Alongside the exhibition of ancient The Tale of Kieu editions, researchers also shared insights into Nguyen Du’s masterpiece, attracting the attention of literature lovers at the program “A Day of Tale of Kieu in the Ancient Capital”.

Hue City Department of Tourism has just presented a new function called “Tourism Narration” into the Visit Hue application. This digital technology solution offers tourists an easier way to explore and listen to stories about Hue Ancient Capital’s heritage.

After nearly two-thirds of the journey of the National Tourism Year (NTY) - Hue 2025, Hue’s tourism industry has recorded many positive results. Speaking with Hue Today Weekly, Director of Hue Department of Tourism Tran Thi Hoai Tram said that the NTY has not only brought strong growth in visitor numbers but also created a ripple effect in destination branding and in positioning the tourism identity of the Ancient Capital among businesses and tourists.