In this issue, Hue Today Weekly brings readers in-depth perspectives from experts and experienced writers across the fields of culture, the arts and the heritage economy. It also explores topical issues of public interest, including regulations on caps for service fees at public educational institutions across the city, on green tourism, and how Japan preserves its historic villages. ​

On the evening of September 1, tens of thousands of audience members gathered at Hue City Culture and Sports Square, immersing themselves in the vibrant electronic music atmosphere of the Hue Wonderverse Music Fest 2026 - an international heritage and music festival.

On the evening of August 30, thousands of audience members packed the stage area at Hue City’s Culture and Sports Square, immersing themselves in the vibrant atmosphere of Hue Wonderverse Music Fest 2026 - an international heritage and music festival featuring a lineup of renowned singers.

On the morning of August 28, Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), in collaboration with Quang Tri Province People’s Committee and Hue People’s Committee, officially launched the ‘Phong Nha - Hue Imperial City: A World Heritage Journey’ tourist train at Dong Hoi Railway Station. Later that day, Hue City welcomed the train and held a ceremony to mark its arrival.

Hue is a heritage city, but Hue’s cultural strength does not lie solely in its citadel, palaces, royal tombs, or historic architecture. Behind these tangible forms of heritage lies a vibrant world of music, festivals, beliefs, traditional crafts, cuisine, clothing, and folk knowledge. This is the ‘soul’ that gives Hue its distinctive identity.

The exhibition, through the language of photography, aims to strengthen Hue City's cultural diplomacy and expand cooperation with diplomatic missions of ASEAN countries in Vietnam. It will also help promote Hue as a heritage city and a distinctive Festival City of Vietnam, as well as an attractive cultural and tourism destination in the Central region. ​

By hosting the Hue Heritage and International Music Festival 2026 - Hue Wonderverse Music Fest 2026, which is scheduled from August 30 to September 1, alongside the National Day Holiday on September 2, Hue City is expected to witness a surge in tourist arrivals. This may lead to a local ‘fully booked’ situation at certain peak times. Drawing from the experience of the last April 30 - May 1 holiday, the local tourism sector is developing plans to enhance its reception capacity and service quality.

The Government’s issuance of Decree No. 282/2026/ND-CP on July 14th, 2026, to provide guidance for the implementation of Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16 on the development of Vietnamese culture and establishing criteria for piloting the cultural heritage city model, has opened up a new approach to the relationship between conservation and development.

Hue Festival has established the city as a prominent destination on the international cultural map. With Wonderverse Music Fest, Hue is taking a new approach: using music, technology, and creativity to tell the story of its heritage while aiming to build a distinctive festival intellectual property (IP) that will become a signature brand for the city.

On the afternoon of August 5th, during a courtesy meeting with a delegation from Kyoto Environmental Activities Association (KEAA) led by Honorary Professor Tatsuro Niikawa, President of KEAA., Mr. Tran Huu Thuy Giang, Vice Chairman of Hue City People's Committee, reaffirmed that Hue highly values and wishes to further strengthen its friendship and cooperation with Kyoto, a city that shares many similarities with Hue in terms of history, culture, and the vision of sustainable heritage urban development.