At dawn, the coastal area of Vinh Loc Commune was already bustling with activity. On the sandy shore, groups of fishermen busily prepared for the first drag-net haul of the day. Boats returning after a night of fishing hurried back to shore. Amid this energetic rhythm of labor, many young people came to directly experience the lives of fishermen in the coastal fishing village.

Many residents and visitors coming to Hue have chosen their own unique way to “escape the heat” by heading to the Tam Giang - Cau Hai Lagoon system, where the vast expanse of water and breeze helps ease the oppressive summer heat.

On May 15, in Hanoi, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) held the announcement ceremony for the Vietnam Private Economy Report 2025 and the Provincial Competitiveness Index 2025 (PCI 2025).

Hue is a land that bears the imprint of the southward migration and territorial expansion undertaken more than 700 years ago by the people of ancient Thuan Hoa. Very few documents reveal the timing of these migration waves or the organization and formation of Vietnamese villages in the region. Yet during fieldwork, I gained access to several ancient Han-Nom documents recording the migration, land reclamation, and establishment of villages and communes. Most notably is a cadastral record dating to the 9th year of the Dai Hoa reign (1451) under King Le Nhan Tong, compiled exactly 575 years ago.

On the morning of May 14, Mr. Le Van Huong, Director of the Management Board of Phong Dien Nature Reserve, said that 20 Edwards's pheasants have just been transported by air from Berlin Zoological Garden in Germany to Vietnam under an international cooperation program on nature conservation, opening up expectations for the conservation of one of Vietnam’s rare and precious species.

More than 3 years after the passing of folk artisan Cong Ton Nu Tri Hue, the one who kept the secret techniques of making royal armrest pillows of the Nguyen Dynasty, also known as the “trai dua” (armrest pillow-blocks), an exhibition dedicated to her titled “Wholeheartedly, with devotion” has been organized by young people.

At the scientific conference themed “Hue in the 40 years of renewal process alongside the country (1986 - 2026)”, organized by Hue City Association of Historical Science on May 12, experts stated that over the past 40 years, the process of renewal has produced historically significant achievements, contributing to enhancing Vietnam’s position and prestige on the international stage. For Hue, important transformations have been made in promoting its potential and advantages, especially its cultural heritage value.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently released the 2025 Satisfaction Index of Public Administrative Services (SIPAS) and the Public Administration Reform Index (PAR INDEX). According to the results, Hue continues to rank among the country’s leading localities in administrative reform and public service quality.

The annual April 30th reunion of our middle school friends from Thanh Thuy Ward had a special highlight this year. Before heading to Vinh Thanh beach (Phu Vinh Commune), we made a detour to visit the Thuan An overpass bridge on the very day of its official technical opening. There, we shared in the joy of a large crowd of local residents who were seeing this modern bridge with their own eyes for the first time after years of waiting.

It had been a very long time before the elderly painter Tran Van Mang, from the old quarter of Bao Vinh, made a “comeback.” His paintings are much like his personality: strong, decisive, yet soft and full of emotion.