Many journeys back to old Hue begin with seemingly small details. For me, it was a visit to An Thu garden house in Gia Hoi old quarter - a contemplative Hue residence nestled behind lush green trees. Mr. Vo Chanh Tien, the current caretaker, led me through the rooms while sharing the house's history and stories of generations tied to the garden and the rhythm of the old Gia Hoi. But what made me linger the longest was actually… beneath my feet.

Gia Hoi old quarter, located to the east outside the Citadel, was once the most bustling area in Hue Imperial Capital in the early 19th century. Today, this town, part of Gia Hoi ward (Phu Xuan district), is facing urbanization and the challenge of balancing between preservation and development. So, how will Gia Hoi develop and progress?

Gia Hoi Old Quarter is located between the Perfume river and the Dong Ba river, running from Dong Ba Market down to Bao Vinh.

While Hue Imperial City and the mausoleums of the Nguyen emperors are remnants of a far-off dynasty, the old quarters of Bao Vinh and Gia Hoi are the unfaded imprints of inhabitants’ life of the ancient capital.