In late March, thousands of locals and tourists flocked to the Ethnic Cultural Village of A Luoi District to attend the “Highland Spring Colors of A Luoi” festival. Many were deeply moved by a dramatic excerpt from the Ar Puc Festival, which recreated the love story of Cu Hun, Thail, and Klai.

In the festive atmosphere of the “Colors of Spring in the Highlands” celebration in A Luoi, amidst the “tung tung da da” dances and echoing gong sounds, I was fortunate to witness a special ritual of the Co Tu people - the An Ninh Pa Nua festival. This is one of their ancient traditional ceremonies, expressing the sacred feelings of the bride’s family toward the groom’s family after many years of being in-laws.

In Da Lay commune (Da Teh district, Lam Dong province), the new homeland of the people from Hue today, it is hard to recognize the traces of the hardships from nearly half a century ago. The most recognizable feature in this rural area that carries "Hue far away" is the distinctive Hue accent, the conical hats of the elderly women glistening as they shield their kind smiles, and the lively mornings with loc and nam cakes. We arrived at the Da Lay market in the Central Highlands and felt as if we were back in Hue, enjoying street food and chatting at a corner of Dong Ba or An Cuu markets…

As part of the plan to organize the National Tourism Year and Hue Festival 2025, the spring festival - “Spring of the Ancient Capital” has many unique programs and activities. Not only are there festival activities in the city center, but in the land on the majestic Truong Son mountain range, the “Spring Colors of A Luoi Highlands” festival would create more highlights and impressions for visitors to Hue this March.

Over more than 67 years of construction and development, Hue University has become a center for training high-quality human resources for the Central - Central Highlands Region and the entire country. Hue University is also an indispensable part of the culture of Hue, a sacred land with extraordinary people - a cradle that nurtures intelligence and talent.

On the morning of March 29, “A Luoi Highland Spring Colors Festival” 2025 officially opened at the Communal House in the Ethnic Minority Culture Village of A Luoi District (Hong Thanh Commune). The event attracted a large number of ethnic minorities and tourists from both inside and outside the province to experience the unique cultural space of the mountainous region.

Culinary culture not simply is about food but also contains stories about the vibrant life of indigenous people. In the vast Truong Son mountains, the dishes of Ta Oi, Pa Co, Co Tu ethnic groups are rich with the flavors of the forest from available natural ingredients, combined with age-old secrets, creating unique values found nowhere else.

For the first time escaping the label of a poor district, the people of A Luoi joyfully participate in festival activities, embracing solidarity and sharing. Along with preserving cultural values, the local authorities are striving to reduce the number of impoverished households, develop livelihood models, and improve residents' quality of life.

The husband-and-wife duo of Distinguished Artisans Ta Dur Tu and Areel Doi, residents of A Luoi District, have dedicated their lives to preserving and promoting the unique cultural values of ethnic minority communities. Over 40 years of tireless collection, research, and teaching have made them guiding lights in safeguarding traditional cultural identities for future generations.

Highland markets in Thua Thien Hue are gradually establishing their unique role in the lives of ethnic minority communities. These markets serve as places for people to exchange goods, promote local products, and simultaneously boost tourism and socio-economic development.