“I study garden houses as a connection between Vietnamese art and culture and a deep connection with the land and spirit of Hue. Hidden cultural features still thrive in the values and identity of Hue today,” said Professor and Landscape Architect Kimberlee Stryker (University of California, Berkeley) in her “Listening to the Gardens of Hue, Vietnam” 25 years ago.

Nguyen Huu Thong, researcher, former Deputy Director of Hue Sub-Institute of Vietnam National Institute of Culture and Arts, made such assessment of the story of Hue garden houses during a seminar held on April 21st at An Nhien Garden space (Phu Thuong Ward, Hue City).

Phuoc Tich ancient village is surrounded by the O Lau river in Phong Hoa Commune, (Phong Dien District), which is 40km north of Hue City. The village was founded in 1470, during the reign of Le Thanh Tong. With its poetic scenery, valuable architecture of ruong houses and garden houses, and unique cultural institutions, etc., the village was recognized as a national relic in 2009. Currently, the functional agencies are preparing a dossier to propose the village to be recognized as a special national relic.

The Union of Science and Technology Associations of Thua Thien Hue Province has just launched a book titled “The Imperial Medicine Institute (Thai Y Vien) of the Nguyen Dynasty: History and development prospects”, which is a 440-page book published by Hue University Publishing House.

For Hoang Dang Khanh, city quarter is not just somewhere to go to and return, and the place of houses to live in; but is also associated with the breath and life, pampering the artist from Hue Ancient Capital with countless emotions.

Recently there appeared in Hue many garden cafes, especially ones at ancient princes’ and princesses’ residences (Phu De.) Around a hundred years ago those houses were places for princes, princesses, mandarins and their relatives to gather on special occasions and death anniversaries.

Ms. Julie Lardon, a journalist and also a writer, in collaboration with Hue French Institute and Kim Dong Publishing House, organized the workshop themed “Quel Avenir Pour Nous?” (What future is for us?) in Hue.

On August 20, 1983, Ca Hue Club (belonging to Hue Cultural House) officially came into being and was based in a small house at 47 Tran Hung Dao St. (presently Phu Xuan Bookstore.)

On the afternoon of September 5, Nguoi Lao Dong Newspaper coordinated with the Provincial Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union held the inauguration ceremony of the “National Flag Road” on the way to Uncle Ho’s Memorial House in Duong No village, Phu Duong Commune (Hue City).

At the seminar "Hollowness and Open Space of the City" jointly organized by ASHUI, Tich Thien Vien and Thua Thien Hue Association of Architects, speakers and architects with diverse perspectives exchanged many interesting stories and experiences about gardens and open space inside houses and the “hollow and open” space within the city.