Alongside aspirations for future UNESCO inscription, Hue Nam Temple Festival (also known as Hon Chen Temple Festival) is increasingly being viewed as a distinctive form of spiritual tourism. Together with safeguarding core values, the festival is seeking to harness the depth of cultural heritage to attract visitors, while avoiding excessive commercialization that could erode the identity.

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. ​

Over the National Day (September 2) holiday, Hue welcomed a large number of visitors from near and far, creating a vibrant and bustling atmosphere. From the Imperial Citadel and heritage sites to scenic spots, craft villages, and community-based tourism destinations, visitors can be seen sightseeing, experiencing local activities, posing for check-in photos, and capturing memorable moments on their journey to discover the Ancient Capital.

On the evening of August 30, the Department of Tourism held a tourism promotion and introduction program titled ‘Connecting Heritage, Shaping the Future: Hue - Northeastern Thailand’.

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.

Developing Hue-tuong in association with unlocking tourism potential offers a promising path to safeguarding one of Vietnam’s most distinctive intangible cultural heritage traditions while contributing to the growth of the local tourism economy.

From July 16 to 21, a delegation from Hue City, led by Vice Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee Tran Huu Thuy Giang, attended the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC48) in Busan, South Korea. During the visit, the delegation also organized a series of large-scale cultural and tourism promotion events in Seoul and Busan.

Tourism digital transformation in Hue is entering a more advanced stage as the connection of transportation, dining, shopping, and the exploration of attractions and heritage sites across digital platforms is being implemented in a coordinated manner, offering visitors a seamless travel experience.

On the morning of July 3, hundreds of people wearing the traditional ao-dai took part in the “Ao Dai Connecting Tourism and Heritage” event, held at the forecourt of Quoc Tu Giam historical site of Hue Imperial Citadel (on 23 Thang 8 St., Phu Xuan Ward).