On the morning of April 18, the Kun Marathon Hue 2026 officially kicked off at Ngo Mon Square, attracting more than 2,500 young runners from various provinces and cities across the country. Kun Marathon Hue 2026 was held in response to the VnExpress Marathon Hue 2026 (scheduled for April 19). In addition to the familiar 700-meter run combined with obstacle challenges set within Hue’s heritage space, this year’s event carried the message “Protect All Species” and incorporated a series of educational and experiential environmental activities.

As part of an official working trip to provinces of Lao People’s Democratic Republic, on the morning of April 13, a delegation from Hue City, led by Mr. Nguyen Khac Toan, Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee, visited Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Savannakhet Province, Laos.

Concluding the official visit to provinces in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, on the afternoon of April 12th, a delegation from Hue City led by Mr. Nguyen Khac Toan, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, and Chairman of the City People’s Committee, visited, held talks, and extended Bunpimay New Year 2026 greetings in Savannakhet Province. On the side of Savannakhet Province, the delegation was received by Mr. Daovone Xaysoulien, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Provincial Government, along with leaders of relevant departments and sectors.

On the afternoon of April 9th, a delegation from Hue, led by Mr. Nguyen Khac Toan, Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee, and Chairman of the City People’s Committee, paid a visit, held working sessions, and extended Bunpimay New Year greetings in Salavan Province, Lao PDR.

From April 6th to 10th, a delegation from the Police Department of Hue City, led by Major General Nguyen Thanh Tuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee and Director of the municipal Police, paid visits, extended New Year greetings, and held working sessions with police forces in Lao provinces of Salavan, Champasak, Savannakhet, and Sekong (Lao PDR).

From April 1 - 3, a delegation from the Command of Hue City Border Guard, led by Colonel Dang Ngoc Hieu, Secretary of the Party Committee and Political Commissar of the City Border Guard, visited and extended traditional Bunpimay New Year greetings to the Military Commands and Police Departments of Sekong and Salavan provinces (Lao People's Democratic Republic).

Hue’s elevation to a centrally-governed municipality from early 2025 has taken place in a special context: the country is undergoing a major administrative restructuring, reducing the number of provinces and cities from 63 to 34. While 52 other localities are expanding through mergers, Hue has chosen a different path - no consolidation, no expansion by aggregation, but an upgrade built on its existing identity and structural foundation.

Ask the people of Hue what flower they love most, and most will likely answer: the apricot blossom. To put it more formally, “hoang mai” - yellow apricot, without a doubt. Don’t believe it? Come to Hue and see for yourself! There’s a whole movement called “Yellow apricot blossom in front of the entrance”; a completed research project on “Conservation and development of Hue’s yellow apricot variety (Hue’s Hoang mai)”; a scientific conference on developing Hue’s Hoang mai into a key local product, aimed at successfully realizing the project to build Thua Thien Hue province (now Hue City) into Vietnam’s yellow apricot homeland. My friend, journalist Minh Tu, even published a book called “In front of the house stands a yellow apricot tree”, which sold out instantly, was reprinted, and translated into foreign languages to great acclaim.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment has just announced the 2024 environmental protection rankings (covering 63 provinces and centrally governed cities before administrative mergers) based on the PEPI Index. Thua Thien Hue Province, now Hue City, has risen to claim first place on the rankings.

On the morning of February 5, a delegation from Salavan Province, Lao People's Democratic Republic, led by Comrade Daovong Phonekeo, Member of the Central Committee of Lao People's Revolutionary Party and Secretary of Salavan Provincial Party Committee, visited and extended Tet greetings to the leaders of Hue City.