On December 4th, Standing Member of the City Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh held a meeting with Mr. Eric Soulier, the newly appointed Cultural Counsellor of French Embassy and Director of French Institute in Vietnam (Institut français du Vietnam - IFV).

For over two decades devoted to mother-of-pearl inlay work, Phan Tan Dat, born 1992, has transformed seashells into shimmering masterpieces on horizontal lacquered boards, parallel sentences, guarding screens... preserving the complete ancient soul of Hue.

Together with the Huong River - Ngu Mountain, the conical hat and the purple ao dai of Hue Women are also a symbolic cultural combo that is deeply connected with the locals in the Ancient Capital. And the poet Bui Giang once “fell in love”: The poetic conical hat / Taking you to Hue City / Sunshine pierces the rim / Revealing the soul of homeland in poetry… (Taking you to the city).

Hue is taking steps to build a model of sustainable development, where the economic growth does not come at the expense of the cultural identity. In the modern life the city still maintains its soul, considering the green fund the foundation for a future of harmony and distinction.

The lush lawns and shaded canopies of ancient trees in the Imperial Citadel, Co Ha Garden, or Thieu Phuong Garden are not naturally self-sustained. Behind that serene beauty lies the quiet dedication of dozens of workers who care daily for every tree and flowerbed, helping preserve the “green soul” of Hue’s heritage.

“The beaches in Hue are well-known as some of the most interesting destinations that you shouldn’t miss when visiting the ancient capital. Their beauty can be summed up in three words: “fascinating the soul”.

Hue is asserting its pioneering role in preserving and promoting heritage values, from tangible treasures to intangible performance spaces. A journey of “preservation for revival” with long-term vision, modern technology, and initiatives close to young people.

Sipping tea is a delicate beauty of people in the Ancient Capital City. Especially Hue people have long connected their tea drinking with the Huong river _ the soul of the region.

Upon contemplating the city in the brushstrokes of artist Hoang Dang Khanh, viewers seem to immerse themselves in many different emotions, ranging from peacefulness, romance, desolation, strangeness, sometimes solitariness and loneliness. This artist from Hue seems tireless after many years of pursuing the city theme. As for him, those city quarters not only nourished his soul but also gave him mixed memories of joy and sadness.