Not only honored as one of the world’s leading romantic honeymoon destinations in 2026, Hue is also increasingly becoming attractive to international visitors thanks to its safety, friendliness, and rich cultural identity. These advantages are opening up strong prospects for the Ancient Capital’s tourism sector in attracting high-value international travelers.

On the afternoon of May 5th in Hanoi, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held a working session with Hue City People’s Committee on the development of culture, sports, and tourism, as well as the preservation and promotion of heritage values.

The first “Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festival of Mountainous Ethnic Groups” of Hue City in 2026 is part of the “Summer Festival” program of Hue Festival 2026. It is held periodically and rotates among localities where ethnic minority communities settle and live.

Following the Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day, Hue continues to see a surge in visitors during the April 30 - May 1 holiday, with occupancy rates at many accommodation establishments are near full capacity. The influx has pushed the tourism sector and businesses to ramp up efforts to ensure both service quality and flexible management of operations, heading to the goals of enhancing visitor experiences and reaching industry development.

Following a vibrant April filled with diverse artistic activities, the Summer Festival - Hue Festival 2026 continues with a series of attractive cultural and tourism events throughout May and June, promising new experiences for both residents and visitors.

“Half of the Vietnamese are in Hue” - a playful remark that has become a vivid expression of the strong appeal of tourism in the land of Huong River and Mount Ngu these days. Crowds are flocking to relic sites, pagodas, royal mausoleums, and eateries during the holidays, making the Ancient Capital more vibrant and lively.

For many years, the development of waterway tourism has been a consistent goal, as the potential of Hue's rivers remained largely untapped. Following the City People's Committee's announcement of the inland waterway route on the Ngu Ha River, along with the pilot launch of heritage-linked tourism routes using electric boats on the Huong River and its tributaries, the local waterway tourism is expected to be unlocked.

Today’s travelers are no longer content with “travel for seeing”. Instead, they seek deeper experiences, more authentic connections with the places they visit. Furthermore, they also look for the unique, distinctive identity of each destination. In this context, developing tourism that “touches the authentic essence” is not merely a trend, but an inevitable requirement for enhancing competitiveness.

On the morning of April 27th, the Department of Tourism reported that the total number of visitors to Hue during this year’s Hung Kings’ Commemoration holiday was estimated at around 310.500. This marks a sharp increase compared to the same holiday in 2025, when Hue welcomed 109.000 visitors.

After five editions, the VnExpress Marathon Hue has made tangible contributions to the city’s overall development landscape. Its sixth edition (taking place from April 17 to 19) is no exception, promising to provide a strong impetus for Hue’s strategy in developing sports, tourism and socio-economic growth.