Growing up from the fields, steeped in rustic flavors of the countryside - “salty fermented vegetables, sour white eggplant”, yet it was not until my late forties that I first heard of mut ca phao (white eggplant preserves) from Hue. The humble eggplant, so familiar on simple family meals, appears here in an entirely unfamiliar form - a delicately beautiful preserves for the Lunar New Year.

On the afternoon of January 22nd, the City Business Association held a conference to review its activities in 2025, deploy tasks for 2026, and meet with member enterprises to celebrate the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026. Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee Tran Huu Thuy Giang attended and delivered directives at the conference.

On the morning of January 23, Hue City Red Cross Society, in coordination with Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees of Phu Loc and Vinh Loc Communes, organized a program to distribute Lunar New Year gifts for the Spring of Binh Ngo 2026 (the Year of Horse) to poor and near-poor households, families in difficult circumstances, and those severely affected by natural disasters in 2025 in Phu Loc and Vinh Loc Communes. The program was funded by support from Thien Tam Fund of Vingroup.

After five days of urgent, serious, effective, and responsible work, the closing session of the 14th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam was held on the afternoon of January 23rd at the National Convention Center in Hanoi capital city.

The heritage space of Hue’s Imperial Citadel is being retold in a new language, the language of technology. At the Royal Treasury Palace, stories of the past are no longer meant solely to be observed, but also to be touched, listened, and experienced, opening up a gentle, emotionally resonant way of engaging with the heritage of Hue Ancient Capital.

With the desire to present readers a unique and engaging publication on the eve of the Spring of the Year of the Horse 2026, Hue Newspaper and Radio - Television is proud to release a special edition of Hue Today themed “Spring Buds”.

On the morning of January 21, Hue Central Hospital announced that on January 6, 2026, the hospital marked a significant milestone in Vietnamese medicine. For the first time, surgeons successfully performed a simultaneous surgery to remove two giant polycystic kidneys and perform a kidney transplant. This success not only opens up new hope for patients with end-stage renal failure, but also confirms the ability to master intensive organ transplantation techniques by Vietnamese medical teams.

The Department of Science and Technology, in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union of Hue City, the Thieu Nien Tien Phong & Nhi Dong Newspaper in Hue, and Hue City Post Office, launched the 55th UPU International Letter-Writing Competition in 2026 for students aged 9 to 15.

In Hue, the traditional Lunar New Year “Tet” does not arrive with fanfare. It begins quietly in the kitchen, from a pot of banh tet (a cylindrical sticky rice cake with mung beans and pork) glowing over the fire, from the warm scent of ginger, from a jar of mixed pickled vegetables. Just by looking at these dishes, people in Hue know that Tet is very near.

I did not grow up in a family devoted solely to farming, yet my childhood held a clear and gentle chapter shaped by the cycles of rain and sun in my grandparents’ fields. Those years, and the memories they carry, have left a lasting mark, so that even now, I am stirred by an inexpressible emotion whenever I see farmers busily preparing for a new sowing season.

For the end of the Culture and Tourism News Bulletin this week, we would like to invite you to watch the images of An Thái ancient village located in An Thái village, Nhơn Phúc commune, An Nhơn town, Bình Định province - a well-known traditional craft village specializing in making dry vermicelli and rice paper.

Embarking on a trip to A Lưới to admire and discover the hidden beauty of this area would be an ideal option for tourists in summer.

We would like to invite you to admire the gentle and peaceful beauty of the daily life in Phú Tân mat weaving craft village - a hundred-year-old craft village in An Cư commune, Tuy An district, Phú Yên province.

For over 50 years of living away from home, the artist Bảo Cường has always longed to do something meaningful for his homeland. With his strong affection for literature and art, he created an art space and set up a library to contribute to improving the cultural and spiritual life of his compatriots in Dương Hòa war zone, Hương Thủy town.

The video contest design themed "Gastronomy of the ancient capital - Flavors and Memories" was launched on social media platforms on July 5th by the Provincial Youth Union Standing Committee.

As the tide falls, the Sargassum seaweed would gradually reveal itself. The brown color of Sargassum seaweed combined with the navy hue of sea water creates a remarkable scene.

You have just watched the images of lotus flowers blooming brilliantly in the morning at Tịnh Tâm Lake - a venue for Hue Lotus Festival themed “Lotus beautifies Hue", which has been held from June 23rd to 25th. With many interesting activities involved, the festival promises to be the ideal destination for lotus lovers this weekend.

This is an ideal spot for us to admire the sunset with the Thanh Hà port located just on the opposite to watch the bright full moon at night or absorb some vitamin sunshine to begin a new day.

We would like to invite you to admire the images of red flamboyant flowers in full bloom on the streets of Hue City’s central area, An Định Palace, Hai Bà Trưng high school, and walking streets along the Imperial Citadel.