Quoc An, one of the oldest ancestral pagodas in Hue, is well known not only for its ancient architecture or long history, but also for its collection of statues, antiques, and precious documents, which are preserved almost intact.

Hue is a land that bears the imprint of the southward migration and territorial expansion undertaken more than 700 years ago by the people of ancient Thuan Hoa. Very few documents reveal the timing of these migration waves or the organization and formation of Vietnamese villages in the region. Yet during fieldwork, I gained access to several ancient Han-Nom documents recording the migration, land reclamation, and establishment of villages and communes. Most notably is a cadastral record dating to the 9th year of the Dai Hoa reign (1451) under King Le Nhan Tong, compiled exactly 575 years ago.

It had been a very long time before the elderly painter Tran Van Mang, from the old quarter of Bao Vinh, made a “comeback.” His paintings are much like his personality: strong, decisive, yet soft and full of emotion.

On April 25, Phong Dinh Ward organized the “Old Scent of the Ancient Village” Festival, featuring a variety of unique cultural and artistic activities that attracted a large number of locals and visitors to visit and experience.

Hue chess has long been renowned for its famous female players, such as Nguyen Thi Thuan Hoa, Hoang Thi Bao Tram, Hoang Thi Nhu Y, and Vo Thi Kim Phung, etc. After these outstanding players retired or moved to compete for other localities, Hue chess recently received good news at the beginning of 2026 as 18-year-old Nguyen Ha Khanh Linh was awarded the title of FIDE Master by the World Chess Federation.

Inside a workshop thick with the scent of cement on Lai The Street (My Thuong Ward), there is a craftsman who remains devoted, day after day, to the meticulous work of casting bonsai pots. He is Nguyen Van Nhan, 53 years old, with 15 years of experience dedicated to creating pots tailored specifically for bonsai artworks.

On the morning of April 9, Hue Central Hospital announced the successful surgical treatment of a malignant mandibular tumor in a 14-year-old patient, marking an important advancement in the application of high-tech techniques and multidisciplinary coordination in managing complex maxillofacial conditions.

Many journeys back to old Hue begin with seemingly small details. For me, it was a visit to An Thu garden house in Gia Hoi old quarter - a contemplative Hue residence nestled behind lush green trees. Mr. Vo Chanh Tien, the current caretaker, led me through the rooms while sharing the house's history and stories of generations tied to the garden and the rhythm of the old Gia Hoi. But what made me linger the longest was actually… beneath my feet.

On the morning of March 25, Hue Central Hospital announced that it had held a discharge ceremony for a pediatric patient with thalassemia (a hereditary blood disorder) following a successful bone marrow transplant using marrow donated by the patient’s older sister. This is the 15th thalassemia bone marrow transplant performed at the hospital, marking an important step forward in the treatment of genetic hematologic diseases.

In 2000, in the short piece entitled “Hue Diary,” written when he returned for the first Hue Festival, musician Trinh Cong Son wrote, “When you have a place to return, or to visit from time to time, you are very fortunate. There, you have a river, a mountain, and you can find again your old friends whose hair used to be black has now turned grey. You might suddenly meet a Hue girl on the street and ask her, ‘Is there anything new in Hue now?’ And immediately, or perhaps by chance, she will recite the two lines from a poem by Bui Giang: “Da thua xu Hue bay gio/ Van con nui Ngu ben bo song Huong” (“Yes, sir, Hue now/ Still has Ngu Mount by the Huong river…”)