The care that Nguyen Phan’s children take of his father’s art legacy is rare and admirable. For a long time, they have been preserving his father’s paintings and sculptures, searching for his missing ones, and making them a family’s legacy to pass to their younger generations, including documents and records of his monuments and public green spaces.

As Phu Dien Tower, a National-level Architectural and Artistic Relic, faces growing challenges from climate change and natural disasters, experts have proposed a number of conservation measures, including studying options to raise the entire tower structure or foundation, and installing pumping and drainage systems.

It is not even the end of the sixth lunar month, but I have already heard elderly men in my neighborhood enthusiastically asking one another how the upcoming Autumn offering ceremony will be organized at the village communal house, and whether the heads of the clans have made plans to meet yet. It may seem strange that amid the bustle of city life, these elderly men are passionately talking about village affairs. The village communal house is not far away either, just a few dozen meters from my house. “The city also began with villages. Preserving the roots of the village means preserving its culture for future generations. You young people should remember that,” they would tell me whenever I asked.

As the clear, pure notes of the flute rang out after meticulous carving and tuning, a bright smile lit up Mr. Nguyen Van Tam’s face. Devoting over a decade to simple bamboo pipes, the young craftsman, born in 1993, with his deft hands and sharp ear has quietly "awakened" the sounds of traditional musical instruments, steadfastly preserving a heritage craft amid modern life.

One day in mid-July, Vo Que, the poet, and the Hue City Museum of History jointly launched his publication of ‘Loi ca chau ngoc’ (tentative translation: Exquisite Lyrics). Many audience members could not help but be moved by the heartfelt devotion of a man deeply attached to Ca Hue (Hue-Singing music).

In the rhythm of modern life, cyclos still roll through streets, preserving the distinctive charm of gentle Hue and remaining tied to the experiences of visitors who come here. However, cyclos still serve primarily as a means of transportation, with little integration of diverse cultural experiences that could help create a distinctive offering for the Ancient Capital’s tourism.

On July 18th, the University of Sciences, Hue University, in collaboration with the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Hanoi, and Hanoi National University of Education, will host the international scientific conference "Preserving and Promoting Cultural Heritage Values: International Experience and Vietnamese Practice".

Every land has memories of its own. Some memories are preserved in history books, stone steles, communal houses, pagodas, and temples. Others, however, remain in the most ordinary forms - in the name of a village, a small hamlet, a riverside wharf, or a field.

Preserving traditional crafts is about more than keeping a craft alive; it is about preserving the stories of people, culture, and values passed down through generations. By embracing fresh approaches, those who continue telling these stories are helping traditional craft villages become more relevant to contemporary life while preserving their authentic character.

Amid the rapidly changing pace of modern life, in the ethnic minority communities of Hue City, traditional culture continues to be quietly revived and preserved. This is part of an ongoing effort to restore the distinctive cultural values of the Bru–Van Kieu people.