On the evening of July 29, at Phu Bai International Airport, teachers and students of Quoc Hoc - Hue High School for the Gifted warmly welcomed Bui Hoang Dai Duong, a 12th-grade Biology-major class, who had just returned after winning a Silver Medal at the 2025 International Biology Olympiad (IBO) held in the Philippines.

Overcoming fierce competition, many healthcare professionals from Hue City have earned scholarships for being trained abroad. After a journey of dedication and effort, they not only bring back advanced knowledge to innovate and improve the quality of medical examination and treatment, but also spread a spirit of continuous learning and self-improvement.

In Da Lay commune (Da Teh district, Lam Dong province), the new homeland of the people from Hue today, it is hard to recognize the traces of the hardships from nearly half a century ago. The most recognizable feature in this rural area that carries "Hue far away" is the distinctive Hue accent, the conical hats of the elderly women glistening as they shield their kind smiles, and the lively mornings with loc and nam cakes. We arrived at the Da Lay market in the Central Highlands and felt as if we were back in Hue, enjoying street food and chatting at a corner of Dong Ba or An Cuu markets…

Thanh Phuoc Village, located in Huong Phong Ward, Thuan Hoa District, lies at the Sinh River Junction, where two of Hue’s most beloved rivers - the Bo River and the Huong River - intersect. The village dates back to the 15th century and is closely linked to its founding ancestor, Phan Niem, the village’s tutelary deity.

Nestled on Thien An Hill (Thuy Bang Ward, Thuan Hoa District), Thuy Tien Lake Park was once infamous among backpackers for its abandoned, eerie, and ghostly appearance after years of neglect. For a period, it became an unsafe stop for adventurous travellers seeking unconventional experiences in unfamiliar lands.

Renowned as an ancient heritage city, Hue has emerged as a popular destination for both domestic and international filmmakers. Every architectural structure, scenic spot, or landmark in Hue can serve as a backdrop for different genres of films, ranging from feature to short ones. This has more or less contributed to establishing a brand, significantly boosting local tourism.

With an excellent performance in the final match of the Road to Olympia, Vo Quang Phu Duc, a 12th grade student of Specialized Math Class No. 1 at Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted, brought the laurel wreath back to his hometown, becoming the third one of the school to become the champion after Ho Ngoc Han (in 2009) and Ho Dac Thanh Chuong (in 2016). Thua Thien Hue Online had an interview with Phu Duc to find out about his feelings and the developments in the final match.

After winning the 2024 Road to Olympia Championship, on the afternoon of October 14, Vo Quang Phu Duc, a 12th grade student majoring in Math, class 1 at Quoc Hoc Hue High School for the Gifted, returned to school in a warm welcome from teachers, friends and family.

After 12 years of studying, researching, and working abroad, in 2022, Dr. Ho Ngoc Han, the champion of “Đường lên đỉnh Olympia 2009” (Road to Olympia), chose to return to Huế to serve his homeland.

When I was still very young, candies weren’t as diverse as they are now. We only had traditional local sweets, like areca-nut candy, ginger candy, glass candy, peanut candy, bird’s egg candy, and pulled sugar candy… Back then, my grandmother would often come back from the market with a small packet of areca-nut candy, which had a simple label with a picture of Hue landscape.