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.

Mossy temples, royal mausoleums, ancient pagodas and the beautiful scenery granted to the former capital city all together form an “urban poem.” And that beauty of Hue is even more gorgeous through eyes of talented painters.

From free English classes in mountainous areas to pink bricks used to build houses for poor households, the youth of Hue City Police are spreading a beautiful way of life through practical and humane actions, contributing to accompanying and uplifting disadvantaged circumstances.

“Dear everyone! Let's join hands to make Hue clean and beautiful again soon!” - I paused for a long moment in front of that message - a message sent out by HEPCO (Hue Urban Environment and Public Works Joint Stock Company) just as the floodwaters in Hue slowly, little by little, receded, revealing massive amounts of trash and damaged items submerged in the murky water.

The exhibition titled “HER-ITAGE - Restructuring Traditional Embroidery”, held in late September, left many emotions and beautiful impressions on visitors and Hue residents with bridal gowns that carry cultural stories. At the exhibition, viewers could see firsthand the delicate, creative, and soaring carvings, inlays, and cuts of Vietnamese traditional embroidery art shown on vivid patterns of bridal gowns, including Hue royal motifs.

“Up to now, nearly 200 works and items within the Complex of Hue Monuments have been preserved, restored, and renovated, with a total expense of over 2.000 billion VND. This work has always strictly complied with the regulations of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, UNESCO guidelines, and the Law on Cultural Heritage of Vietnam, ensuring authenticity, integrity, and adaptability to the harsh climate conditions of the Central region of Vietnam, etc.,”. These details were shared by Hue Monuments Conservation Center to Mr. Lazare Eloundou, Director of UNESCO Cultural Heritage Center during his visit and working trip in Vietnam at the end of May.

Hue is becoming increasingly modern and vibrant thanks to key transportation projects that are being synchronously invested in and developed.

In addition to historical sites and beautiful landscapes, shopping streets, culinary quarters, and other distinctive urban areas are essential factors contributing to the appeal and revenue of the tourism industry in many countries.

Hue Ancient Capital is a paradise for vegetarian cuisine. On the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, even restaurants that usually serve meat often switch entirely to vegetarian dishes. This is hardly surprising, given that Hue is one of Vietnam’s major Buddhist centers, a land steeped in spiritual traditions, where eating vegetarian food has become a beautiful cultural feature.

The communal house faces a field, so in this season of the year it’s pervaded by the aroma of ripe rice. I’m standing at the gate of the Van Xa communal house (Huong Van Ward, Huong Tra Town) beholding the yellow paddy field admiring our ancestors who chose this place for the house. Twice a year, the ancient communal house reflects itself on the field, forming a very beautiful rustic sight.