On the Lantern Festival (the Full Moon of the First Lunar Month) more than 15 years ago, the most “pure Hue native” friend I know, architect Nguyen Trong Huan, and I put on thin raincoats and walked together through the light, drifting drizzle to search for Hue’s culinary specialties. Having lived in this city for many years, Huan still longed for the flavors he once tasted.

On the evening of December 18, in Hue City, a ceremony was held to officially receive the national intangible cultural heritage title for folk knowledge related to Bun Bo Hue (Hue Beef Noodle Soup), alongside the opening of the International Culinary Festival “Hue - Culinary Capital”.

With the theme “Vietnamese Culinary Exchange”, the Hue - Culinary Capital festival is not only an activity within the framework of the National Tourism Year and Hue Festival 2025 but also an opportunity to showcase, promote, and elevate the culinary culture.

The culinary festival titled “Vietnamese Noodle Heritage - Van Cu Noodle Village” opened on the afternoon of February 18 at Van Cu Hamlet, Nam Thanh Village. This is one of the main activities to respond to the celebration of receiving the national intangible cultural heritage recognition for the “Traditional Craft - Van Cu Noodle-Making Craft”, which is scheduled to be held on February 19.