November 24th has been officially designated Vietnam Culture Day by the Politburo. For Hue, one of Vietnam’s leading cultural and heritage cities, the occasion carries even greater significance. It also offers people from all walks of life an opportunity to engage with and gain a deeper understanding of the cultural values passed down by previous generations.

For Hue, Resolution 80-NQ/TW (Res 80) opens up a vital opportunity to transform cultural and heritage potential into resources for sustainable development. However, to achieve this goal, it is necessary to fully recognize the existing “bottlenecks” in the management, preservation, and promotion of heritage values.

Once abandoned and severely deteriorated, several heritage sites in Hue have been ‘brought back to life’. Beyond helping preserve the values associated with their original owners and local communities, these structures have become cultural spaces, contributing to the character and identity of Hue heritage city.

The train trip connecting Hue and Da Nang has been ranked 10th on Condé Nast Traveler (US edition)’s list of top 20 best train trips in the world for 2026, as voted for by readers. The recognition highlights the appeal of Central Vietnam’s natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and railway tourism experiences.

On October 14 in Hanoi, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Hue City People’s Committee signed an Action plan for cooperation on the development of culture, sports, and tourism through 2030. Hue City is the first locality to sign such a cooperation plan, aiming to tap into the potential and advantages of the city as a heritage city, a Festival City, and a distinctive cultural center of Vietnam.

On October 14, the Department of Science and Technology, the standing board of the Organizing Committee for the 2026 Hue City Creative Startup Competition, held the semifinal round for 30 outstanding projects selected from the preliminary round. This semifinal round was held under the theme ‘Promoting Cultural Heritage Values in the Digital Economy’.

As Hue moves toward its goal of becoming a distinctive heritage city and a major cultural and tourism hub for Vietnam and Southeast Asia by 2030, external relations, particularly cultural diplomacy, are taking on a strategic role. This is what Vice Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee Tran Huu Thuy Giang announced about how Hue can turn its cultural ‘soft power’ into a driving force for sustainable socio-economic development.

On the afternoon of 30/9, Deputy Secretary of the City Party Committee and Chairman of Hue City People's Committee Le Tri Thanh led a survey of several heritage sites and cultural spaces to assess their current conditions and study ways to promote their historical, architectural and landscape values.

Alongside aspirations for future UNESCO inscription, Hue Nam Temple Festival (also known as Hon Chen Temple Festival) is increasingly being viewed as a distinctive form of spiritual tourism. Together with safeguarding core values, the festival is seeking to harness the depth of cultural heritage to attract visitors, while avoiding excessive commercialization that could erode the identity.

In Binh Dien Commune, people with knowledge of Pa Hy culture are directly teaching traditional folk songs, dances, and musical instruments to younger generations. Through the Pa Hy Traditional Folk Song Club, the cultural heritage continues to be passed down.