On December 4th, Standing Member of the City Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of Hue City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh held a meeting with Mr. Eric Soulier, the newly appointed Cultural Counsellor of French Embassy and Director of French Institute in Vietnam (Institut français du Vietnam - IFV).

The melancholic sound of the khen flute drifts through the mist along the mountain slopes, whispering in harmony with the babbling streams and the rhythmic clatter of looms, creating a mystical melody that captivates travelers. The village of A Luoi today bustles with visitors from afar, as the local people have learned to leverage their cultural identity for tourism. Behind these transformations are the tireless footsteps of a Pa Co woman who loves her homeland - That is Ms. Le Thi Them, the former Head of the Culture and Information Department of the former A Luoi District, now the Head of the Party Building Committee of A Luoi 1 Commune.

Hue is taking steps to build a model of sustainable development, where the economic growth does not come at the expense of the cultural identity. In the modern life the city still maintains its soul, considering the green fund the foundation for a future of harmony and distinction.

Through an interdisciplinary approach involving cultural anthropology, sociology, linguistics, and heritage studies, the project “Core elements that create Hue’s identity, a distinctive land in Vietnamese culture - once the Imperial Capital, a center of culture - religion - arts, and a symbol of deep-rooted traditions” seeks to clarify the role and value of Hue’s identity within the broader national culture. At the same time, it suggests directions for sustainable preservation and promotion in the context of modernization and globalization.

The exhibition with the theme “The Journey of 80 Years to Independence - Freedom - Happiness” will take place from August 28 to September 5 at the National Exhibition Center in Hanoi. Hue City will bring to the event a display space rich in Hue’s identity and cultural characteristics.

In this age, with just a smart phone, all people, both old and young, can easily capture beautiful moments. But only professional photographers can take photos which are full of cultural identity of a land.

The generation of national literary writers born in the Year of the Snake in Hue left a notable mark with many respected authors. Each one brought their own distinctive qualities, enriching and beautifying the literature of the region, making the cultural identity of Hue even stronger. This became even clearer and stronger when Hue became a centrally governed city.

Hue becoming a centrally-governed municipality not only presents an opportunity for urban transformation, but also contributes to the comprehensive development of its economy and society, ensuring better implementation of the task of preserving and promoting Hue's heritage values ​​and cultural identity. However, alongside these opportunities, there are intertwined challenges that force Hue to have strategies, development mechanisms and continuous innovation.

“Aside from the theme of Hue's cultural heritage, what impresses and moves me most while creating artistic photographs in this land is its people. Hue's people are simple, rustic, and have their identity,” shared photographer Hoang Quoc Vinh (born in 1986, Gia Lai), who was recently honored with an award for the outstanding artistic work about Hue for his photo collection “ Complex of Hue Monuments”, in an interview with Thua Thien Hue Weekly.

Every year, after the harvest and when people's lives are stable, the Co Tu ethnic group in A Luoi district joyfully prepares for the Tac Ka Coong festival, a sacred and special traditional festival. This is not only an occasion for the Co Tu people to express gratitude to nature and the gods but also an opportunity for the community to unite and affirm their cultural identity.

The way of tourism of A Luoi people is attracting many tourists who are passionate about cultural experiences to this highland.