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.

On the afternoon of January 25, Hoang Anh Minh, a student of class 11/4 at Nguyen Hue High School, participated in the first quarter competition of the “Road to Mount Olympia” program.

On the morning of January 21, Hue Central Hospital announced that on January 6, 2026, the hospital marked a significant milestone in Vietnamese medicine. For the first time, surgeons successfully performed a simultaneous surgery to remove two giant polycystic kidneys and perform a kidney transplant. This success not only opens up new hope for patients with end-stage renal failure, but also confirms the ability to master intensive organ transplantation techniques by Vietnamese medical teams.

On the first day back to work after the 2026 New Year holiday, Hue residents were greeted with encouraging news: during the holiday period, the city was estimated to have welcomed around 85,000 visitors, a 25% increase compared to the same period last year.

The year 2026, the first year of implementing Resolution 72-NQ/TW on breakthrough solutions for protecting and improving public health, marks a new turning point for healthcare in Hue City. Building on the strong foundation of Hue Central Hospital, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University; and a primary healthcare system undergoing comprehensive reform, Hue is steadily affirming its position as a center for advanced, specialized medical care, with a vision toward becoming a regional hub in Southeast Asia.

At the Week 3 - Month 3 - Quarter 1 competition of the 26th season of Road to Mount Olympia, aired on the afternoon of January 11 on VTV3, Hoang Anh Minh, a student of class 11/4 at Nguyen Hue High School (Hue City), emerged victorious with a total of 215 points.

Thirteen years after Hue first hosted the National Tourism Year, the event returned to the city for the second time in 2025, opening a gateway to new opportunities. From this series of events, beyond the growth figures, the city has gained valuable experience and a new surge of energy known as the “Aspiration for transformation”.

On the afternoon of January 4, the volunteer program “Radiant Spring Vibe” took place at the first-floor lobby of the Oncology Center at Hue Central Hospital, creating a warm, caring atmosphere for patients undergoing treatment in the oncology department and pediatric radiotherapy unit. The charity event was jointly organized by the “One Painting - Many Hopes” project and the City Women Business Association.

On the morning of January 1, the Department of Tourism organized a ceremony to welcome the first flight and tourists to Hue by air at Phu Bai International Airport, and a ceremony to welcome the first cruise ship and tourists to Hue by sea at Chan May Port.

On the morning of January 1st, in the warm sunshine on the first morning of the new year, the area around Ngo Mon Gate of Hue Imperial Citadel became lively as the Nguyen Dynasty Ban Soc ceremony was reenacted in a theatricalized format, officially opening Hue Festival 2026. The event also marked the first festival of the year, attracting a large number of local residents and visitors.