Not only reaching the strong growth in visitor numbers, but the National Tourism Year - Hue 2025 has also created a ripple effect in promoting the destination’s image and positioning the Ancient Capital’s tourism brand name among businesses and visitors. This is the core information announced by Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Tram, Director of Hue City’s Department of Tourism in the article titled Positive Effects from the National Tourism Year, featured in the “Meeting” column by author Huu Phuc.

“Noi vong tay lon” (The Great Circle of Vietnam), one of the signature songs in the vast musical legacy of the late musician Trinh Cong Son, has been engraved on a stone stele and installed at the park named after him on Trinh Cong Son Street, along the romantic Perfume River. ​

The Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon system of Hue City stretches in the Northwest - Southeast direction along the coast, with a length of 68 km and a total surface area of 216 km². It comprises three interconnected lagoons: Tam Giang, Thuy Tu, and Cau Hai. With aquatic flora and fauna considered among the richest in Southeast Asia, this ecosystem has sustained generations of local residents.

After a period of temporary closure, in early August this year, Ngu Ha Vien – the garden house near Ngu Ha River - reopened with an engaging program introducing the Thanh Liễu woodblock heritage of Hai Duong.

Amid moss-covered rooftops and the quiet waters of the Huong River, or wandering up Thien An Hill, Vong Canh Hill, and into the tombs of the Nguyen emperors… a young woman with the nickname Hoang Trinh Phan has made a significant presence across social media platforms, sharing stories about heritage. Her “heritage storytelling” page has attracted thousands of viewers and followers, not only for her charm but also for the wealth of essential knowledge about cultural heritage that she brings to the public and the community.

Together with the Huong River - Ngu Mountain, the conical hat and the purple ao dai of Hue Women are also a symbolic cultural combo that is deeply connected with the locals in the Ancient Capital. And the poet Bui Giang once “fell in love”: The poetic conical hat / Taking you to Hue City / Sunshine pierces the rim / Revealing the soul of homeland in poetry… (Taking you to the city).

Recently, on the central streets of the city and along the Huong River, many people have noticed cyclos painted in Grab's signature green, with the brand’s logo and QR identification codes. This pilot program is being carried out under a cooperation agreement between Hue City and Grab Vietnam, with a group of cyclo drivers receiving support for vehicle repainting, uniforms, and identification accessories.

Without noise and haste, the journey invites travelers to lose themselves in the timeless, contemplative, and poetic beauty of Hue along the Huong River. In recent years, this experience has been reimaged with touches of elegance: afternoon tea at sunset, dinner under the stars, and the lingering notes of traditional Hue Singings.

A friend of mine just came from the Southeastern region to visit Hue. After a day visiting various destinations, from the Imperial Citadel to the tombs of Emperors Gia Long and Minh Mang, then heading to the Van Thanh - Vo Thanh temples and Thien Mu Pagoda, my friend warmly remarked: “In Hue, wherever you go, you can see the Huong River. Now I understand why people here are so gentle and friendly. In this scene, by this river, it’s hard even to get upset!”.

Slow travel is emerging as a popular trend among many tourists. With its rich natural landscape, deep cultural and heritage roots, traditional way of life, and the unique warmth of its people, Hue holds many advantages for developing this form of tourism. However, to truly develop slow travel, Hue still has much work to do.