Beyond a celebration of Hue Beef Noodle, the iconic dish of the Ancient Capital, the Hue - Culinary Capital 2026 program has become a vibrant showcase of culinary excellence from across Vietnam. From Hue’s traditional flavors to regional specialties from every corner of the country, each food stall and every dish tells a story of Vietnam’s rich cultural identity, taking visitors on a journey that awakens all their senses.

Every land has memories of its own. Some memories are preserved in history books, stone steles, communal houses, pagodas, and temples. Others, however, remain in the most ordinary forms - in the name of a village, a small hamlet, a riverside wharf, or a field.

The People's Committee of Hue City has issued Plan No. 318/KH-UBND to implement the Action Program for carrying out the Politburo's Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on the development of Vietnamese culture in the new era. More than a timely move to translate a major central policy into concrete action, the plan marks an important milestone, demonstrating that Hue is choosing the right path for its development in the years ahead.

For over twenty years, artist Tran Huu Nhat has quietly traveled through rivers, temples, the citadel in Hue in his journey of recreating sketches of Than Kinh Nhi Thap Canh _ the twenty beautiful landscapes of Hue mentioned in historical records of the Nguyen Dynasty.

The medium of watercolor may appear delicate, yet in the hands of skilled painters, it becomes a powerful means of expression. At the exhibition “There Is… a River”, visitors can experience both the talent of the painters and the distinctive allure of a medium known for its transparency, lightness, and poetic charm.

On the evening of June 14, thousands of audiences filled the riverside stage area along the Perfume River to relive the timeless songs of the late musician Trinh Cong Son during the special artistic program “25 Years of Remembering Trinh Cong Son”, held under the theme “Hue - Saigon - Hanoi”.

Workshops such as pottery making, picture coloring, and “healing”-themed cafés (spaces designed to promote relaxation and emotional well-being) have become increasingly common in Hue in recent years. This trend reflects young people's growing desire to achieve mental balance amid academic and work-related pressures, as well as a lifestyle closely tied to social media. Beginning as an emotional concept, “healing” has gradually given rise to a distinct service market targeting young customers in Hue.

In recent days, the road leading to Ha Cang, now part of Dan Dien Commune (formerly Quang Phu Commune), has been busier than usual, as streams of visitors arrive to explore local golden cantaloupe farms. Coming here, visitors can enjoy free check-in opportunities, try freshly harvested melons right in the greenhouses, and leave with not only vibrant photos but also plump, fragrant cantaloupes to take home.

From electric boat rides along the Ngu Ha River to ideas for night streets, culinary routes, and community cultural spaces, Phu Xuan Ward is gradually unlocking the potential of a “heritage ward”.

In the depth of Hue culture, gardens are not merely green zones, acting as supporting elements for architecture, but a constituent factor shaping the urban identity. Hue is famous for the Perfume River, Mount Ngu, the Citadel, royal tombs, pagodas, and noble residences, but Hue is also well known for its gardens. In Hue, gardens soften architecture, calm the everyday life, deepen poetry, and create a unique urban style: a garden city, a city of poetry, the harmony between man and nature, or “an urban poem” as said by M’Bow, former Director-General of UNESCO.