On the first working day following the Lunar New Year of the Horse 2026 holiday, the number of patients seeking medical examination and treatment at healthcare facilities across Hue roses again. Several illnesses had increased, particularly among the elderly and patients with underlying conditions.

Hue City has recently launched the digitalization of its urban trees. Information on location, species, and health condition of each tree is now updated in data, paving the way for a more scientific, proactive, and safer approach to managing a heritage city.

On the afternoon of December 15, Hue City Department of Health organized a conference to transfer the commune and ward health stations, in their current condition, from the medical centers to the Commune-level People's Committees for management. This is an important step to implement the City People's Committee's decisions on consolidating the organizational model of grassroots healthcare, towards improving management efficiency and promoting the role of local authorities in primary healthcare for People.

Plastic waste is not biodegradable, which can only break into small pieces and float everywhere. With the exposure to sunlight, it may take many centuries to decompose. Those very familiar everyday small objects such as straws and bottle caps could take from 100 to 500 years to decompose; while it takes from 500 to 1,000 years for the flimsy plastic bags, and from 50 to 200 years for convenient foam cups to decompose, etc. Our environment and health are extremely negatively affected by plastic waste. It directly impacts soil, water, and air, which also creates favorable conditions for many disease-causing bacteria.