There are people who work their entire lives quietly, yet their footprints remain deeply imprinted on the lands they have passed through, like an underground stream that silently nourishes an entire forest. Associate Professor Dr. Le Van Thang, Vice President of Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, former Director of the Institute of Resources and Environment at Hue University, and former Dean of the Faculty of Environment at the University of Sciences, Hue University, is one such person.

On the Lantern Festival (the Full Moon of the First Lunar Month) more than 15 years ago, the most “pure Hue native” friend I know, architect Nguyen Trong Huan, and I put on thin raincoats and walked together through the light, drifting drizzle to search for Hue’s culinary specialties. Having lived in this city for many years, Huan still longed for the flavors he once tasted.

From the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year (February 17), the spring travel atmosphere in Hue has been vibrant and festive. Visitors from across Vietnam, along with international tourists, have chosen the former imperial capital as their holiday destination, creating a lively tourism scene on the very first day of the New Year.

Efforts to attract international tourists via direct air routes to and from Phu Bai International Airport have long been on the agenda, yet significant obstacles remain. While a number of charter flights have been introduced, their short-lived operation has put Hue at a competitive disadvantage in drawing tourists.

On the morning of January 30, the Coast Guard Region 2 Command, in coordination with the City Party’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilization and the city Department of Education and Training, organized the city-level “I Love Homeland’s Seas and Islands” contest for the 2025-2026 academic year.

From February 7 to 15, 2026 (corresponding to the 20th to 28th days of the Lunar December of the Year of At Ty), the People’s Committee of Hoa Chau Ward will organize the “Hoa Chau Tet Festival” along Bao Vinh Pedestrian Street. The event will feature a wide range of distinctive cultural and community activities, helping to create a lively and joyful atmosphere for residents in celebration of the traditional Tet holiday of Binh Ngo 2026.

From areca sheaths once regarded as agricultural waste, Truong Van Toi (born 2000, Hue City) has built a model to produce bowls and plates from areca sheaths, aiming to reduce plastic waste, create livelihoods for local people, and open up an environmentally friendly consumption pathway.

On the morning of January 18th, Hue Poetry Association organized a program to review the Association’s activities in 2025 and to launch the poetry collection “Returning to the Land of Huong Ngu”. This was an opportunity to reflect on the previous year's events while also presenting to the public a brand-new poetry anthology, the product of the Association's numerous lively creative and poetic exchange activities.

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.

For more than two decades, Hue City Association for Victims of Agent Orange/Dioxin has not only accompanied and shared the pain of more than 3,200 victims, but has also served as a compassionate home. From policy support and helping rebuild homes to the fight for justice, the association’s journey is a testament to the power of humanity and the engagement of the entire political system on behalf of lives bearing the legacy of Agent Orange. ​