More than half a century has passed, yet memories of the battles of the past remain deeply etched in the mind of veteran Le Huu Tong whenever he looks back toward the old battlefield. On the sandy ground near Huong Thuy Station, the fiery memories of that night’s battle, together with the dedication of the soldiers searching for and gathering the remains of fallen comrades, are quietly rekindling hope for countless families who have spent years waiting for news.

Beyond learning the melodies and repertoire of Ca Hue (Hue-Singing), teachers who complete the training program are seen as an ‘extended arm’ for passing on this ‘signature’ art form of Hue.

By day, they are music teachers, bakers, or bartenders; by night, they become singers and musicians on small stages of coffee shops and community music nights. It is this very passion that helps many young people in Hue keep the flame of music alive, contributing to an accessible and vibrant live music scene.

The care that Nguyen Phan’s children take of his father’s art legacy is rare and admirable. For a long time, they have been preserving his father’s paintings and sculptures, searching for his missing ones, and making them a family’s legacy to pass to their younger generations, including documents and records of his monuments and public green spaces.

Ceramic mosaic inlay has long contributed to the beauty of Hue’s royal architecture. Continuing these values, young artisan Huynh Kim Nhat Minh, born in the 1990s in Phu Xuan ward of Hue City, has devoted great passion to creating new works, bringing the art of ceramic mosaic inlay closer to everyday life.

It is not even the end of the sixth lunar month, but I have already heard elderly men in my neighborhood enthusiastically asking one another how the upcoming Autumn offering ceremony will be organized at the village communal house, and whether the heads of the clans have made plans to meet yet. It may seem strange that amid the bustle of city life, these elderly men are passionately talking about village affairs. The village communal house is not far away either, just a few dozen meters from my house. “The city also began with villages. Preserving the roots of the village means preserving its culture for future generations. You young people should remember that,” they would tell me whenever I asked.

Many royal decrees, Han-Nom manuscripts, and cadastral records preserved in Hue have suffered gradual deterioration due to the impacts of time and climatic conditions. Restoration and conservation work has therefore become a means of safeguarding these valuable documents, allowing their historical values to continue to be passed down to future generations.

Dressed in the traditional ao-dai, Professor Bui Duy Tam spoke about his passion for the ao-dai, and how he has preserved and spread this traditional cultural value during his years living far from home.

“Loi ca chau ngoc” (Precious Lyrics of Ca Hue) is a collection of Ca Hue (Hue Singing) repertoires collected and compiled by the poet Vo Que. This work is not only a product of the author’s passion for Ca Hue, but also the result of a serious working process.

Preserving traditional crafts is about more than keeping a craft alive; it is about preserving the stories of people, culture, and values passed down through generations. By embracing fresh approaches, those who continue telling these stories are helping traditional craft villages become more relevant to contemporary life while preserving their authentic character.

Spring has knocked on every door, and may today's verses and melodies bring the fragrance, colors, and spirit of spring to all, welcoming a joyful and prosperous 2025.

Having loved woodcuts since she was a student at Hue University of Arts, for artist Tran Thi Thanh Dung, a lecturer at the Faculty of Applied Arts, the wood carving genre has always been an endless source of inspiration for her creativity for more than 10 years.