As summer draws to a close, with the sun becoming less intense and the gentle signs of autumn beginning to appear, rice fields across Hue are turning golden. The golden season is coming; it not only brings brighter smiles to farmers' faces but also adds a simple, rustic beauty to the countryside.

As the clear, pure notes of the flute rang out after meticulous carving and tuning, a bright smile lit up Mr. Nguyen Van Tam’s face. Devoting over a decade to simple bamboo pipes, the young craftsman, born in 1993, with his deft hands and sharp ear has quietly "awakened" the sounds of traditional musical instruments, steadfastly preserving a heritage craft amid modern life.

Vietnam in the post-war years, the old streets of Hanoi and Saigon in the early 1970s, and the simple rhythms of life during the country's early years of economic reform are vividly brought to life through 27 remarkable photographic works by three French artists at the exhibition “Vietnam Crossroads”, which opened on the afternoon of June 13th.

Transforming coffee from a simple beverage into a journey of discovery, the coffee-making workshop by Hue Experience on Hoang Quoc Viet Street (An Cuu Ward) has created an appealing highlight, attracting many foreign visitors to stop by and take part.

In March, as late spring draws to a close and gives way to the first heat of early summer, the parasol trees in the Imperial Palace burst into bloom. Their canopies of soft pink-purple flowers, scattered across an ancient expanse of deep green, create a poetic and dreamlike landscape that captivates all who visit.

Growing up from the fields, steeped in rustic flavors of the countryside - “salty fermented vegetables, sour white eggplant”, yet it was not until my late forties that I first heard of mut ca phao (white eggplant preserves) from Hue. The humble eggplant, so familiar on simple family meals, appears here in an entirely unfamiliar form - a delicately beautiful preserves for the Lunar New Year.

Amid Hue’s unpredictable weather, there exists a quiet yet persistent “green-shirt army” - a group always ready to appear whenever a colleague is in trouble. They are the Hue SOS 247 - Grab Hue team, drivers who brave the weather day and night to rescue broken-down vehicles and help fellow riders in distress. All of it stems from one simple reason: to help one another on every road.

Firmiana simplex (also known as Chinese parasol) - the “royal flower” - is now in full bloom in the Imperial land of Hue.

The Firmiana simplex flower is a unique one of Hue, with its dreamy shades of pink and purple colors. According to historical records, Emperor Minh Mang was so fond of the flower that he brought it to plant beside Can Chanh Palace and some corners of other palaces.

Once the sous chef of a five-star hotel in Hue and a multiple award-winning chef, Tran Huy Cuong took an unexpected turn in his career, venturing into entrepreneurship in his 50s. Driven by the desire to “turn simple things into specialties,” he chose the figs as the starting point for his journey to bring Hue’s traditional culinary products to Vietnamese dining tables and beyond.

Remaking second-hand clothes, a hobby with hand-embroidered patterns, or adding small, delicate fabric pieces is something many young people are enjoying. With just a few simple stitches, these techniques can transform an old outfit into something unique and stylish, capturing attention with its distinctiveness and personality.

When mentioning the Firmiana simplex tree, one is also reminded of the phoenix - a bird that only perches on Firmiana simplex tree.