The Huyen Tran Temple Festival, held on Ngu Phong Mountain in early spring, reminds later generations of the great contributions of Buddhist King Tran Nhan Tong and Princess Huyen Tran - historical figures who played a vital role in the work of expanding the border of Dai Viet toward the South.

According to Hue City Department of Culture and Sports, Huyen Tran Temple Festival for the Spring of Binh Ngo 2026, themed “Honoring the Ancestors - Sacred Imprints of Territorial Expansion”, will be held on the 8th and 9th days of the first lunar month of the Year of the Horse (corresponding to February 24-25, 2026) at Huyen Tran Cultural Center (151 Thien Thai Street, An Cuu Ward, Hue City).

Mossy temples, royal mausoleums, ancient pagodas and the beautiful scenery granted to the former capital city all together form an “urban poem.” And that beauty of Hue is even more gorgeous through eyes of talented painters.

From August 30 to September 1, 2025 (the 8th, 9th, and 10th days of the Lunar July), tourists and local people will enjoy free entrance to Hue Nam relic (Hon Chen Temple) during Hue Nam Temple Festival.

Alongside preservation of palaces and temples, the heritage conservation efforts in the Ancient Capital also include the care, restoration, and propagation of trees, protecting ancient and precious species within relic sites, helping maintain the harmonious beauty of architecture and nature - a hallmark of Hue’s heritage space.

A friend of mine just came from the Southeastern region to visit Hue. After a day visiting various destinations, from the Imperial Citadel to the tombs of Emperors Gia Long and Minh Mang, then heading to the Van Thanh - Vo Thanh temples and Thien Mu Pagoda, my friend warmly remarked: “In Hue, wherever you go, you can see the Huong River. Now I understand why people here are so gentle and friendly. In this scene, by this river, it’s hard even to get upset!”.

When people think of Hue, many envision a serene land “steeped” in Buddhism with hundreds of temples and pagodas. Amid the bustling rhythm of a modern Hue, life behind each pagoda gate is far from dull, but it is a refined embodiment of spiritual beauty that deeply enriches the inner world of many residents of the Ancient Capital. Here, every scene, every space, every presence expressed a quiet, profound stillness, like a sutra in motion.

On July 30th, Hue City Department of Culture and Sports announced that Hue City People’s Committee has issued an official document approving the continuing of archaeological excavation of the remaining area approximately 200 square meters at Lieu Coc Twin Towers site (Kim Tra Ward, Hue City). The goal is to gain a comprehensive and complete understanding of the Lieu Coc temple-tower complex.

On the morning of March 30th, a ceremony was held at Nghinh Luong Dinh Pavilion, situated on the bank of the poetic Perfume River (Phu Xuan Ward), to officially receive Hue Nam Temple Festival as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage.

In the years from 1930 to 1937, painter Mai Trung Thu was appointed to teach drawing at Quoc Hoc High School. Here, his talent blossomed. Series of his paintings were born, depicting gentle Hue girls, the charming scenery of the Huong river and the temples and royal mausoleums. His paintings in Hue rendered him a solid position in modern Vietnamese painting.