Throughout the many decades he has lived and worked both in Vietnam and abroad, Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam has always held a special affection for Vietnam’s traditional Ao-dai. To him, Ao-dai is not merely a beautiful garment, but one that embodies the history, identity and self-respect of a nation. On the occasion of his return to Hue and his visit to Quang Trung Primary School - where he sponsored the tailoring of five-panel Ao-dai for nearly 1.500 students, Prof. Dr. Bui Duy Tam spoke with Hue Today Weekly about his aspiration to revive Vietnam’s national dress.

After a period of preparation, the Hue - Phong Nha heritage train will officially be launched on August 28. Notably, starting August 17, the railway sector has begun selling tickets for the HQ1/HQ2 train pair, named ‘World Heritage Journey’, connecting Hue Ancient Capital with Phong Nha - Ke Bang.

On August 19 and September 2, Vietnamese citizens will be granted free admission to heritage sites managed by Hue Monuments Conservation Center. The initiative offers an opportunity for visitors to explore Hue’s heritage during the public holidays, while gaining deeper understanding of the historical and cultural values of the Ancient Capital.

Among about 3,000 dishes documented nationwide, over 1,700 are believed to be prepared in Hue styles, bearing the distinctive hallmarks of the former imperial capital’s cuisine. This rich culinary heritage is one of the key reasons that Hue has chosen gastronomy as the focus of its application to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN).

The Government’s issuance of Decree No. 282/2026/ND-CP on July 14th, 2026, to provide guidance for the implementation of Resolution No. 28/2026/QH16 on the development of Vietnamese culture and establishing criteria for piloting the cultural heritage city model, has opened up a new approach to the relationship between conservation and development.

On August 15, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hue City, in coordination with Hue University, held a ceremony to award scholarships to students facing difficult circumstances in the city.

After its preliminary round, the 2026 Children’s painting contest based on books, themed ‘Drawing the Future with Books’, attracted over 350 paintings submitted by students aged 6 to 15 from across Hue City. Organized by Hue City Library, the contest selected 50 works from the entries for the final round, which was held on August 14.

In the course of researching the cultural heritage of the Nguyen Dynasty in the former Hue imperial capital, researchers often come across precious materials that have been preserved among local families, quietly surviving in the spaces of communal houses, pagodas, ancestral worship halls, or aristocratic residences. Layer upon layer of historical sediment is gradually being brought to light.

As Da Nang rises to become a premier tourism destination with increasingly diverse and distinctive experiences, cultural events, festivals and community activities play an important role in creating the city’s unique appeal. Along this journey, HEINEKEN Vietnam and its Larue brand have consistently been active partners, contributing to the celebration of local identity, spreading pride in Da Nang and supporting the growth of the local tourism economy.

On August 12th in Hue City, Nguyen Chi Thanh School of Politics held a seminar to exchange experience in personnel training and professional development with a delegation from the Schools of Politics and Public Administration of Salavan, Sekong, Champasak, and Savannakhet provinces in Laos.