On a pure morning, I bumped into groups of visitors strolling along the path leading into Hue Imperial Citadel. Cradling her camera in both hands, Ms. Marie, a French tourist, asked the guide in a gentle voice: “May I… try on Vietnam’s traditional costume?”. That question seemed to open an unexpected journey for them, an experience that felt as if they could touch the ancient soul of Hue

Young designer Linda Hoang (born Hoang Kim Ngoc Uyen Nhi in 1992 in Hue City) is transforming the traditional ao dai by bringing dragon-horse patterns and royal court motifs to linen garments and modern fashion. ​

By 3 a.m., Le Thi Thu Trang’s bakery is already blazing. Batch after batch of traditional cakes and preserves from My Loi Village (Vinh Loc Commune) emerge from the oven, their rich aroma filling the air in time for the Tet (Lunar New Year) market.

On the morning of February 13, the 2026 Traditional Fishing Boat Racing, organized by Thanh Thuy Ward, took place on the Nhu Y River (at Thanh Thuy Tiled-Roof Bridge Community Tourism Site).

On the morning of February 11 (December 24th in the Year of the Snake), at the courtyard of the Thai Hoa Palace (Hue Imperial Citadel), the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre organized a reenactment of the Nguyen Dynasty’s Imperial New Year court ceremony. The event attracted large numbers of local residents and visitors, helping to recreate the traditional Lunar New Year atmosphere within the historic royal court setting.

This year’s Lunar New Year market has recorded a marked diversity in product categories, designs, and origins, ranging from traditional goods to newly launched domestic and imported products.

On the evening of February 11 (the 24th day of the 12th lunar month of the Year of the Snake), in the shimmering garden setting of the Royal Treasury Palace, Hue Imperial Citadel, Hue Monuments Conservation Center organized the “Royal Tet” program, opening a spring celebration space rich in ancient royal tradition. Being held over two nights, February 11 and 12, the program attracted a large number of locals and visitors.

In the days leading up to the Tet, the schoolyard of Tran Hung Dao Secondary School (A Luoi 3 Commune, Hue City) became vibrant and warm as teachers and students joined hands to organize a Traditional Tet Experience Day.

On the morning of February 10th (the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month of the Year of the Snake), under fine weather conditions, Hue Monuments Conservation Center reenacted the ceremony of setting up Neu pole (Thuong Tieu ceremony) in strict accordance with royal court rituals of the Nguyen Dynasty. The activity was part of Hue Festival 2026, attracting large numbers of locals and visitors to observe and experience the event, recreating the atmosphere of the traditional Tet holiday in the former Royal Palace.

On the afternoon of February 9, an art exhibition, themed “Celebrating Spring and the Zodiac of the Horse 2026”, was held at Song Huong Magazine (9 Pham Hong Thai). It was organized by Hue Fine Arts Association. This is an annual tradition having become a familiar cultural activity for Hue art community as Tet and Spring arrive.