Hue is a land that bears the imprint of the southward migration and territorial expansion undertaken more than 700 years ago by the people of ancient Thuan Hoa. Very few documents reveal the timing of these migration waves or the organization and formation of Vietnamese villages in the region. Yet during fieldwork, I gained access to several ancient Han-Nom documents recording the migration, land reclamation, and establishment of villages and communes. Most notably is a cadastral record dating to the 9th year of the Dai Hoa reign (1451) under King Le Nhan Tong, compiled exactly 575 years ago.

More than 3 years after the passing of folk artisan Cong Ton Nu Tri Hue, the one who kept the secret techniques of making royal armrest pillows of the Nguyen Dynasty, also known as the “trai dua” (armrest pillow-blocks), an exhibition dedicated to her titled “Wholeheartedly, with devotion” has been organized by young people.

At the scientific conference themed “Hue in the 40 years of renewal process alongside the country (1986 - 2026)”, organized by Hue City Association of Historical Science on May 12, experts stated that over the past 40 years, the process of renewal has produced historically significant achievements, contributing to enhancing Vietnam’s position and prestige on the international stage. For Hue, important transformations have been made in promoting its potential and advantages, especially its cultural heritage value.

The annual April 30th reunion of our middle school friends from Thanh Thuy Ward had a special highlight this year. Before heading to Vinh Thanh beach (Phu Vinh Commune), we made a detour to visit the Thuan An overpass bridge on the very day of its official technical opening. There, we shared in the joy of a large crowd of local residents who were seeing this modern bridge with their own eyes for the first time after years of waiting.

While Hue Festival was previously held biennially, creating impressive “peak” moments yet remaining largely seasonal, with the model of a four-season Festival, Hue has now chosen a more sustainable direction: Turning culture and heritage into an ever-present rhythm within the city’s daily life.

Over many years, the city’s economic and technical infrastructure system has received sustained investment and has gradually been improved. During the 2026 - 2030 period, the city will prioritize allocating public investment capital to complete a synchronized, modern strategic infrastructure system.

On the morning of May 3, the City Red Cross Society, in coordination with the People’s Committee of An Cuu Ward, held the ceremony to launch the “Humanitarian Month” 2026 under the theme “80 years - A Journey of Compassion for the Community”.

On April 29th, at Nguyen Tri Phuong Secondary School, the Department of Education and Training organized the primary-level STEM Festival for the 2025-2026 school year, attracting a large number of students and teachers. ​

At noon on April 29, beach wrestling at the 6th Asian Beach Games (ABG6) - 2026 officially concluded. Two female wrestlers from Hue wrestling team made notable contributions to the overall success of the Vietnamese Sports Delegation at this year’s Games.

For many years, the development of waterway tourism has been a consistent goal, as the potential of Hue's rivers remained largely untapped. Following the City People's Committee's announcement of the inland waterway route on the Ngu Ha River, along with the pilot launch of heritage-linked tourism routes using electric boats on the Huong River and its tributaries, the local waterway tourism is expected to be unlocked.