On the morning of January 1st, in the warm sunshine on the first morning of the new year, the area around Ngo Mon Gate of Hue Imperial Citadel became lively as the Nguyen Dynasty Ban Soc ceremony was reenacted in a theatricalized format, officially opening Hue Festival 2026. The event also marked the first festival of the year, attracting a large number of local residents and visitors.

Kham Thien Giam - an institution specialized in observing and studying astronomy, weather forecasting, calendar making, and timekeeping to determine the agricultural seasons for the people, was constructed by the Nguyen dynasty during the reign of Emperor Gia Long.