On the morning of May 29, the Department of Tourism announced that Hue Lotus Festival 2026 will take place from June 19 to 21 under the theme “Ngu lien thuc thuy” (Royal Lotus Awakens the Water). Featuring a wide range of cultural, artistic, and culinary activities as part of Hue Festival 2026, the event is expected to become a vibrant summer attraction for both residents and visitors.

In the early summer morning mist, while the weather still carries a hint of chilly breeze, many people passing by Tinh Tam Lake inside Hue Citadel feel as though they have “wandered into a serene space”, where some brew tea, some enjoy tea, others gently pick lotus blossoms, while locals and visitors take the opportunity to pose for photos with the blooming lotus flowers… Tinh Tam has long been a famous scenic spot, once listed by Emperor Thieu Tri as one of the “Twenty finest landscapes of the Imperial Land”. Contributing greatly to the fame of this landmark is the white lotus, also known as the “royal” lotus.

At the beginning of summer, although the lotus flowers have yet to fully bloom, they still attract large numbers of visitors who eagerly admire the blossoms and capture memorable moments beside the pure and graceful flowers.

Every April, when the first rays of early summer sunlight touch the surface of the lakes, pink and white lotus buds of Hue gently and proudly emerge from the water in bloom.

Lotus roots that lie deeply in the mud, through hands of Hue people, are “upgraded” to become a sophisticated exquisite dish. Though far from a luxurious dish, many people are willing to cover tens of kilometers just to taste it.

On October 1, Green Lotus Fund, the Youth Union of Hue Newspaper and Radio - Television, in coordination with Thua Thien Hue Construction Joint Stock Company, Hue City Social Policy Bank, Hue Export Garment Joint Stock Company, and Le Domaine De Cocodo Hotel, organized the “Mid-Autumn Festival for Children” program at Hong Thuy Primary and Secondary School (A Luoi 1 Commune).

The seven lotus flowers, representing the first seven footsteps of Buddha after his birth, will be lit throughout the Vesak season, bringing a unique and gentle beauty to the Huong River.

Visiting Dam Chuon (Chuon lagoon) in Phu An Commune, Phu Vang District, Hue City at dawn, you will be astonished by the beauty of pink lotuses blossoming in the morning sunlight.

The fresh and vibrant lotus flowers were offered by the delegates to President Ho Chi Minh at the special national relic site, Uncle Ho’s Childhood Memorial House in Duong No Village (Duong No Ward, Thuan Hoa District) on the morning of May 18.

The lotus is one of the beautiful symbols of serenity, peace, and tranquility. In Hue, the lotus blooming season usually begins in May and June, when the weather changes into hot and sultry days. This time also coincides with April of the Lunar year, the time marked with the significant event of the Grand Buddhism Celebration (Vesak).

On the morning of April 19, a special event titled “Hue - Pioneer in Green Heritage Tourism Development and Bicycle City" took place at the Noon Gate Square - Hue Imperial Citadel. The event was jointly organized by Hue Monuments Conservation Center, Vietnam Green Building Council (VGBC), and representatives of the GCOO brand in Vietnam – VietPM.

The photo exhibition themed “Life of the lotus” by Nguyen Khoa Huy, the photographer, is being displayed at Hue City Center for Culture, Information and Sports (23 - 25 Le Loi Street), from November 26 to December 10, 2024.

This art event combined with biodiversity conservation awareness was a program held by the Emotional Rainbow Class on the afternoon of October 20 at Hue Lotus experience space (No. 78 Minh Mang, Hue City).

The lotus lanterns placed onto the middle of the Huong River symbolize the first seven footsteps of the World-Honored One after his birth.

The lotus flower is a cultural symbol deeply rooted in the hearts of Vietnamese people in general and people of Hue in particular. From 2000 until now, in many Hue Festivals, lotus has been honored through special art programs.