On the afternoon of April 10th, Hue Tourism College (under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism), in coordination with Cholimex Food Joint Stock Company, organized the 7th season of the “Searching for Hue Culinary Ambassadors” contest under the theme of “Preserving and Promoting the Essence of Hue Cuisine”.

Artisan of lacquer and gilding Bui Van Trinh has recently been honored with the title of Meritorious Artisan, awarded by the President, marking more than thirty-five years of dedication to preserving national cultural heritage in the field of handicrafts. Yet, for him, the greatest joy has always been the moment of contemplating a completed work, shimmering with lacquer and gold under his own hands.

As Hue undergoes a strong transformation toward a sustainable heritage - culture - tourism urban model, developing the night-time economy has become a practical necessity. The question, then, is how Hue should approach the night-time economy in a way that is both effective and civilized, while still preserving the “essence” of an Ancient Capital.

Amid the rhythm of modern life, as fashion becomes increasingly diverse and is constantly changing, the traditional ao-dai continues to remain a lasting presence in the lives of women in the former imperial capital. In Hue, the graceful image of women’s association members wearing Ao-dai is not only a symbol of beauty but also a way of preserving and spreading the traditional cultural values of their homeland.

In Bao Vinh Old Town, Ms. Tran Thi Minh Phung still carefully holds her brush each day to paint on glass, just as her family has done for generations. As most of the artisans from the old days have nearly disappeared, the hands of this woman in her fifties have become a place where a craft once closely associated with the royal art of Hue is being preserved.

On the morning of February 28 (the 12th day of the first lunar month in the Year of the Horse), at the Thai Duong Cultural Village Communal House in Thuan An Ward, the 2026 traditional Fish Worshipping (Cau Ngu) Festival officially opened in a solemn and vibrant atmosphere, attracting a large number of People, fishermen, and visitors.

No one has captured the Vietnamese sense of living away from one’s homeland better than poet Nguyen Khoa Diem when he wrote: “They carry the names of their communes and villages on every migration journey.” In the highland city on the Lang Biang Plateau, this sentiment holds true as well. Many people from Hue left their ancestral land to settle here nearly a century ago. Though four or five generations have now been born on this new land, the “Hue spirit” in these distant Hue communities has never faded.

Along the coastal regions of Central Vietnam, especially in the city of Hue, seahorses are not only a supplementary source of income for many fishermen but also an indicator of a healthy marine ecosystem. As seahorse populations continue to decline, reproductive research models and collaborations between fishermen and scientific institutions are opening up new hope: preserving this unique species for future generations.

Within the tranquil setting of Hue Imperial Citadel, the melodies of nha nhac (Royal Court Music) resonate slowly and steadily. This enduring musical flow quietly carries echoes of the past, along with the steadfast efforts of those who dedicate themselves each day to preserving the heritage.

“Nghien cuu Hue” (“Researching Hue”) is a series of books about Hue, born out of researchers’ deep affection for Hue culture. The series is considered the continuity of the B.A.V.H. (Bulletin des Amis du Vieux Hué) by the Association of Friends of Ancient Hue.

Close to 420,000 pages of Han Nom documents have been digitized - a figure recently announced by the Provincial General Library, bringing joy to researchers.

Officially coming into operation for over a year, the General Nguyen Chi Thanh Museum is one of the non-public museums that has attracted a great number of visitors.