Amid the flow of visitors experiencing the Ancient Capital, the image of Mr. Nguyen Don Long - a male tour guide (born in 1986) wearing the traditional ao dai - quietly tells the story of love for culture, spreading traditional values in a distinct Hue way.

In the cultural life of Hue, tea is not simply a beverage but a way of living imbued with ceremonial depth and aesthetic, intertwined with social conduct, the unhurried rhythm of life, and the quiet composure of the people of this ancient imperial city. The art of drinking tea in Hue, therefore, reflects not only the taste of appreciation but also cultural refinement, a philosophy of life, and the lifestyle of a city that once served as the nation’s political and cultural center.

Building a digital data infrastructure to preserve history on maps is the mission that Le Quang Tue, founder and manager of the Vietnam Map Archive project, and his team members have been quietly pursuing. To date, Tue’s team has digitized over 200 ancient maps of Vietnam, including ancient maps of Hue.

Many visitors from afar often say that Hue is blessed with an abundance of breathtaking scenery. Wherever the eye turns, beauty unfolds, a poetic Hue City that inspires people to capture and preserve its quiet, gentle, and intimate moments. Perhaps this is why in Hue, every time a camera is raised, a beautiful shot emerges, whether taken with a smartphone or a high-end digital device…

Hue is a land once at the heart of the nation’s political power, culture, and scholarship; yet, today’s Hue is not merely looking back to the past. The city is quietly preparing for a major transformation, aiming to become Asia’s leading smart coastal heritage city by 2045.

It took a whole month of scheduling before I could meet the famous Vietnamese-American chef Kevin Tien in Washington, D.C. It’s truly fascinating that in the heart of the U.S. capital, there’s a culinary space called Moon Rabbit - where this young man quietly plants seeds of creativity to bring Vietnamese cuisine to the world and inspire the Vietnamese expatriate community.

There are people who work their entire lives quietly, yet their footprints remain deeply imprinted on the lands they have passed through, like an underground stream that silently nourishes an entire forest. Associate Professor Dr. Le Van Thang, Vice President of Vietnam Association for Conservation of Nature and Environment, former Director of the Institute of Resources and Environment at Hue University, and former Dean of the Faculty of Environment at the University of Sciences, Hue University, is one such person.

As Lunar New Year approaches, areas around universities grow increasingly quiet. Traffic thins out, while many eateries and photocopy shops close for the holiday. Boarding houses fall silent as most students head home by the 24th or 25th day of the lunar December; those who remain are mainly from distant hometowns, working part-time, or hoping to experience Tet in a new place.

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.

In Hue, comic books are not just a childhood pastime; they have gradually taken shape as a distinct cultural feature, preserved by a quiet yet steadfast community of comic lovers.