At the end of each year, together with many medical schools across the country, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, holds the “Macchabée Festival - Gratitude to Those Who Donate Their Bodies to Science”. Held annually, the event has become a meaningful tradition for medical and pharmacy students to express their deep gratitude and respect to the “silent teachers” - those who have chosen to dedicate their bodies to the advancement of knowledge and the preservation of life.

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.

On the evening of February 6, the Student Union of the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, organized the Macchabée Festival 2026 to express profound gratitude to those who donated their bodies to science.

Across the fields of Quang Dien, Hue City, there is a farmer who has quietly sowed the seeds of kindness for nearly three decades. Without fanfare or publicity, Van Sinh, 53, a resident of Tan Xuan Lai Village, has silently donated blood 86 times, bringing hope and life to dozens, perhaps hundreds, of people.

I have silently promised myself to return to A Luoi for many times, yet I have to let go of my desire due to work and the passing of age. Despite not returning yet, this special land has constantly been on my mind.

Beneath the bright red national flag proudly flying over the skies of Truong Sa (Spratly Islands), we silently call out the names of the heroic martyrs who gave their lives to defend the sacred seas and islands of our homeland, hearing their echoes within the gentle murmur of waves welcoming a new, peaceful day.

Without fanfare or grand stages, artists, artisans, and skilled craftspeople are quietly passing on and preserving traditional crafts in the ancient capital. They are the “extended arms” for the journey of preserving intangible cultural heritage and Hue’s historical monuments.

The spring afternoon sunshine on Vong Canh Hill convers the landscape with a golden glow, filtering through the whispering pine canopies and stretching silent shadows across the ground. A gentle breeze drifts by, carrying the fragrance of grass and trees along with the mild and damp scent of the winding Perfume River below.

For the first time, artisans and skilled workers are honored for their significant contributions to the preservation and restoration of historical monuments.