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.

That was the theme of a talk hosted by Dr. Mai Hang, a natural nutritionist, at Silent Space (32 Tay Son, Hue City) on November 23rd. The event was part of the “Lunch and Learn - Learn, Have lunch, and Connect together” program.

For Nguyen Hung, a teacher and artist, the folk culture of the land of Hue ancient capital has forged in him a unified and unique artistic language. With his quiet passion for creation, he has guided many generations of students to achieve brilliant success through 35 years as an art teacher in public schools and art training classes.

Hundreds of thousands of Han Nom (Chinese-Nom script) document pages scattered in many villages and clans across the province have been processed and digitized in a scientific and methodical manner. Few know that this work was silently undertaken by a group of officers and experts of the Thua Thien Hue General Library. Many Han Nom documents after being digitized were also published to the surprise of the public and experts.

The Hue Trumpet Orchestra will perform some new songs about Christmas and some famous foreign pieces such as: Jingle bell rock, Holy Night, We wish you a Merry Christmas, Silent Night, Feliz Navidad.