The highlight of this issue of Hue Today Weekly is an article by Phan Thanh titled ‘Tourism Leading the Way for Cultural Industries’.

On the afternoon of October 20th, Hue City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the City Border Guard Command signed a cooperation program for the 2026-2030 period. The program aims to improve the effectiveness of cultural, sports, tourism, information, communications and external information activities in border and coastal areas, while supporting efforts to safeguard territorial sovereignty and national border security.

Beyond its heritage attractions, Hue is becoming a choice of culinary destination for many travelers. The distinctive local dishes of the former imperial capital are contributing to the formation of a unique appeal for Hue’s tourism.

Hue has identified tourism and services as its spearhead economic sector. Under the scenario for developing tourism in line with the double-digit growth target, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has set a target for Hue to welcome approximately 2.5 million international visitors in 2026, up 31.5% from 2025. This is both a target and a test of the city’s ability to turn its tourism advantages into revenue, investment opportunities, and ripple effects across other economic sectors.

The train trip connecting Hue and Da Nang has been ranked 10th on Condé Nast Traveler (US edition)’s list of top 20 best train trips in the world for 2026, as voted for by readers. The recognition highlights the appeal of Central Vietnam’s natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and railway tourism experiences.

On October 14 in Hanoi, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and Hue City People’s Committee signed an Action plan for cooperation on the development of culture, sports, and tourism through 2030. Hue City is the first locality to sign such a cooperation plan, aiming to tap into the potential and advantages of the city as a heritage city, a Festival City, and a distinctive cultural center of Vietnam.

With a new approach that shifts from ''preserving and exploiting individual monuments'' to ''connecting and leveraging the entire heritage system,'' the Project titled ''Leveraging the Value of President Ho Chi Minh Relics in Hue City for Tourism Development (2026 - 2030)'' (hereinafter referred to as the Project) also aims to address uneven heritage promotion and the lack of system-wide connectivity among historic sites.

On the morning of October 13th, Hue City Women's Union held a conference to review the project titled ‘Developing Sustainable Livelihoods through Sustainable FSC Forest Management and Piloting Community-Based Tourism to Revive Traditional Cultural Practices of Ethnic Minority Communities in Phuc Loc Village, Hung Loc Commune.’

Hue has the potential not only to become a prominent culinary destination in Southeast Asia but also to work towards a position among Asia’s leading culinary centers. Therefore, preparing an application dossier to join UNESCO’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN) in the field of cuisine would strengthen Hue’s culinary brand name, promote its cultural values more widely, and boost tourism.

On the morning of October 10, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with ministries, sectors, localities, and relevant agencies, held a launch ceremony for the ‘Every citizen chooses at least one suitable sport to practice regularly’ movement.

You have just seen images of Canh Duong fishing village - a small village along the gentle Bu Lu River, which flows into Canh Duong beach. Here lies a mangrove forest located in the middle of the Bu Lu River, adding to the natural charm of this fishing village tucked within Lang Co Bay.

Dam Chuon is known as the most beautiful spot to watch the sunrise in the Tam Giang lagoon system. Try waking up early and heading to Dam Chuon to catch the sunrise. It will definitely be a wonderful and memorable experience as summer arrives.

In the coming time, the tourism sector will enhance the promotion of culinary tourism through culinary events and festivals, and create unique culinary tours to promote the advantages of local cuisine and enhance the tourism experience for visitors.

Under the gentle morning sunlight, the blooming pink petals create a vibrant and graceful picture against the clear blue sky.The elegant beauty of the lotus always brings a sense of peace and serenity to the soul, doesn’t it?

A special feature of this year’s Vesak celebration is the enormous Buddhist flag along the Huong riverbank, created from colorful silk ribbons fluttering in the wind - painting a vibrant scene for Buddha’s birthday in the ancient capital of Hue.

In line with the National Tourism Year, Thuan Hoa district has been carrying out various solutions to attract tourists to visit and stay in the locality.

Within the ancient setting of Thiệu Phương and Cơ Hạ gardens, more than 1,000 works of bonsai, orchids, and decorative stones created by six hundred artisans from across the country have gathered - creating a vibrant living artwork that harmonizes nature, humanity, and heritage.

We invite you to enjoy breathtaking images capturing the poetic beauty of nature and the unique cultural identity of the Ta Oi ethnic group in Quảng Nhâm Commune, A Luoi District. A trip to Quang Nham offers visitors the chance to immerse themselves in a distinctive cultural atmosphere and the untouched natural landscapes of this area.

Located about 50 kilometers north of Hue city center, Pho Trach is a traditional craft village with a history spanning hundreds of years. It is well known for growing bàng grass and crafting various traditional handmade products from this natural material.

Taking place over the past week, the Book Fair “Beloved Hue,” organized by the Hue Book and Culture Club, was held at 23-25 Le Loi Street, along the poetic Huong River in Thuan Hoa District, attracting a large number of book lovers and tourists.