These days, the festive atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival is already filling the streets. From the skillful hands of craftsmen diligently working on unicorn heads, Earth God masks, and drums… to spectacular unicorn dance performances on competition stages and in welcoming spaces at the Imperial Citadel,… all come together to create a vibrant picture of the Mid-Autumn in the Ancient Capital, preserving the unique cultural beauty and leaving lasting impressions on visitors.

Beyond visiting heritage sites, enjoying local cuisine and exploring traditional crafts, residents and visitors to Hue now have more interactive and creative ways to experience the city. From getting acquainted with the handpan and making wagashi by hand to painting and crafting, … small-scale workshops are adding new ‘colors’ to the life experiences in the Ancient Capital.

Hue is a heritage city, but Hue’s cultural strength does not lie solely in its citadel, palaces, royal tombs, or historic architecture. Behind these tangible forms of heritage lies a vibrant world of music, festivals, beliefs, traditional crafts, cuisine, clothing, and folk knowledge. This is the ‘soul’ that gives Hue its distinctive identity.

As the clear, pure notes of the flute rang out after meticulous carving and tuning, a bright smile lit up Mr. Nguyen Van Tam’s face. Devoting over a decade to simple bamboo pipes, the young craftsman, born in 1993, with his deft hands and sharp ear has quietly "awakened" the sounds of traditional musical instruments, steadfastly preserving a heritage craft amid modern life.

Preserving traditional crafts is about more than keeping a craft alive; it is about preserving the stories of people, culture, and values passed down through generations. By embracing fresh approaches, those who continue telling these stories are helping traditional craft villages become more relevant to contemporary life while preserving their authentic character.

The exhibition and demonstration of traditional crafts, held at the Ethnic Cultural Center of A Luoi 2 Commune, offered visitors vivid and authentic cultural experiences.

Traditional culture is now being embraced by young people in new, youthful, engaging and accessible ways through craft village workshop tours. This form of experience is becoming increasingly popular, attracting many young people and tourists who can directly take part in and create traditional handmade products themselves. More importantly, these activities help preserve and spread cultural and historical values while honoring the craftsmanship and dedication of people in traditional villages. ​

Inside a workshop thick with the scent of cement on Lai The Street (My Thuong Ward), there is a craftsman who remains devoted, day after day, to the meticulous work of casting bonsai pots. He is Nguyen Van Nhan, 53 years old, with 15 years of experience dedicated to creating pots tailored specifically for bonsai artworks.

During their spring outings, beyond visiting heritage sites and familiar attractions, many travelers to Hue have chosen a distinctive way to experience Tet: seeking out traditional craft spaces, personally experiencing hands-on activities, and creating handmade products imbued with the rich cultural identity of Hue Ancient Capital.

From her journey to revive the craft of making dó (poonah) paper in the raw material area in the North, Ms. Tran Hong Nhung, the founder of Zó Project, has brought the story of dó paper and beeswax to Hue through hands-on experiences. Here, the craftsmanship techniques of the Dao Tien people are introduced and tested for integration into contemporary life.