On the Lantern Festival (the Full Moon of the First Lunar Month) more than 15 years ago, the most “pure Hue native” friend I know, architect Nguyen Trong Huan, and I put on thin raincoats and walked together through the light, drifting drizzle to search for Hue’s culinary specialties. Having lived in this city for many years, Huan still longed for the flavors he once tasted.

In this weekend’s edition, Hue Today Weekly would like to present a collection of photos taken by Anh Le, a photographer, designed to stir the senses of readers near and far with dishes rich in Hue flavors.

On the morning of December 4, at Hue One Food manufacturing plant (No.1 Nguyen Van Tuyet Street, Thuan An Ward, Hue City), Hue One Food Joint Stock Company held a ceremony to release a 40-foot container, carrying about 19 tons of traditional Hue cakes, for official export to the U.S market.

Hue cuisine is evolving with new “interfaces,” maintaining its traditional spirit while adapting to modern trends, particularly catering to the tastes of young people.

Dozens of displaying booths promoting the culture and tourism of provinces and cities across the country gathered in Hue to participate in the exhibition themed “Space for Tourism, Cultural Heritage, Landmarks, and Traditional Handicraft Products of Vietnam”.

With the theme “Vietnamese Culinary Exchange”, the Hue - Culinary Capital festival is not only an activity within the framework of the National Tourism Year and Hue Festival 2025 but also an opportunity to showcase, promote, and elevate the culinary culture.

Although she has chosen a reclusive life on the edge of Thien An forest (Hue City), just as the saying goes, “good wine needs no bush,” many international tourists visiting Hue have asked travel companies to take them to meet People’s Artisan Hoang Thi Nhu Huy so that they can converse with her and gain a deeper understanding of Vietnamese culture.

According to the information from the Center for Trade Investment and Promotion, and Business Support, the center is accompanying the launch of the Kinh Do Specialty Cultural and Culinary Experience Complex at the Song Centre Hue.

“Hue’s fragrance”, let me use this term to describe one of the quintessential features of Hue - its aroma in the cuisine. This quintessential feature has become a deep love, a profound memory, and an unforgettable nostalgia in the hearts of countless people!

Hue City's decision to focus on cuisine for its application to join UNESCO's Creative Cities Network is both a correct and fitting choice.