Hue’s elevation to a centrally-governed municipality from early 2025 has taken place in a special context: the country is undergoing a major administrative restructuring, reducing the number of provinces and cities from 63 to 34. While 52 other localities are expanding through mergers, Hue has chosen a different path - no consolidation, no expansion by aggregation, but an upgrade built on its existing identity and structural foundation.

On a pure morning, I bumped into groups of visitors strolling along the path leading into Hue Imperial Citadel. Cradling her camera in both hands, Ms. Marie, a French tourist, asked the guide in a gentle voice: “May I… try on Vietnam’s traditional costume?”. That question seemed to open an unexpected journey for them, an experience that felt as if they could touch the ancient soul of Hue

In East Asian culture, horses are not merely a means of transport but a cultural symbol. In Hue during the Nguyen Dynasty, the presence of horses accompanied ceremonial processions and imperial carriages. Even today, that image endures on two bronze urns of the Nine Dynastic Urns - Huyen Dinh and Anh Dinh (the alias of Tu Duc) - like a layer of resilient metallic memory, reminding us that horses once played a role in the life of the former imperial capital.

From areca sheaths once regarded as agricultural waste, Truong Van Toi (born 2000, Hue City) has built a model to produce bowls and plates from areca sheaths, aiming to reduce plastic waste, create livelihoods for local people, and open up an environmentally friendly consumption pathway.

Amid the rhythm of life in Hue, Ca Dao Dance Troupe stands as one of the few collectives that have steadfastly pursued a professional path in dance, contributing to the enrichment of Hue Imperial Citadel’s contemporary artistic life. Leading the Ca Dao Dance Troupe for over 11 years is Ms. Dang Nu Hoang Quyen (born in 1980), a choreographer who also serves as a lecturer in the Faculty of Political Theory at the University of Sciences, Hue University.

On the afternoon of January 5th, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Trung, Member of Party Central Committee, Secretary of the City Party conducted inspections and on-site surveys of several key transport projects in the city, including the proposed site for projects of the bridge crossing Con Hen (Mussel Islet) and its approach roads at both ends, of Nguyen Hoang Road, and of Ring Road 3.

The year 2026 opens the 2026–2030 period, marked by increasingly fierce competition to attract resources, talent, and visitors, while Hue cannot pursue rapid urbanization or heavy industry. Hue’s path must be its own: taking heritage, culture, landscape, and ways of life as deep, distinctive, and sustainable advantages; taking creativity and experience as driving forces; and placing the people of Hue at the center of all development policies.

Business intertwined with the promotion of Hue's traditional culture is a path that more and more young people are pursuing, asserting the creativity, identity, and spirit of self-reliance. Rather than chasing mass-market trends, “recalling the past to understand the future” has become the business philosophy for a segment of the younger generation, bringing cultural heritage into contemporary life naturally.

Facing with the growing pressure of increasing household waste volumes, Hue is confronted with the need to renew its approach to urban waste management. In the context of the circular economy becoming an inevitable trend for modern cities, to reuse is not only an environmental action but also a strategy for sustainable development.

During a career orientation session at Byron Nelson High School in Texas, USA, my daughter and I had the opportunity to experience an exceptionally well-organized Culinary Arts vocational training model. In the U.S. education system, students are guided toward basic career paths as soon as they enter middle school, preparing them for vocational training in high school if they choose not to pursue a university pathway.