Quoc An, one of the oldest ancestral pagodas in Hue, is well known not only for its ancient architecture or long history, but also for its collection of statues, antiques, and precious documents, which are preserved almost intact.

The culture and way of life in the highlands possess a unique charm. This appeal comes not only from the distinct customs, cuisine, and lifestyle, but also from the unique stories of the mountains and forests preserved by ethnic minority communities, as well as their cultural identities passed down through generations.

Under the theme “Hue Heritage - Convergence and Divergence”, the exhibition introduced nearly 150 remarkable sketch artworks depicting Hue to the public in Ho Chi Minh City. The collection is currently preserved by Hue Museum of Fine Arts.

Hue is a land that bears the imprint of the southward migration and territorial expansion undertaken more than 700 years ago by the people of ancient Thuan Hoa. Very few documents reveal the timing of these migration waves or the organization and formation of Vietnamese villages in the region. Yet during fieldwork, I gained access to several ancient Han-Nom documents recording the migration, land reclamation, and establishment of villages and communes. Most notably is a cadastral record dating to the 9th year of the Dai Hoa reign (1451) under King Le Nhan Tong, compiled exactly 575 years ago.

Viewed from the realities of conserving and promoting cultural heritage, successive generations at the Hue Monuments Conservation Center have continually wrestled with a question: how can heritage be more than merely “preserved”…

In Bao Vinh Old Town, Ms. Tran Thi Minh Phung still carefully holds her brush each day to paint on glass, just as her family has done for generations. As most of the artisans from the old days have nearly disappeared, the hands of this woman in her fifties have become a place where a craft once closely associated with the royal art of Hue is being preserved.

Thousands of flower pots, together with decorative miniatures featuring the horse mascot along the two banks of the Perfume River, have emerged as a focal point of the Binh Ngo Tet (Lunar New Year of the Horse) 2026. The urban space of Hue has thus preserved its ancient charm while creating a distinct touch of modern beauty.

In Hue, comic books are not just a childhood pastime; they have gradually taken shape as a distinct cultural feature, preserved by a quiet yet steadfast community of comic lovers.

Born in Hue - a place where traditional crafts are deeply intertwined with spiritual life, Tran Phuoc Hoang (28 years old) chose to dedicate himself to the craft of carving ancestral tablets. After nearly 10 years in the craft, he has quietly preserved traditional values through every product meticulously created with his passion.

A kite originating from Hue, which has been preserved for nearly 60 years in a museum in the United States, was discovered by a Vietnamese restoration expert. Through numerous accompanying documents, together with a passion for cultural roots, that expert “told the story” about how the kite was ordered in Hue Ancient Capital, then taken all the way to the U.S., and became an artistic artifact, etc…. It was truly fascinating.