“Half of the Vietnamese are in Hue” - a playful remark that has become a vivid expression of the strong appeal of tourism in the land of Huong River and Mount Ngu these days. Crowds are flocking to relic sites, pagodas, royal mausoleums, and eateries during the holidays, making the Ancient Capital more vibrant and lively.

More than half a century since the homeland’s liberation (March 26, 1975 – March 26, 2026), Hue’s urban landscape has undergone significant transformation, marked by newly widened roads, bridges spanning rivers and lagoons, modern urban zones, and an increasingly synchronized technical infrastructure system.

For many years, the development of waterway tourism has been a consistent goal, as the potential of Hue's rivers remained largely untapped. Following the City People's Committee's announcement of the inland waterway route on the Ngu Ha River, along with the pilot launch of heritage-linked tourism routes using electric boats on the Huong River and its tributaries, the local waterway tourism is expected to be unlocked.

It is a paradise of gentle tranquility found along the pedestrian walkways by the Huong River after being planned, including the Nhu Y riverside route, the network of pedestrian walkways along the Huong River, and riverside parks in the heart of Hue City.

“Encoding Time” was the theme of an exhibition that opened to the public on the afternoon of April 25 at the Intercultural Meeting Place - Lan Vien Co Tich space (part of the Huong River Museum of Ancient Ceramics, Bach Dang Street, Phu Xuan Ward).

Unlike the potted orchid lilies often seen in gardens, the pink trumpet tree is a tall, woody species typically planted along streets. Originating from the Americas, this flower - also known as the pink bell flower - has been widely grown in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. It usually blooms from February to June. When in full blossom, most of its leaves fall away, leaving behind clusters of soft pink and light purple flowers that create a gentle, romantic scene under the sun.

A large number of locals and visitors attending Hue Nam Temple Festival (Hon Chen Temple) joined the road procession, traveling from Thien Tien Thanh Giao Holy Place (352 Chi Lang Street) to Thuong Bac Park along the Huong River (Tran Hung Dao Street, Phu Xuan Ward).

On the evening of April 16, the music show titled “Đi mô? Nghe chi?” (Where to Go? What to Listen) Episode 2 took place in the area by the poetic Huong River, attracting a great number of locals and visitors coming to enjoy performances.

Hundreds of people flock to the front of Linh Mu Pagoda as evening falls. They enjoy the sunset over the river with a panoramic view.

Hue City People’s Committee has officially announced the opening of an inland waterway route on the Ngu Ha river, spanning 3,5 km, set to begin operations on April 10th, 2026. This marks the initial step in a project to introduce electric tourist boats, expected to be launched around April 30th, opening up new prospects for river-based tourism and enabling the exploration of heritage spaces by water.

In 2000, in the short piece entitled “Hue Diary,” written when he returned for the first Hue Festival, musician Trinh Cong Son wrote, “When you have a place to return, or to visit from time to time, you are very fortunate. There, you have a river, a mountain, and you can find again your old friends whose hair used to be black has now turned grey. You might suddenly meet a Hue girl on the street and ask her, ‘Is there anything new in Hue now?’ And immediately, or perhaps by chance, she will recite the two lines from a poem by Bui Giang: “Da thua xu Hue bay gio/ Van con nui Ngu ben bo song Huong” (“Yes, sir, Hue now/ Still has Ngu Mount by the Huong river…”)

The afternoon tea and sunset viewing service on the Huong RiverwithMoon River Cruisesis attracting a lot of interest from both locals and visitors.

To preserve the beauty of this place, everyone often reminds each other not to pick the flowers, break branches, or litter.

Life of the fishing villagers by the Bu Lu River flows by peacefully. And the beauty of this small village captivates anyone who has a chance to visit it.

In the gentle golden sunlight of early spring, millions of tiny, pure white daisies bloom, astonishing visitors with their pure beauty.

This activity also provides a novel playground for young people, and offers an additional attraction for visitors and the general public when stopping by the poetic Huong river.

If you wake up early at 4:30 a.m., take a walk towards the Huong river (Hue city). You will surely be incredibly delighted to admire the stunning sunrise over this poetic river.

The lotus lanterns placed onto the middle of the Huong River symbolize the first seven footsteps of the World-Honored One after his birth.