“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.

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.

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.

On the morning of February 13, the 2026 Traditional Fishing Boat Racing, organized by Thanh Thuy Ward, took place on the Nhu Y River (at Thanh Thuy Tiled-Roof Bridge Community Tourism Site).

Based on the orientation to develop cultural and tourism spaces along the Nhu Y River, Thuan Hoa Ward is drafting a plan to establish a night street running along the river, with the expectation of creating a new, distinctive night-time tourism product that can effectively connect with the central pedestrian street axis of Pham Ngu Lao - Chu Van An - Vo Thi Sau.

Numerous riverside walking paths along the Perfume and Nhu Y rivers have been and are being invested in and constructed. These not only enhance the urban aesthetics of the city but also serve as key highlights for tourism development.

On the evening of March 25, the opening ceremony of National Tourism Year (NTY) - Hue 2025 officially took place at the semi-realistic stage by the Huong River, marking the beginning of a series of cultural, sports, and tourism activities across provinces and cities throughout the country.

To ensure timely service for the opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year - Hue 2025, scheduled for the evening of March 25th, Thuan Hoa District Green Park Center is accelerating the construction of an outdoor stage along the southern bank of the Huong River. The project is set to be completed and handed over by March 20th.

Despite its abundant potential, river tourism in Hue remains underdeveloped, lagging behind its available natural resources. The lack of services, transport infrastructure, and collaboration in river tourism development have all posed significant barriers, preventing this sector from thriving.

“Hue is ancient, yet always new and surprising. Anyone who has ever spent an entire misty morning or a cool sunset walking along the two banks of the Huong River will feel the magical vitality of Hue today... Hue is developing day by day, gradually worthy a city of heritage, a future center of specialized culture, education, tourism and healthcare of the country and the region” - These are the deep feelings of a distant friend about a Hue that is "forever beautiful and poetic".