On the morning of October 22, the first Vietnam Calligraphy Festival 2026 opened at the Co Mat Vien (Privy Council) - Tam Toa relic site under the theme ‘Vietnamese Soul through Brushstrokes’. The event is part of Hue Festival 2026.

From October 22 to 26, the first Vietnam Calligraphy Festival 2026, themed ‘Vietnamese Soul through Brushstrokes’, will take place in Co Mat Vien, No. 33 Tong Duy Tan St., Phu Xuan Ward. The event will feature a wide range of activities, including exhibitions, cultural exchanges and discussions, as well as hands-on calligraphy experiences.

Drawing on the woodblock prints of traditional Vietnamese folk painting genres such as Dong Ho, Hang Trong, Kim Hoang, and Lang Sinh, the Woodblock Art Experience Space at 23-25 Le Loi Street brings visitors closer to traditional art. Beyond contemplating the artworks, visitors can try printing and coloring the woodblocks while discovering the stories and cultural values behind each piece.

Hue is a heritage city, but Hue’s cultural strength does not lie solely in its citadel, palaces, royal tombs, or historic architecture. Behind these tangible forms of heritage lies a vibrant world of music, festivals, beliefs, traditional crafts, cuisine, clothing, and folk knowledge. This is the ‘soul’ that gives Hue its distinctive identity.

One day in mid-July, Vo Que, the poet, and the Hue City Museum of History jointly launched his publication of ‘Loi ca chau ngoc’ (tentative translation: Exquisite Lyrics). Many audience members could not help but be moved by the heartfelt devotion of a man deeply attached to Ca Hue (Hue-Singing music).

Alongside the Hue heritage complex, the French architectural works that remain today are seen as part of the soul of Hue’s urban landscape. Through the lens of sketching, these structures appear to take on a new look and a different kind of “life” in the eyes of artists and architects.

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

Young designer Linda Hoang (born Hoang Kim Ngoc Uyen Nhi in 1992 in Hue City) is transforming the traditional ao dai by bringing dragon-horse patterns and royal court motifs to linen garments and modern fashion. ​

Culture and sports not only shape the identity, but also serve as the soul of development. The responsibility of officials working in the cultural and sports sector is not only to preserve what exists, but also to innovate and spread those values.

The entrepreneurial journey of Ms. Tran Thi Thuy Duong, a member of the Women’s Union of My Thuong Ward, is the result of perseverance, creativity, and belief in the value of her hometown's specialties. A traditional product has been reimagined in a new version - tailored to modern tastes while preserving the soul of Hue crystallized ginger.