Over the past three weeks, at dawn, small tea mats have appeared by Tinh Tam(Serenity)Lake. Despite enjoying the tea for only two hours, the period of immersing oneself in the lotus fragrance and calmly receiving the essence of heaven and earth leaves an unforgettable impression on guests.

Though in his seventies, Excellent Artist Tran Thao (Phu Xuan, Hue) has never spent a single day without nha nhac (court music). He teaches it in classrooms, passing on his craft in his small house and maintaining a nha nhac club for over three decades now. Every year, he travels to An Giang, carrying with him the “music of the past” to share with others.

At the scientific conference themed “Hue in the 40 years of renewal process alongside the country (1986 - 2026)”, organized by Hue City Association of Historical Science on May 12, experts stated that over the past 40 years, the process of renewal has produced historically significant achievements, contributing to enhancing Vietnam’s position and prestige on the international stage. For Hue, important transformations have been made in promoting its potential and advantages, especially its cultural heritage value.

Artisan of lacquer and gilding Bui Van Trinh has recently been honored with the title of Meritorious Artisan, awarded by the President, marking more than thirty-five years of dedication to preserving national cultural heritage in the field of handicrafts. Yet, for him, the greatest joy has always been the moment of contemplating a completed work, shimmering with lacquer and gold under his own hands.

The Phui (“Freestyle”) Hue Gala (Phui Hue Awards) 2025 took place on the afternoon of March 28th at Hue Industrial College. The event was jointly organized by Twin Media and Co Do Media to honor outstanding individuals and teams who contributed to the vibrant development of grassroots football in Hue City over the past year.

Now in its fifth year, Hue has been hosting the Four Seasons Festival (Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter). Instead of concentrating activities within a few peak days as in the past, the Hue Four Seasons Festival is implemented under a new model, featuring a continuous series of cultural, artistic and tourism events throughout the year to honor heritage, promote tourism and create new experiences for visitors.

Within the cultural complex of Hue, if the system of palaces and royal tombs defines the face of an Imperial capital, the villages along the lagoon and coastline preserve the depth of community life. There, heritage does not lie dormant in the past but lives on in every festival season, every daily custom, and every belief tied to the natural environment. The Cau Ngu Festival of Thai Duong village, held once every three years in January at the Thuan An seaport, is precisely such a heritage - a vibrant cultural practice where community memory, maritime knowledge, and the will to survive have woven together into an enduring whole across hundreds of years.

Hue is a land once at the heart of the nation’s political power, culture, and scholarship; yet, today’s Hue is not merely looking back to the past. The city is quietly preparing for a major transformation, aiming to become Asia’s leading smart coastal heritage city by 2045.

Within the tranquil setting of Hue Imperial Citadel, the melodies of nha nhac (Royal Court Music) resonate slowly and steadily. This enduring musical flow quietly carries echoes of the past, along with the steadfast efforts of those who dedicate themselves each day to preserving the heritage.

Not as common as apricot blossoms or chrysanthemums, daffodils can still be found in a few homes in Hue whenever spring returns. Enthusiasts carefully trim the bulbs, change the water, and watch the buds day by day, hoping the flowers will bloom exactly at the turn of the Lunar New Year – an elaborate pastime to welcome the new year.