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.

After decades spent living almost solely in the memories of elderly artisans, Hue traditional musical notation system - the notation system tied to royal court music (Nha nhac) - is being revived and gradually digitized.

As the clear, pure notes of the flute rang out after meticulous carving and tuning, a bright smile lit up Mr. Nguyen Van Tam’s face. Devoting over a decade to simple bamboo pipes, the young craftsman, born in 1993, with his deft hands and sharp ear has quietly "awakened" the sounds of traditional musical instruments, steadfastly preserving a heritage craft amid modern life.

On the morning of July 31, at the Southern Women’s Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, the Tran Van Khe Scholarship Foundation held the announcement and award presentation ceremony for the 2026 Tran Van Khe Awards. Notably, the Hue Royal Traditional Arts Theatre was one of only two organizations honored in recognition of its outstanding contributions to the preservation, research, and promotion of Vietnam’s traditional music.

Visitors at the Hue Singing Performance Space on Le Loi Street in Hue recently enjoyed an unexpected musical experience as the powerful rhythms of the West African Djembe blended with the familiar melodies of Hue Singing. Bringing this distinctive sound to the former imperial city was Michael Schmidt Kanté, a French musician who has spent years traveling across continents to study and perform traditional music.

On the morning of June 5th, at Duyet Thi Duong Theater in Hue Imperial Citadel, Hue Monuments Conservation Center organized an experimental performance program titled “Practicing Huế music notation and the interpretation method,” drawing the attention of researchers, artisans, and lovers of traditional music.

In the mid-20th century, the establishment of multiple music publishing houses positioned Hue as a vital hub of Vietnamese music. As the former imperial capital, the city was both a magnet for prominent composers and a pioneering cradle that shaped the professional contours of Vietnam’s modern and traditional music through its distinguished publishing system.

Born in 1987, Pa Co man Nguyen Xuan Bay from Ra Looc village - A Soc hamlet, Hong Bac commune (now A Luoi 2 commune) came to traditional music with a pure, instinctive love. “I learned by myself, I felt for myself, and I listened the rhythms that echoed from village festivals, through the hands and breaths of the elders, then practiced on my own,” Bay shared.

The Union of Science and Technology Associations of the city has just released the book: "Promoting the value of traditional Hue music in cultural and tourism development". The book, 300 pages long, is published by Thuan Hoa Publishing House.

In the heart of the poetic ancient capital, where natural beauty and traditional culture blend harmoniously, a music project named H.U.É has just been launched and made a strong impression on the art-loving community.

Today, the children learned to sing the song "Teachers and Friends" written in the tune of Dang Dan Cung. Following the teacher's tapping rhythm, the cheerful lyrics and melodies of the song were paused and sung by the children in rhythm.