Inauguration of German language and culture space in Hue

Ask the people of Hue what flower they love most, and most will likely answer: the apricot blossom. To put it more formally, “hoang mai” - yellow apricot, without a doubt. Don’t believe it? Come to Hue and see for yourself! There’s a whole movement called “Yellow apricot blossom in front of the entrance”; a completed research project on “Conservation and development of Hue’s yellow apricot variety (Hue’s Hoang mai)”; a scientific conference on developing Hue’s Hoang mai into a key local product, aimed at successfully realizing the project to build Thua Thien Hue province (now Hue City) into Vietnam’s yellow apricot homeland. My friend, journalist Minh Tu, even published a book called “In front of the house stands a yellow apricot tree”, which sold out instantly, was reprinted, and translated into foreign languages to great acclaim.

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

From the morning of the first day of the Lunar New Year (February 17), the spring travel atmosphere in Hue has been vibrant and festive. Visitors from across Vietnam, along with international tourists, have chosen the former imperial capital as their holiday destination, creating a lively tourism scene on the very first day of the New Year.

In East Asian culture, horses are not merely a means of transport but a cultural symbol. In Hue during the Nguyen Dynasty, the presence of horses accompanied ceremonial processions and imperial carriages. Even today, that image endures on two bronze urns of the Nine Dynastic Urns - Huyen Dinh and Anh Dinh (the alias of Tu Duc) - like a layer of resilient metallic memory, reminding us that horses once played a role in the life of the former imperial capital.

On the evening of February 16 (the 29th day of the Lunar December), just before the sacred moment of Lunar New Year’s Eve welcoming the Binh Ngo Spring 2026, city leaders visited and extended New Year greetings to agencies, organizations, businesses, and personnel on duty.