Gia Hoi Old Quarter is located between the Perfume river and the Dong Ba river, running from Dong Ba Market down to Bao Vinh.

It is the soothing feeling of many visitors after experiencing Hue culture, with quiet citadels and temples, green nature, gentle Perfume River, as well as friendly and close people.

I happened to come across a Facebook post of a friend currently living in the Central Highlands of Vietnam. It read, “seeing seven blooming pink lotus flowers celebrating Vesak on Nhan Co Lake reminds me so much of my hometown - Hue, where Ngu Mountain and the Perfume River reside.”

On the evening of June 10th, the Song Huong (Perfume River) Magazine launched a poetry and painting performance program titled “Perfume River - A River of Poetry” to commemorate its 40th anniversary since its establishment and first issue (June 1983 - June 2023).

On the morning of May 1st, Hue City Women's Union, in collaboration with Hue City Labour Federation, Hue Youth Union, and Hue Sports and Culture Information Center, organized an event called “Ao Dai by the Perfume River.”

Hundreds of traditional folk paintings from famous villages across Vietnam, along with renowned traditional crafts of Hue, have come together by the banks of the Perfume River.

Lan Vien Co Tich located by the Perfume River still keeps many artworks by Thai Nguyen Ba (Thai Ba). His Hueish paintings of the ancient citadel, woodcarving pictures of Hue girls, and interior decor items, etc., all show the talent of the artist.

Located downstream of the Perfume River, Ru Cha is a rare primeval mangrove forest that exists in Tam Giang lagoon. The forest belongs to Thuan Hoa village (Huong Phong commune), about 15km from the center of Hue city. The scenery here is like a picture of pristine, fresh and gentle nature, attracting all eyes.

The fact that emperor Thieu Tri composed the poem “Song Huong” (“Perfume River”) describing his morning on the river proves that the king cruised on a royal ship. Though he wrote “boat,” it was actually a luxurious ship. So what was the royal cruising ship like?

Legend has it that at the water source of the Perfume river there is a type of aromatic grass named thach xuong bo. This grass grows prolifically along rivers and streams making their water fragrant. The river is hence named Perfume meaning the river of fragrance.