As the Tet holiday approaches, many Vietnamese people living far from their homeland still feel the eager atmosphere. Some feel excited when returning to their homeland, while many families enjoy celebrating Vietnamese Tet in foreign lands.

Living in a place considered a ‘barren’ land, people in the hilly area of Phong Son - Phong Xuan - Phong My on the west of Phong Dien district were once skeptical when a businessman brought tens of billions of VND back to his hometown to establish a manufacturing plant for producing medicinal essential oils. Now that they are convinced, and feel happy upon breathing in the ‘air fragrant with scents from medicinal herbs’.

Afternoon in the mountains descends very quickly. The cold rain and mountainous wind can not stop children going to the "Stars Class". That is the name of a free English and drawing class for ethnic minority children in difficult circumstances living in the border district of A Luoi. In this class, there are only smiles and joy that make the children do not want to leave.

Recently, mobile home cars (mobihome cars or motor home cars) have received a lot of interest from people who love traveling, picnicking, and long-distance backpacking. Being equipped with interior features no different from a regular house, "travel lovers" can confidently and freely bring their living space all around.

Struggling to make a living, but members of the Folk Arts Club of Trung Son commune (A Luoi) still strive to practice and refine each performance before each show, with enthusiasm to contribute to preserving the soul of culture of the great jungle.

A Roang is a border commune of A Luoi district, which is about 90km away from Hue city center. People living here are mainly the Ta Oi people. Being located at the foot of the majestic Truong Son Mountain, A Roang was once a poor and extremely difficult place to travel to. However, it is now an attractive destination for visitors who love the rustic beauty of people and villages in wild mountains and forests, or immersing themselves in waterfalls and lakes in the middle of mountains and forests.

Hai Duong Commune (Hue City) is considered a most arduous and challenging place with a long coastline to the southeast and Tam Giang lagoon to the southwest. Through many generations exploring the land, establishing villages and settling down, the people of Hai Duong have suffered a lot of pressure from waves and winds; nevertheless, they are still living in harmony with the harsh nature and living on marine products.

That was the theme of an international fine arts exhibition, which was held on the evening of August 2 by the Arts Teacher Training Club in collaboration with the Engaging With Vietnam, the Department of Culture and Sports of Thua Thien Hue Province, the University of Arts - Hue University, and the International Faculty - Hue University.

It is the Huong River, the river that "embraces Hue in its heart", which is also a priceless gift that nature has dedicated to this place. The Huong River is magnificent from the upstream, with a peaceful beauty and full of poetry as it confluences and hugs around gardens and villages such as Kim Long, Nguyet Bieu, Vy Da, Gia Hoi, Bao Vinh, and Sinh village, etc. And then, before pouring water into the sea, the downstream river area is a place to make a living, which is hard but close and dear to the locals.

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.”