Tourists enjoy the cyclo ride experience when traveling in Hue. Photo: Bao Phuoc

And then, a thought kept surging through my mind: how many similarities there are between Budapest and Hue . Budapest is the capital of Hungary, while Hue is the former capital of Vietnam. I learned that, long ago, the Széchenyi Bridge connected the two cities of Buda and Pest. The north bank was ancient Buda, the south bank was modern Pest. Buda and Pest together created the beautiful city of Budapest, like something out of a fairy tale. And similarly, with Hue, the north bank of Truong Tien Bridge is the ancient Imperial Citadel with Ngo Mon Gate, Thai Hoa Palace, Ta Vu and Huu Vu, Can Chanh Palace, Thai Binh Pavilion, Dien Tho Palace… and outside the Imperial Citadel are humble houses, small streets, nestled beside the city walls, far from the hustle and bustle of the city, blending into a quiet, tranquil rhythm of life, sometimes seemingly wanting to cling to, to reminisce about, the bygone years…

I lingered on the bridge for a long time, admiring the city of Budapest, the Danube River, listening to the melodious piano tune of "Blue Danube" drifting in the distance, and dreaming of a day when dilapidated structures like the Grand Gate and other buildings would be restored like the Kien Trung Palace. I understand that restoring the Kien Trung Palace required more than just money; surveying, gathering evidence and documents about the palace, and planning its reconstruction took over 10 years. Ten years and so much effort to bring the Can Chanh Palace to its current state has fulfilled my long-held wish.

Comparing Budapest and Hue might seem inappropriate, but while Budapest is a jewel of Europe, Hue is a dreamlike city in Vietnam.

Returning to Hue this time filled my heart with indescribable joy. As I strolled through the streets, I encountered expressive faces radiating happiness, the sparkling eyes and rosy cheeks of young women sitting on trucks overflowing with beds, wardrobes, and other belongings. I knew that those faces, those sparkling eyes, were symbols of a historic migration, one that had only been accomplished after hundreds of years. It truly was a historic migration, because now thousands of people who lived in impoverished, precarious neighborhoods, relying on the ruins of the Hue Imperial Citadel, have become mere memories. Their lives are entering a new, brighter chapter. And, the ancient capital of Hue is also entering a new millennium.

Right now, I'm thinking of Thuan An, where every year I get to immerse myself in the white-capped waves of the sea. Who knows, maybe Thuan An will also become a district of Hue city? Perhaps, sensing this, Thuan An beach has already begun to change. A long, gleaming concrete road, stretching as far as the eye can see, has appeared.

The road, like a silk ribbon, separates the rows of bungalow-style houses from the sandy beach. The one-story and two-story houses, surrounded by gardens, are owned by people who have come from elsewhere to make a living. They built these houses to rent to tourists, which explains why the place is always bustling with people of all languages ​​and skin colors. I myself rented a house there to enjoy the beach.

The road is similar to Thuan An, but in some places it connects to piers extending about a hundred meters out into the sea. At the end of the pier is a café and many fishing rods. You can bring home any fish you catch.

Having swum at both beaches, I realized that Thuan An beach has much more golden sand than New Port Beach, and the water is clearer and bluer. The only thing missing is houses for tourists to rent. I believe that soon, rows of bungalow-style houses will spring up along the existing concrete road. And of course, I dream that one day Thuan An beach will be a New Port Beach. Why not?

I dream. I dream again, because Hue, my beloved city, still holds so many places that make me feel deeply attached to it: Thanh Tan mineral springs, the eco-tourism areas on Tam Giang Lagoon, the largest brackish lagoon in Southeast Asia. I've been there four times, once at Chuon Lagoon, once at the floating market in Thai Duong Ha fishing village, and once strolling along the winding roads through the Ru Cha mangrove forest with its enchanting, wild, and mysterious beauty. While paddleboarding or riding motorboats, I wonder why there are so few Western tourists here. Is it because the lagoon tours are still too simple and underdeveloped? Perhaps so. But now I dream again, and believe again, that Tam Giang Lagoon is not only beautiful at sunset, as many have witnessed, but will also be truly beautiful, shining brightly when welcoming the sunrise.

Our Hue will be like this, our Hue is transforming, and Hue will soar high with the Dragon of the Year of the Wood Dragon and the years to come. Hope will keep sparkling, sparkling!

Nguyen Quy Thuong