Let’s Hue - Local Buddies is a project founded by foreign language-loving students from member universities of Hue University. Its goal is to introduce and promote the cultural image of Hue Ancient Capital to international friends.
Mui Huynh posed for a souvenir photo with an international visitor during a visit to Hue Imperial Citadel
Let’s Hue - Local Buddies was established in 2016 with the aspiration to introduce the beauty and cultural values of Hue to international friends in the most intimate and profound manner. A special feature of Let’s Hue is that all tours are completely free, with no guide fees.
Trang Bui, the founder of the Let’s Hue - Local Buddies project, shared: “The project was born to create a playground for Hue students to practice English, and at the same time, to promote and introduce the values of Hue culture to international visitors.”
Let’s Hue - Local Buddies currently has 16 members. These “Local Buddies” are more than just guides; they are also emotional “storytellers” of fascinating historical stories through Hue's historical and cultural relics. These include the Imperial Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda, and Khai Dinh Tomb, etc. Instead of dry and formulaic tours, the project offers authentic “companions” - young, dynamic students and volunteers who are knowledgeable about Hue's history, culture, cuisine, and even its daily rhythm of life.
The project team and international visitors
Not only sharing historical knowledge, the group also takes international visitors to explore small streets, enjoy local specialties, and listen to the simple sounds of life in Hue. This could be com hen (mussel rice) in Hen Islet, or Bao Vinh ancient town…
The enthusiasm and sincerity of these young people have created deep impressions on international visitors. Ms. Pamela, a Belgian visitor, after experiencing a Hue discovery tour with Let’s Hue - Local Buddies, shared: “I had the opportunity to meet two students who spoke fluent English, through whom I understood a lot about Hue City. We visited Bao Vinh ancient village, drank salted coffee on Nguyen Luong Bang Street, visited a pagoda, and explored this wonderful city.”
To reach a diverse range of visitors, Let’s Hue uses popular channels such as TripAdvisor, Facebook fanpage, TikTok, and its official website to spread images, content, and attract both international and domestic visitors.
With the dedication and enthusiasm of Hue's youth, Let’s Hue - Local Buddies has increasingly affirmed its role as an effective and unique tourism promotion project, contributing to enhancing the image of the Ancient Capital in the eyes of international friends. The cohesion among generations of members and the belief in community values are important factors that help the project survive and develop sustainably.
“In the future, Let’s Hue - Local Buddies hopes to have more members, who are eager to explore and learn foreign languages, join the project. The ultimate goal is to spread even more positive values about Hue's culture, history, and people to the community and international friends,” said Trang Bui, founder of the Let’s Hue - Local Buddies project.
In 2024, Let’s Hue - Local Buddies proudly achieved the Top 1 on TripAdvisor with over 200 five-star reviews and many compliments on the enthusiasm, friendliness, and professionalism of their tour guides. Visitors who have participated in Let’s Hue - Local Buddies tours have all expressed their delight and appreciation.
Story and photos: Lan Anh