For three days only, a slice of Vietnamese forest has taken over a community space on Huế Street in Hà Nội. 'From Forest to Future', which opened on Friday and runs until Sunday at Đồng Bào (351 Huế Street), is a free interactive exhibition that rebuilds the sights, sounds and even smells of the woods in the middle of the capital.
The event comes from the Dear Nature Project (DNP), a conservation communications initiative backed by Cúc Phương National Park — Vietnam's oldest national park — with support from the 2026 YAI Pioneering Youth Initiative via YNet Vietnam, photographer Nguyễn Sơn Tùng and the film collective Chăm Film. The goal is simple: get young city dwellers to care about conservation and show them they can actually work in it.
There's plenty to see and do. Tùng's 'Children of the earth' photography series explores how humans and nature shape each other. An installation called 'A forest in the city' layers projections, lighting, sound and scent to mimic the real thing. Chăm Film's documentaries follow wildlife, forest rangers and animal rescuers across Vietnam.
Two timed sessions give the weekend extra shape. On Saturday from 7pm to 8.30pm, 'The lullaby of leaves' is a talk show where forest rangers talk candidly about their working lives — a rare chance to hear that job described first-hand. On Sunday from 2pm to 4pm, 'Belonging' is a guided meditation built around breathing and listening, for anyone who wants a quiet reset after a week in the city.
The whole thing is free and open from 9.30am to 7.30pm through Sunday, but the talk show and meditation need separate registration — worth sorting before you show up. And if the exhibition sparks something, DNP is also a bridge into internships, practical experience and jobs with conservation organisations, which is exactly the kind of next step the organisers hope young visitors will take.
For travellers in Hà Nội this weekend, it's an easy add-on: you're already near some of the city's best cafés and street food along Huế Street, and it costs nothing. It's also a good primer before a trip to Cúc Phương itself — the park behind the project is a couple of hours away and makes a straightforward overnight escape for primate spotting, cave exploring and walking ancient tree trails.
This is an unusual bit of cultural programming: a forest you can visit without leaving the city, built to send people out into the real one. Story via Vietnam News Life.
