The capital city of Hanoi’s first lotus festival is being held at the Cultural and Creative Space in Tay Ho district from July 12-16, with its opening ceremony attracting more than 5,000 participants and witnessing two Vietnam’s records awarded.
The OCOP product introduction and sale centre in Trinh street, Tay Ho district, is set to become a compelling destination for both residents and visitors. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The capital city of Hanoi’s first lotus festival is being held at the Cultural and Creative Space in Tay Ho district from July 12-16, with its opening ceremony attracting more than 5,000 participants and witnessing two Vietnam’s records awarded.
In his opening speech at the July 12 ceremony, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Quyen stated that the meticulously planned event promised to offer residents and visitors exciting experiences and unique artistic programmes that highlight the cultural exchange among different regions of Vietnam.
The opening day saw the Vietnam Records Organisation (VietKings) presenting two national record certificates for the largest number of participants (7,000) in a cycling journey around the West Lake and the largest number of people (1,000) wearing traditional ao dai with lotus patterns. It also featured more than 100 booths from 33 provinces and cities that showcased over 1,000 products under their One Commune One Product programmes.
Speaking on the sidelines of the festival, Lao Chargé d'affaires Latana Siharaj said events like this not only help embassies better understand the host country's culture and traditions but also create opportunities to share values and experiences from various nations.
As part of the festival, there are also a workshop on the conservation and development of Vietnamese lotus, the inaugura𝐆tion of a🎶 centre for OCOP product introduction and sale in Tay Ho, a lotus installation art space, an exhibition of lotus photos in the Vietnamese life, a promotion programme for the district’s tourism, and a music night featuring works by Vietnamese popular composer Trinh Cong Son, among many other activities./.
Dubbed the "most premium tea of time," West Lake lotus tea is a specialty of Hanoi cuisine and is considered rare and precious. The tea is crafted with exceptional intricacy and refinement, from selecting the ingredients to the production process.
A map of Vietnam has been crafted using 5,000 lotus flower pots on the surface of Khong Tu Lake in Van Mieu Park, Cao Lanh city in the Mekong delta province of Dong Thap.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
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Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
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The U23 competition will run from June 16 to 22, followed by the U17 event from June 23 to 28, while athletes competing in the U23 category will undergo weight and skill checks ahead of the matches starting June 18, while similar checks for U17 athletes will take place before June 23.
Vietnam continues to sit just behind continental powerhouses Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK).
The event served as a vibrant display of solidarity, promoting peace, cooperation, and development through cultural dialogue, and reaffirmed HCM City's role as a dynamic hub for cultural diplomacy and international friendship.
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