Around 40,000 visitors made the pilgrimage to Huong Pagoda in Hanoi’s My Duc district on January 30, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year, to attend the opening of the longest running festival in the country.
Around 40,000 visitors made the pilgrimage to Huong Pagoda in Hanoi’s My Duc district on January 30.(Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Around 40,000 visitors made the pilgrimage to HuongPagoda in Hanoi’s My Duc district on January 30, the sixth day of the Lunar NewYear, to attend the opening of the longest running festival in the country.
The pagoda has welcomed 200,000 visitors from the beginning of the Lunar NewYear, according to the festival organising board.
Local authorities have mobilised staff to ensure security and safety during thefestival to stop scammers and pickpockets.
A hotline has also been opened to handle complaints from tourists.
The same day, thousands of people flocked to the Saint Giong Festival at SocSon Temple in the city’s Soc Son district.
This year, thefestival is expected to welcome around 1.2 million visitors.
The festival, taking place from the sixth day to the eighth day of the firstlunar month, aims to honour the legendary hero Giong, who is known as one ofthe Four Immortals of Vietnam along with Tan Vien, Chu Dong Tu and the MotherGoddess Lieu Hanh.
Legend has it Saint Giong was born after his mother walked in the footsteps ofa giant. At the age of three, Giong suddenly transformed into a giant andfought foreign invaders. The king then presented Giong with an iron horse,which promptly chased the invaders out of the country.
Aftertriumphing, he and his horse went to Soc Mountain in Soc Son District. It issaid that from the top of the mountain, he removed his armour and flew into thesky on his steed. Giong is also widely worshipped as “the patron god ofthe harvest, national peace and family prosperity”.
The Saint Giong Festival was recognised as a world intangible cultural heritageof humanity by UNESCO in 2010.
A wide range of activities are being held during the festival, such as loveduets, wrestling and traditional games./.
Visitors flocked to Phat Tich pagoda in Tien Du district, the northern province of Bac Ninh, for a local annual spring festival held on January 28 (the fourth day of the first lunar month).
The Bai Dinh Pagoda Festival kicked off in Gia Vien district of the northern mountainous province of Ninh Binh on January 30, the sixth day of the Lunar New Year.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
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.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
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.
The cultural event in Canberra not only fostered cultural exchanges between Vietnam and Australia but also contributed to promoting Vietnam’s image internationally
Around 40,000 visitors made the pilgrimage to Huong Pagoda in Hanoi’s My Duc district on January 30.(Photo: VNA) 
