Around 600 athletes have registered to compete in the open sea swimming competition – the Ly Son Cross Island – on June 2, with many using the event as a vacation opportunity.
An Binh islet, three miles away from Ly Son Island, is the location for an open swim race on June 2. (Photo: VNS/VNA)
Quang Nam (VNS/VNA) - Around 600 athletes have registered to competein the open sea swimming competition – the Ly Son Cross Island – on June 2,with many using the event as a vacation opportunity.
Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Ly Son island district Pham Thi Huong saidthis is the second year in a row the race has been organised in the water offthe islands, boosting tourism.
She said swimmers will compete in 5km and age groups from eight to 14 indistance events of 1km, 2km and 5km.
Race organisers said the Island Cross 5km, which is open for all entrants, willstart from Arch Rock check-in to An Binh islet, while sprint 2km will seeathletes swimming from An Binh islet to main Ly Son island.
“The event aims to promote tourism and vacation opportunities for visitors inexploring the unique archaeological value of the islands – which is formed byancient volcanoes that existed more than 25 million years ago,” Huong said.
“Last year, the islands hosted 170,000 tourists, and it would see 180,000travellers this year. Tourism, garlic and scallion farms as well as thepristine natural landscape are major attractions to tourists in summer trips.”
Last year, the race featured 300 swimmers.
The unique culture, rich biodiversity and extinct volcanoes have been conservedin the water around Ly Son island, as it strives to become the first ‘zerocarbon’ islands in central Vietnam.
Ly Son Islands was connected to the national grid in 2014./.
Phu Quoc Express JSC has resumed the sea route between the central city of Da Nang and the Ly Son islands, off the coast of central Quang Ngai province, using 286-seater boats for the 152km sea trip from the middle of July.
The relatively low number of sea tourists can be attributed to a variety of factors, including a lack of new tourism offerings, inadequate infrastructure and management, and a shortage of skilled human resources. Such challenges have hindered Vietnam from fully capitalising on opportunities in the sector.
With a coastline of more than 130 km, Quang Ngai province in the central region is a land of unique island and cultural heritage values, which is great potential and advantage for the locality to promote tourism and gradually turn it into a spearhead economic sector.
Cultural tourism, eco-tourism, and coastal tourism are the main pillars that Quang Nam has developed into high-quality tourism offerings, and linked with major tourism centres nationwide.
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
An Binh islet, three miles away from Ly Son Island, is the location for an open swim race on June 2. (Photo: VNS/VNA) 
