International Yoga Day kicked off in Hanoi

Hanoi joins more than 40 cities and provinces across Vietnam to celebrate the 10th International Yoga Day (June 21) with a series of activities held at Quan Ngua Sports Complex – this venue also hosted the first Yoga Day in 2015.  

Held by the Embassy of India in Hanoi in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the event marked the attendance of Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang and Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya.   

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang (second left) and Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya (third left) at the opening ceremony on June 20. Photos: Embassy of India in Hanoi

Speaking at the launching ceremony, Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang thanked the embassy and relevant agencies for organizing the celebrations to spread the importance of yoga practices in life and its health benefits.

She said people should use International Yoga Day as a chance to evaluate their progress toward leading happier and healthier lives. Yoga is not just a physical exercise, it’s also a spiritual path that facilitates communication with the outside world. Yoga nourishes the soul and enhances physical health, enhancing happiness, and inner peace.

Furthermore, the fact that the International Yoga Day is being organized shows how India and Vietnam have recently developed a close friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership, she added. 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang speaks at the event.

Ambassador Sandeep Arya said it’s encouraging to see how popular yoga is in Vietnam. “The wide interest across Vietnam in Yoga is heartening and I believe that it links with a strong belief in health and exercising emphasized by President Ho Chi Minh.”

The ambassador said the Indian Government has given the theme ‘Yoga for Self and Society’ stressing its role for individuals and communities, and Yoga as a bridge between individual and society.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in his message to Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has appreciated Vietnam’s enthusiastic contribution towards promoting Yoga.  He also wished ‘May Yoga bring humanity together, for our health & well-being, and for a greener planet’.

At the event in Hanoi, the Embassy of India also planted a tree on the premises of Quan Ngua Sports Complex to emphasize the importance of harmony with nature campaign called Plant4Mother as Earth is seen as mother in our system and nature/trees help preserve mother. 

Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya.

According to Ambassador Sandeep Arya, Yoga is a traditional Indian form of exercise that comes from the Sanskrit word “union”, which denotes unity between a person’s body and mind, man and nature.

Physically, yoga improves blood circulation, nervous system performance, and body part strength and flexibility. Its breathing and meditation practices enhance awareness, mindfulness, and general well-being while strengthening the connection between the mind (thought) and body (action).

With yoga, one can become more aware of their surroundings and, as a result, radiate positive energy into the world.

The United Nations in 2014 acknowledged yoga as a comprehensive approach to health and wellbeing and as a means of improving global health through the spread of its advantages.

Yoga Day events are taking place in at least 40 provinces in all parts of Vietnam this year. The Swami Vivekananda Cultural Center (SVCC) Hanoi holds daily hour-long classes of yoga open for all. For those who want to pursue yoga as a career, there are degree programs available, some of which are funded by the Indian government.

Part of the event at Quan Ngua Sports Complex Hanoi.