Vietnam news in brief - August 26

Festival promotes Vietnam-India relations

The third Namaste Vietnam Festival opened in Ho Chi Minh City on August 25 to commemorate the 52nd anniversary of Vietnam-India diplomatic relations (1972-2024) and bring the two peoples closer together.

It includes traditional arts performances and activities to promote trade, tourism and education. Among them is the launch of the film "Love in Vietnam" - a cooperation project between the two nations.

First sailing, parasailing, jet ski festival held in Ha Long Bay

The northeastern province of Quang Ninh has held the first sailing, parasailing, and jet ski festival in Ha Long Bay. 

A parachute with the national flag of Vietnam in the sky of Ha Long Bay. Photo: VNA

It was the first of 31 festivals and events planned under the project "Ha Long - the city of festivals." About 50 sailboats, jet skis and parasailing from clubs in and outside the province joined the performances in the UNESCO-recognized site, delighting the audience.

Vietnam Airlines to launch Hanoi-Phnom Penh route

The national flag carrier, Vietnam Airlines, has announced that it will launch a direct route between Hanoi and Phnom Penh on October 27, with four flights per week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. This route would reduce travel time from Hanoi to the Cambodian capital to just over two hours.

Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago recognized as World Geological Heritage Site

The International Union of Geological Sciences has recognized Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago in the northern province of Quang Ninh and neighboring city of Haiphong as a world geological heritage site. A list of 100 newly recognized geological heritage sites is scheduled to be announced at the 37th International Geological Congress 2024 in Busan, Republic of Korea, from August 25 to 31.  

Vietnam wins second place in ABU Robocon 2024

Vietnam secured second place at the ABU Robocon 2024 held in the northern province of Quang Ninh on August 25. In this 23rd edition of the competition, 13 teams from 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific region competed under the theme of "Harvest Day," which focused on rice cultivation in terraced fields. Hosted by Vietnam for the fourth time, ABU Robocon continues to be a key event in the development of future engineers in the region.

Vietnam student wins UK scholarship for nanotechnology research

Lam Ngoc Ngan, 23, from the Mekong Delta hub of Can Tho has won a full scholarship from the UK government to study for a master's degree at the University of Warwick. Ngan, a biotechnology major at Can Tho University, has published four scientific papers in international journals and aims to develop cancer treatments using nanotechnology. She was the only Vietnamese recipient of the ASEAN-UK SAGE STEM Scholarship for Women.

“Independence Star” program commemorates Vietnam’s historic events

The "Independence Star" artistic program held on August 25 at the Hanoi Opera House featured powerful performances celebrating Vietnam's history and paying tribute to war veterans and revolutionaries. Themed "Uncle Ho's Words - Words of the Mountains and Rivers", the 80-minute program aims to commemorate the 79th anniversary of Vietnam's August Revolution (August 19, 1945) and National Day (September 2, 1945). 

 Bac Kan hosts Viet Bac's cultural and natural heritage exhibition

An exhibition of 120 paintings and photographs from Viet Bac's six provinces will run until August 29 at the Bac Kan Provincial Cultural Center. The four-day event, part of the 15th "Travel Through Heritage Regions of Viet Bac" program, highlights the cultural and natural beauty of the region. Established as a revolutionary base during the anti-French resistance (1946 to 1954), Viet Bac covers the provinces of Bac Kan, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Tuyen Quang, Ha Giang, and Thai Nguyen.