Nha Trang to host Asian sailing regatta for first time

The regatta is part of the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival and is jointly organised by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Seanata Sailing Yacht and Technical Services Company.

The 2026 VPS Cup Fareast 19R Open and International Regatta will be held in Nha Trang Bay on July 17 – 19. (Photo courtesy of the organising board)
The 2026 VPS Cup Fareast 19R Open and International Regatta will be held in Nha Trang Bay on July 17 – 19. (Photo courtesy of the organising board)

Khanh Hoa (VNS/VNA) – The 2026 VPS Cup Fareast 19R Open and International Regatta will be held for the first time in Nha Trang Bay from July 17 to 19, bringing together regional sailing clubs in one of Vietnam’s most prominent coastal sporting events.

The regatta is part of the 2026 Khanh Hoa Sea Festival and is jointly organised by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Seanata Sailing Yacht and Technical Services Company.

Nine teams from leading sailing clubs across Asia are expected to compete, representing Japan, the Republic of Korea, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, the Philippines and Thailand, alongside top Vietnamese teams.

All crews will race on Fareast 19R boats in the One Design class, a format widely used in international competitions. The identical design ensures fairness and places emphasis on sailing technique, teamwork and race strategy rather than equipment advantages.

According to the organisers, teams will complete registration procedures on July 17 at Ana Marina Nha Trang in Bac Nha Trang ward, followed by the opening ceremony with the participation of local authorities, athletes and visitors. After the ceremony, crews will receive their boats and begin training sessions ahead of the official races.

The main races are scheduled to start at noon on July 18 and 19 in the waters off the Nha Trang Centre shopping mall. A total of nine to 12 races are planned, depending on weather conditions, wind strength and sea currents.

The competition will be conducted under international sailing regulations, with an experienced panel of referees overseeing race management and scoring to ensure fairness and professionalism.

Bui Anh Tuan, director of Seanata and head of the organising committee, said preparations have been largely completed, with coordination among relevant agencies to ensure logistics, technical requirements, communications and safety measures are in place.

“The event is ready to deliver competitive and exciting races for both domestic and international teams,” Tuan said.

Beyond the competition, the regatta is expected to help promote Nha Trang Bay as a destination for marine sports and tourism, while highlighting Khanh Hoa’s potential to host international sporting events./.

VNA

See more

Digital transformation in heritage should adopt people-centred approach: UNESCO

Digital transformation in heritage should adopt people-centred approach: UNESCO

Digital transformation in the heritage sector should adopt a people-centred approach, ensuring the meaningful participation of communities at every stage-from documentation and preservation to the management, use and dissemination of cultural data. Jonathan Baker, Representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) told the Vietnam News Agency during an interview on July 8.

After covering more than 4,000 km across Europe, the Pho Cultural Roadshow Europe 2026 makes its final stop at Viet Pho Restaurant in Berlin. (Photo: VNA)

Pho roadshow ends European journey with Berlin finale

The initiative brought together eight leading Vietnamese chefs and culinary experts, who introduced pho and other traditional dishes at eight destinations – Prague, Warsaw, Trnava, Bratislava, Vienna, Budapest, Bochum and Berlin. Each stop celebrated a different facet of Vietnam's culinary heritage while fostering professional exchanges and discussions on the future of Vietnamese cuisine.

The Vietnamese Consulate General's booth at the Hong Kong Book Fair (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese cultural heritage promoted at Hong Kong Book Fair

The booth of the Vietnamese Consulate General in Hong Kong has attracted considerable attention with a vibrant display featuring traditional conical hats painted with Vietnamese landscapes, red lanterns and large images of popular destinations such as Ha Long Bay, Sa Pa, Hue and Da Nang.

Members of the Mong ethnic group in Cao Bang province say that embracing Protestantism and participating in local congregations has brought positive changes to their lives, fostering closer bonds and a strong sense of solidarity among followers. (Photo: VNA)

Digital transformation in religion: When religious teachings spread with a single tap

As Vietnam's digital transformation continues, technology is opening new avenues for religious communities to share their teachings more quickly, more broadly and with more diverse audiences than ever before. Yet these opportunities also bring responsibilities: safeguarding the authenticity of religious teachings, cultivating a healthy and trustworthy digital environment, and equipping religious communities with the digital literacy needed to navigate the online world responsibly.

A performance of classic "cai luong" excerpts at a 2026 competition to look for talents. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese culture expected to undergo sharp transformation

Drawing on Party General Secretary and State President To Lam's detailed and practical guidance, artists and researchers voiced confidence that Vietnamese culture will undergo a sharp transformation and truly become both a spiritual foundation and a key driver of sustainable development in the new era.

A working session between Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong (centre, right) and UNESCO representative to Vietnam Jonathan Wallace Baker (Photo: baovanhoa.vn)

UNESCO, culture ministry discuss Photography City proposal

Jonathan Wallace Baker, UNESCO representative to Vietnam, confirmed that UNESCO stands ready to work alongside the culture ministry throughout the planning and implementation of the Photography City project, helping identify effective solutions to ensure its success.

The Duong Long tower complex is a special national relic built by the Cham people in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

Restoration breathes new life into Southeast Asia's tallest Cham tower

After more than 800 years, the towers have suffered damage from weather, time and plant growth. In late 2025, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism launched a restoration project worth more than 90 billion VND (3.4 million USD). Scheduled to last 10 months, the project now sees 40% of its workload completed.

A space for performing traditional Vietnamese music at the Temple of Literature. (Photo: VNA)

Art breathes new life into Vietnam's heritage spaces

In Hanoi, many historical and cultural landmarks have successfully enhanced their value through creative artistic activities. The Thang Long Imperial Citadel regularly hosts historical re-enactments, exhibitions and cultural experiences, while popular night tours at Hoa Lo Prison relic site demonstrate the effectiveness of storytelling through the combination of sound, light and performance.

An art performance at the Vietnam-Japan Festival 2026 in Da Nang city. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-Japan Festival 2026 opens in Da Nang

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee and head of the festival's organising committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi said that after many editions, the festival has become one of the city's signature external affairs events, helping reinforce the increasingly close partnership between Da Nang and Japanese localities and partners.

Visitors participate in a live demonstration of pho roll preparation at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Pho takes Vietnam’s flavours, identity on Europe journey

More than a food showcase, the programme combines live cooking demonstrations, cultural talks, chef-to-chef exchanges, and business networking to strengthen the global profile of Vietnamese cuisine and promote deeper international connections through gastronomy.

The opening ceremony of The Grand Esports 2026 on July 9 (Photo courtesy of the Sports Authority of Vietnam)

The Grand Esports 2026 opens in Hanoi

The Grand Esports 2026 officially opened in Hanoi on July 9, demonstrating that esports has entered a new stage of development and is increasingly recognised as an important part of Vietnam's national sports strategy, cultural industries and digital economy.

The poem inscribed on the roof ridge of Ngo Mon Gate is part of the Poetry on Hue Royal Architecture collection, which was recognised by UNESCO as documentary heritage under the Memory of the World Programme for Asia and the Pacific. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Workforce vital to documentary heritage

The combination of a transparent legal framework, a comprehensive digitisation strategy and an internationally qualified workforce will provide a solid foundation for preserving, utilising and disseminating the value of Vietnam’s documentary heritage, enabling the nation’s collective memory to be passed on sustainably to future generations.

Members of the Vovinam club in Paris. (Photo: VNA)

Paris Vovinam club promotes Vietnamese culture in France

The club currently has nearly 50 members aged from seven to over 70, with regular training sessions held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, alongside extended weekend classes for both children and adults. The classes are led by a father-and-daughter team, assisted by between two and six instructors depending on the session.