Raya Aidil Fitri, or the Festival of Love, was re-enacted by Cham Muslims from An Giang province on October 25 at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Hanoi. Marking the end of Ramadan, the festival celebrates forgiveness, love, family reunions and cultural traditions.
The Long Thanh International Airport in the southern city of Dong Nai is scheduled to begin its commercial operations on December 24. As of Oct. 22, key components of the project are being built at a rapid pace, with modern machinery delivered to the site for installation and trial operation.
Vi Thanh’s squat market in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho retains the simple, rustic charm of a traditional market, with vendors selling fresh produce picked from their home gardens.
Xa Phin hamlet in Thanh Thuy commune, northeastern Tuyen Quang province, lies at the foot of the Tay Con Linh mountain range and is known for its traditional Dao stilt houses with palm-leaf roofs, now covered in green moss that blends with the lush mountain landscape.
Work to join the main span of the Saigon River pedestrian bridge began on the morning of October 21, after more than a year of construction. The 720-metre bridge, with a total investment of nearly 1 trillion VND (38.6 million USD), will connect Bach Dang Wharf with the Thu Thiem New Urban Area. Inspired by the shape of a nipa palm leaf, the bridge is expected to become a new architectural landmark in Ho Chi Minh City.
For Vietnam, the urgent requirement now is not only to connect and bring the economy into existing or emerging value chains but, more importantly, to create the environment, mechanisms and capacity so that Vietnam and international partners could plug more deeply and directly into the process of creating and building value in the new value chains, said Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang.
The 10 first members have a combined registered charter capital and committed capital contribution of 33.63 million USD. They plan to invest in and develop projects across infrastructure, education, energy, technology and financial services.
Ho Chi Minh City announced 12 projects granted investment policy approval or investment registration certificates on October 28, with total investment exceeding 337.22 trillion VND (about 13.58 billion USD), at the Autumn Economic Forum 2026.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever chaired an official welcome ceremony for General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam at Egmont Palace in Brussels on October 23 (local time), as part of the Vietnamese leader’s official visit to Belgium. Following the welcome ceremony, the two leaders held talks.
More than 50 years after establishing diplomatic relations, Vietnam and Belgium have maintained their traditional friendship and strong multifaceted cooperation, underpinned by growing political trust. Cooperation in economy, trade, investment, agriculture, education, and science and technology has yielded positive results, laying the groundwork for elevating bilateral relations to a new level.
Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1990, Vietnam and the European Union (EU) have steadily strengthened their partnership, with the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) providing fresh impetus to trade and investment ties. The elevation of bilateral relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership on January 29, 2026, marked a significant milestone, opening up new opportunities for cooperation across politics, trade, investment, green and digital transitions, and sustainable development.
A delegation of journalists from Russia’s TASS news agency paid a working visit to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in Hanoi on October 21.
On the afternoon of October 21 (local time), or the evening of the same day (Hanoi time), General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation arrived in Brussels, beginning official visits to the European Union (EU) and the Kingdom of Belgium at the invitations of European Council President Antonio Costa and Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever.
2026 marks a decade since the practice of Mother Goddess worship in Vietnam was inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Its cultural values continue to be upheld through traditional ceremonies, ritual singing (hat van), elaborate costumes and ritual spirit mediumship performances (hau dong).
Vietnam and Denmark established diplomatic relations on November 25, 1971. Over the past 55 years, bilateral ties have steadily deepened and expanded, becoming a notable example of Vietnam’s cooperation with its Nordic partners.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of Vietnam To Lam, his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly, and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation arrived in Copenhagen on the morning of October 19, 2026, local time (the afternoon of the same day in Hanoi), beginning a state visit to the Kingdom of Denmark. A formal state welcome ceremony was held at Copenhagen Airport, hosted by King Frederik X and Queen Mary.
Thanks to specialised training and close coordination with their handlers, service dogs of the Southern Security Guard Department have become an effective line of defence at events of special importance.
Located in Dam Thuy commune in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang, Ban Gioc Waterfall is one of the region’s leading tourist attractions, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors each year with its breathtaking scenery along Vietnam’s northern border.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse, Ngo Phuong Ly, joined Swiss President Guy Parmelin and his spouse, Caroline Parmelin, for an evening stroll along the pedestrian streets around Hoan Kiem Lake in Hanoi on October 17.
Party General Secretary and State President To Lam and his spouse, Ngo Phuong Ly, hosted a grand welcome ceremony in Hanoi on the afternoon of October 17 for Swiss President Guy Parmelin and his spouse, Caroline Parmelin, who are on an official visit to Vietnam.
Located in My Phong ward in the Mekong Delta province of Dong Thap, Vinh Trang Pagoda is a national historical and cultural relic that draws both domestic and international visitors. Built in the early 19th century, the pagoda features a distinctive blend of Eastern and Western architectural styles, making it a unique cultural and architectural landmark.
Politburo’s Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW dated August 22, 2026 on developing Vietnam’s tourism into a spearhead economic sector in the new era identifies Phu Quoc as gradually becoming a new growth pole and a high-end seaside resort tourism centre with international competitiveness and the capacity to host major international events. Alongside promoting its strengths in natural landscapes and resort tourism, Phu Quoc is accelerating infrastructure investment, including facilities for the 2027 APEC Economic Leaders’ Week, creating further impetus for economic and tourism development and enhancing the position of the Pearl Island.
Established on October 15, 1956, Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) was Vietnam’s first technical university. Over its 70-year history, the university has continued to affirm its role in training highly qualified human resources, conducting scientific research and advancing technology.
From medicinal plants grown under forest canopies to processing and ecotourism models, mountainous areas in the central city of Da Nang have new opportunities for growth following the merger. However, turning natural resources into sustainable livelihoods will require a major shift from agricultural production to agricultural economy that prioritises markets and added value.
Amid deeper international integration, Vietnamese entrepreneurs are playing an increasingly important role in driving economic growth, creating jobs, raising incomes and strengthening national competitiveness.
National Assembly President Tran Thanh Man held talks with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Zhao Leji in Beijing on October 12. The two leaders also co-chaired the second session of the cooperation committee between the Vietnamese National Assembly and the National People’s Congress of China.
In October, the terraced rice fields of Khuoi Mi, Lung Vai and Na Thac hamlets in Ha Giang 1 ward, northeastern Tuyen Quang province, turn golden as the rice ripens. Viewed from above, the terraces wind along the mountain slopes like ribbons of gold, set against lush greenery and scattered houses.
The Vietnam Circus Federation’s newly premiered “Son Than Thuy Quai” (Mountain God and Water Monster) blends traditional circus with 3D mapping, lighting, music and a water stage to create a fresh visual language for storytelling and bring traditional cultural values closer to contemporary audiences.
