Danish runner races to victory in Sapa mountain marathon

Simon Grimstrup of Denmark won the second Vietnam Mountain Marathon's 70-km category which wrapped up at this magnificent town in Lao Cai province on September 21.
Simon Grimstrup of Denmark won the second Vietnam Mountain Marathon's70-km category which wrapped up at this magnificent town in Lao Caiprovince on September 21.

The Dane finished the super challengewith a time of eight hours and 30 minutes while Nora Senn, a Swissfemale runner, came in second with a time of 10 hours and 12.55 minutes.

"This is the toughest and most beautiful route in the world,"he said. Simon, an experienced trail runner, took part in a 168-km runin France just three weeks before coming to Vietnam.

In the 42-kmclass, Briton David Lloyd came in first with a time of five hours and47.50 minutes, followed by American Samantha Young, with a time of sixhours and 27.20 minutes.

Other winners are Florian Deichmann inthe 21-km event and Vietnamese male Sung A Toa, 16, in the 10-km event.Toa is from the H'Mong ethnic group and lives in Y Linh Ho.

Nearly500 runners from 40 countries and hundreds of Vietnamese joined theevent, making it the country's biggest international mountain marathon.It took place on the weekend in the beautiful mountain town of smalltwisting, buffalo-beaten trails that cut across bamboo bridges and runthrough small mountain villages.

John Nielsen, Ambassador ofDenmark to Vietnam, also took part in this and the previous year's 21-kmrun. "It was tough and the last mountain was horrible to climb, but Ilike the race," said Nielsen.

The Embassy of Denmark in Vietnam has joined forces with Topas Ecolodge Resort to organise the marathon.

NovoNordisk, a pharmaceutical company, is sponsoring and supporting theevent together with the Vietnamese Association of Diabetes andEndocrinology under the theme "Changing Diabetes", to raise awareness onthe rise of diabetes in Vietnam.

All fees collected from themarathon will be donated to Sapa O'Chau, a local charity organisationwhich offers educational opportunities for children of ethnic minoritygroups.-VNA

See more

Worshipping Land Genie and Kitchen Gods is a long-standing custom of great significance as it symbolises the farewell to all bad things of the old year to help people relaxedly enter a new year of peace and happiness. (Photo: VNA)

Carp release ritual on Kitchen Gods’ worshipping day marks start of Tet

The “Ong Cong, Ong Tao” (Land Genie and Kitchen Gods) worshipping ritual, held on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, which falls on January 22 this year, is also considered the start of the Lunar New Year (Tet) festival – the biggest and most important traditional holiday of Vietnamese people.

Ambassador Tran Quoc Khanh at the celebration (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese Tet celebrated in Algeria

The Vietnamese Embassy in Algeria hosted the “Homeland Spring 2025” programme in Algiers on January 20, bringing the vibrant atmosphere of traditional Tet to the Vietnamese community in the country.

Documentary about Vietnam - China friendship released

Documentary about Vietnam - China friendship released

A documentary film featuring the Vietnam - China friendship was released in Nanning city, China's Guangxi province, on January 15 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties (January 18, 1950 - 2025) and the “Year of Vietnam - China Humanistic Exchange.

Dak Lak blends cultural preservation with tourism growth

Dak Lak blends cultural preservation with tourism growth

On January 16, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Dak Lak Province distributed numerous sets of gongs, musical instruments and traditional attire of ethnic groups to 33 cultural clubs and art teams across 14 districts, towns, and cities.

Illustrative image (Source: laodong.vn)

2,025 drones to light up West Lake for New Year celebration

A New Year celebration event featuring a breathtaking performance by 2,025 drones harmonised with traditional Vietnamese music is set to take place in Hanoi’s West Lake at 8 p.m. on January 18, marking the opening of the Hanoi International Light Festival 2025.

More than 600 photos, documents, and objects, and 95 posters are being displayed in the northern province of Thai Nguyen to celebrate the 95th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV). (Photo: VNA)

Thai Nguyen exhibition spotlights Party’s glorious history

More than 600 photos, documents, and objects, and 95 posters are being displayed in the northern province of Thai Nguyen to celebrate the 95th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) (February 3, 1930-2025) and the upcoming Lunar New Year 2025 (the Year of the Snake).

A photo will be displayed at the exhibition. (Photo: The Courtesy of the Vietnam National Museum of History)

Exhibition highlights CPV’s historical milestones

More than 150 documents, items, and photos will be on display at the Vietnam National Museum of History in an exhibition celebrating the 95th anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) (February 3, 1930 - 2025) and toward the upcoming 14th National Party Congress.