Trans-Vietnam cycling tournament concludes

The trans-Vietnam cycling tournament or the National Defense Cup wrapped up on December 16 with ADC Vinh Long Television’s cyclist Trinh Duc Tam finishing first the last 36km race around Cao Bang city, the northern province of same name.
The trans-Vietnam cycling tournament or the National Defense Cupwrapped up on December 16 with ADC Vinh Long Television’s cyclist TrinhDuc Tam finishing first the last 36km race around Cao Bang city, thenorthern province of same name.

Cyclist Do Tuan Anh from DomescoPharmacy Dong Thap won the first prize at the individual’s overall racewhilst the Domesco Pharmacy Dong Thap took the first prize for team.

Over300 cyclists representing 15 domestic teams and two teams from Laos andCambodia competed in the 15-day tournament from southernmost Ca Mauprovince to Cao Bang province with a total length of 1,292km.

Duringthe race, the cyclists visited Uncle Ho’s homeland in central Nghe Anprovince and Tran Hung Dao Forest relic site in Cao Bang province, paidtribute General Vo Nguyen Giap at his grave in central Quang Binhprovince and offered incense in tribute to fallen soldiers at martyrs’cemeteries along the race’s route.

They also presented 1,000gifts to policy beneficiaries and needy families of soldiers as well as230 scholarships to children of soldiers with a total grant of 4 billionVND (187,000 USD).

The tournament was organised by the Quan DoiNhan Dan (Vietnam’s People Army) newspaper in collaboration with theVietnam Military Telecommunications Group (Viettel), the GeneralDepartment of Sports and Physical Training and the Vietnam Motor-BicycleSports Federation.

It aims to mark the 70th foundinganniversary of the Vietnam People’s Army and the 25th anniversary ofNational Defense Day on December 22.-VNA

See more

A ritual at Hue Nam Temple Festival (Photo: VNA)

Hue Nam Temple Festival: From imperial relic to distinctive cultural celebration in Hue

Historically known as Ngoc Tran Son Tu, the temple was renamed Hue Nam during the reign of King Dong Khanh in the late 19th century, symbolising royal gratitude to the Mother Goddess. It is also the only temple in Hue that harmoniously combines royal ceremonial elements with folk religious practices, creating a distinctive blend of court ritual and popular belief.

Participants in the 20th Cong hien (Devotion) Awards presentation ceremony in Hanoi on April 15 (Photo: VNA)

Devotion Awards mark two decades of honouring excellence in music, sports

Nguyen Thien Thuat, Editor-in-Chief of the The Thao & Van Hoa newspaper and Head of the organising board of the awards, said, noting that their achievements reflect the spirit of the Politburo’s Resolution No. 80, which emphasises preserving national cultural values while selectively absorbing the essence of world culture.

Artisans and students take part in cultural activities and exchanges in the Xoan singing performance space at Hung Lo ancient communal house in Phu Tho province (Photo: VNA)

Ancestral legends revived through contemporary performance

Beyond cultural value, well-organised festival programmes linked with tourism and media can contribute to the development of cultural industries and enhance Vietnam’s cultural soft power, positioning heritage-based events as distinctive national cultural brands in the international arena.

Khue Van Cac (Khue Van Pavilion) stands as a defining cultural symbol of Hanoi, closely associated with Vietnam’s long-standing tradition of valuing education and honouring knowledge. (Photo: VNA)

Greater efforts needed for heritage to shape Hanoi’s identity

As suggested by UNESCO experts, heritage should be approached as an integrated system encompassing space, people and everyday life. This perspective can inform urban planning, cultural tourism development and the creation of clear economic drivers.

Participants at the gathering (Photo: VNA)

Lao, Cambodian students welcome traditional New Year in Ho Chi Minh City

In his speech, Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Cuong said the municipal Party organisation, authorities and people always value the close ties and solidarity among Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia. He described the three nations’ longstanding ties, forged through shared hardships, as an invaluable spiritual asset and a bedrock for sustainable development.

Vietnamese kickboxers win 32 gold medals at the Kickboxing World Cup 2026. (Photo: Vietnam Kickboxing Federation)

Vietnam finish third at Kickboxing World Cup 2026

According to Vu Duc Thinh, President of the Vietnam Kickboxing Federation, the strong results reflected careful preparation by local training centres and the determination of Vietnamese fighters. The team’s participation, funded largely through socialised and local resources, also demonstrated growing support for the development of kickboxing in Vietnam.

Politburo member, Secretary of the Party Central Committee and Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Information, Education and Mass Mobilisation Trinh Van Quyet speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

National Radio Festival opens in Quang Ninh

The opening night was combined with an artistic programme titled “sounds of the new era,” drawing around 50,000 spectators. The programme was structured in three chapters: Origins of Sound, Heritage Sound, and Sound of the New Era.

Vietnamese puppetry faces pressure to adapt to modern lifestyles, particularly amid growing competition from diverse entertainment forms (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese puppetry seeks renewal amid preservation challenges

People’s Artist Nguyen Hoang Tuan, Chairman of the Hanoi Theatre Association, noted that while northern Vietnam had 27 puppetry guilds in 1986, only 14 remain today. Many traditional plays and original scripts have been lost, hurting restoration and preservation efforts.