Vietnam prepares for 5th SEA Student Sports Festival

The fifth Southeast Asian Student Sports Festival looks to enhance solidarity and knowledge sharing among regional students.

The remark was made by Tran Quang Quy, Deputy Minister of Education and Training of Vietnam, which hosts the event, during his meeting with the heads of participating delegations in Hanoi on March 25.

He briefed his guests on Vietnam’s preparations for the games, including sporting facilities, accommodations and transportation.

To take place in Hanoi from June 22-30, the festival will see the participation of about 1,500 athletes and coaches from Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Cambodia, Brunei, and the host Vietnam, plus the guest of Laos .

It will include nine sport events, including track-and-field, sepak takraw, swimming, badminton, basketball, gymnastics, table-tennis, volleyball, and pencak silat.

Quy told his guests that Vietnam gives special care to promoting the overall development of students.

He said the Ministry of Education and Training has always created possible conditions for students to take part in regional and international competitions.-VNA

Preserving unique craft of making palm-leaf conical hats

Making palm-leaf conical hats is a traditional craft of the Tay ethnic people in Bac Ha district in northern mountainous Lao Cai province. Woven from wild palm leaves, the hats are dried and skilfully crafted into their distinctive conical shape. As well as protecting wearers from sun and rain, the hats are also part of the traditional outfit of local women.