Vietnam has become an attractive destination for foreign visitors (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has announced the top 10 culture, sports and tourism events of Vietnam in 2019.
The 10 events show the effort to promote Vietnam’s cultural values while enhancing the nation’s position in the regional sports arena. The top cultural, sports and tourism events also affirm Vietnam is a safe, friendly and attractive tourism destination.
In the cultural sphere:
1. Law on Library – Motivation to develop libraries and cultivate reading culture
The Law on Library was adopted on November 21, 2019, during the eighth session of the 14th-tenure National Assembly. The Law, effective from July 1, 2020, consisting of six chapters with 52 articles, contributes to creating a legal corridor for the development of the sector, promoting reading culture.
2. Classical ballet Swan Lake returns to Vietnamese stage after 35 years
Tchikovsky’s ballet masterpiece “Swan Lake” was performed in Hanoi on October 7, 2019, featuring artists from the Vietnam National Opera and Ballet Theatre. The ballet was first performed in Vietnam 35 years ago.
The ballet featured Vietnamese artists for the first time (Photo: VNA)
3. Vietnam’s ‘Then’ practice honoured as UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity
‘Then’, an essential ritual practice in the spiritual life of Tay, Nung and Thai ethnic people in Vietnam, has been added to the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 13, 2019. This is the 13rd cultural heritage of Vietnam honoured by the UNESCO.
Then singing in Cao Loc, Lang Son city (Photo: VNA)
4. 100th anniversary of formation and development of Cai Luong
Cai luong is a form of modern folk opera which is particularly popular in southern Vietnam. The programme to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the formation and development of Cai Luong took place in Ho Chi Minh city on January 13, 2019.
In the sports sphere:
1. Vietnam achieves exceptionally excellent performance at 30th SEA Games
The Vietnam sports delegation claimed second place in the overall medal tally at the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 30). In particular, both Vietnamese men’s and women’s football teams won gold medals.
2. Impressive achievement of national football in regional arena
The U22 Vietnam football team won historic victory at SEA Games, while Vietnamese women won their sixth SEA Games women's football title and their third AFF title. Besides, Vietnam's national U23 football team qualified for the quarter finals of the AFC U23 Championship for the second time.
Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc takes photo with Vietnamese football players (Photo: VNA)
3. Hanoi to host Formula 1 race in 2020
The capital city of Vietnam will host a stage of the world renowned Formula 1 (F1) Grand Prix for the first time in 2020, becoming the 22nd city in the world to host the series. Hanoi expects to promote its image and tourism via the event, as well as to enhance trade links between the capital city with international economic groups and develop high-quality logistics, aviation and entertainment services.
In the tourism sphere:
1. Vietnam welcomes record number of foreign visitors in 2019
Vietnam greeted over 18 million international tourists in 2019, the highest level so far. The number showed a year-on-year rise of 16.2%. As for domestic visitors, Vietnam saw 85 million Vietnamese travel last year, an increase of over 6%. Total revenue in 2019 reached 726 trillion VND (31.4 billion USD), a 17.1% increase over the previous year.
Foreign visitors in Hoi An ancient city (Photo: VNA)
2. Vietnam’s tourism wins global and regional prestigious prizes
In 2019, Vietnam was honoured with global prestigious prizes such as the World Golf Awards, the World Travel Awards, and the Asia’s Best Destination.
3. Vietnam successfully hosts ASEAN Travel Forum 2019
The ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF) 2019 was successfully held in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province, in January 2019. Attracting around 2,000 delegates, the event left good impression among international friends of an attractive, friendly and hospitable Vietnam./.
