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The Hanoi Heritage Marathon course is designed to meet global standards, offering four standardized distances (5km, 10km, half, and full marathon) certified by the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races. Runners will trace a path through Hanoi’s iconic landmarks, including Hoan Kiem Lake and the Hanoi Flag Tower, to name a few. Photos: Hanh Le The race commences at Thien Quang Lake, winding through the enchanting Old Quarter with its 36 historic streets, and then meandering along the picturesque West Lake, offering endless photo opportunities. The course then ventures into the more modern districts of Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem, and Ba Dinh, showcasing the vibrant, contemporary side of Hanoi. The full marathon is a comprehensive tour of Hanoi’s lakes, passing by Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, and the serene Truc Bach Lake. Runners will also get to glimpse the historic Ba Dinh Square and the majestic Hanoi Flag Tower. The annual Hanoi marathon at...

Tim Pile, a lifestyle and travel journalist of SCMP, wrote an article stating that Hoi An is a picturesque city located on the central coast of Vietnam. With its blend of wooden Chinese shophouses, French colonial buildings, ornate temples, and the iconic Japanese Covered Bridge, the Old Town was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. Pile mentioned that Hoi An, once a bustling trading port in Southeast Asia, now attracts a large number of tourists who come to explore the city and have custom clothing made at a fraction of the cost back home. In the evening, the Old Town is illuminated by lanterns, creating a magical atmosphere that captivates visitors. Lantern-making workshops have also become a popular activity among tourists. The article suggests that instead of staying in the city center, many travelers prefer to have a beachside accommodation. An Bang Beach, just three kilometers away from the Old Town, is renowned for its white sands and sparkling blue waters, an...

Crushed dreams Nguyen Thi Ngoc, Hoang Thi Minh Hanh, Nguyen Thi Huyen, and Nguyen Thi Hang carried the hopes of the Vietnamese athletics team in the women’s 4x400m relay event at the Asian Games. However, their efforts fell short of expectations. Despite their previous gold medal performance at the 2023 Asian Athletics Championships, the Vietnamese runners could not replicate their success at the Asian Games in China. Their finishing time of 3:31.61 was an improvement from their previous record of 3:32.36, but it was not enough to secure a medal. The level of competition at the Asian Games is unparalleled, with countries like Sri Lanka and India fielding their best athletes for this event. On the other hand, regional powerhouses like Bahrain do not participate in lesser tournaments. In a surprising turn of events, Bahrain emerged as the champion with a time of 3:27.65, followed by India and Sri Lanka. Despite their disappointment, the Vietnamese runners gave their all in the race ...

The annual event, scheduled for October 27-29, will attract a total of 87 teams competing in four categories of basic, advanced pick-up trucks, advanced SUVs, and open. The competition has expanded its routes this year to a record-breaking 15, marking the highest number of race tracks in VOC history. An aerial view of the venue for the Vietnam Off-Road PVOIL Cup 2023. Photo: PVOIL VOC To keep the races engaging and unpredictable, the organizers have renewed approximately 30-40 percent of the roads compared to previous years and enhanced previously unexplored areas, ensuring fresh challenges for participants. Specifically, the advanced pick-up class features an entirely fresh and separate circuit. As outlined in the schedule, the opening ceremony of the PVOIL VOC 2023 will be highlighted by a demonstration paragliding flight on October 28 conducted by a squad who recently participated in the 2022 Paragliding World Cup held in South Korea. The event will be broadcast li...

A 20-year-old student, Nghiem Ngoc Anh, eagerly escorted a group of foreigners to visit Sword Lake in Hanoi. She proudly showed them Turtle Tower, an intriguing structure located in the middle of the lake, and narrated the story behind its name. As a second-year student at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, Nghiem Ngoc Anh believes that she represents not only the Hanoi Free Private Tour Guides (HNFTGs) but also serves as a cultural and tourism ambassador for Hanoi. In 2015, a group of Hanoi students established HNFTGs with the aim of improving their English communication skills, deepening their historical knowledge, and acting as goodwill ambassadors for Vietnamese culture and history to tourists from all corners of the world. Operating under the slogan “Hanoi’s Little Ambassadors,” the club now boasts over 2,000 active members after nearly 8 years. Members of the club conduct tours of Hanoi’s famous tourist attractions, sharing the historical significance of each site. The unique...

This year’s event features 250 outstanding works of 187 professional and amateur photographers, chosen from the National Art Photography Contest 2022. Over three months, the contest received nearly 16,400 entries by over 1,500 photographers, which are divided into Realistic Photo and Conceptual Photo categories. The best 29 works have been awarded, including one gold medal, four silver, eight bronze and 16 consolation prizes. In the Realistic Photo Category, a group photo titled ‘Thu Thiem Bridge 1- A New Highlight’ by Le Quang Thien from Da Nang won the gold medal. Four silver medals went to Gold Goal by Dinh Trong Hai (Hanoi); Under Wings by Nguyen Thu Hong (Hanoi); Female Warrior Takes a Nap after a Working Shift by Truong Huynh Son (Da Nang) and Journey of Con Dao Turles by Nguyen Ngoc Thien (HCM City). Addressing the awards ceremony on October 6, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ta Quang Dong, head of the contest’s steering board, noted that the Vietnam Art Pho...

It has been recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism. Paper cutting requires meticulousness and precision to create delicate art products for Nung Din funeral rituals. Paper-cut pictures have been an important part of the religious life of generations of the Nung Din people in Muong Khuong district. The pictures are made whenever someone in the community dies. These are offerings to the deceased to show the filial piety of the children and grandchildren for their parents or grandparents when they go to the afterlife. The Nung Din believe that when a person dies, their soul leaves their body and exists in a supernatural world but can still influence the living. Souls can return to earth to visit their family and bless their relatives with prosperity, good health, and peace. Van Van Chien is one of the best paper-cut artisans in Nam Ooc hamlet. He says most of the men there can make paper-cut picture. “I love this art...

Ede women have creatively combined traditional brocade characteristics and new materials to diversify their products and supplement their income.  In the house of HLer Eban in Kniet hamlet, three tailors are attentively making clothes for an order of staff uniform for a restaurant in Buon Ma Thuot city. The uniform set has a black shirt and skirt with hand-woven brocade patterns on the collar, sleeves and hem. Tailor H Yan Bkrong says brocade weaving has been her main job for more than ten years. and three generations of her family can weave brocade fabric.  HPhe Be BKrong, a 23-year-old student of Dak Lak Teacher Training College, notes income from brocade weaving helps her cover study and living expenses. “I can make all patterns on shirts and skirts. Each pattern has its meaning. The craft requires perseverance, diligence, love for the job, and the desire to preserve cultural tradition and costumes,” confides BKrong....

Alfonso Zegbe of the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SRE) asked fans not to wear the masks at the World Cup, citing guidance from the tournament’s organising committee, although organisers told Reuters there was no such policy in place. The masks of classic fighters, such as ‘El Santo’ and ‘Blue Demon’, are popular among Mexico fans, who routinely wear them at international competitions such as the World Cup and the Olympics. “The latest update from the Organising Committee is that (wrestling) masks will not be allowed,” Zegbe, the SRE’s executive director of Strategy and Public Diplomacy, told  ESPN . “It is important to coordinate with them, tell them that it is the Mexican (tradition) and it’s possible that they will not say anything or they will say, ‘please take them off’. That is why it is recommended not to wear masks.” Reuters has contacted the SRE for further details. However, Qatar’s World Cup organisers, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), t...

Reigning champion the Saigon Heat faced the Hanoi Buffaloes in the final game of the VBA 2022. The Hanoi Buffaloes players (in black) attempt to block the attack of a Saigon Heat player. Photo: VBA Both teams were neck and neck in the first half of the match, before the Saigon Heat took the lead with multiple three-pointers. Nguyen Huynh Phu Vinh, who is 2.03 meters tall, stole the spotlight with his four successful three-pointers. The Buffaloes players were unable to counter the unstoppable attacks from Vinh as well as other star players of the Saigon Heat, allowing the latter to win the VBA for the third consecutive year. Nguyen Huynh Phu Vinh celebrates the victory with his teammate Alonzo Starford. Photo: VBA Phu Vinh achieved his highest score in a match with 20 points and four long shots. Right after the triumph of the Saigon Heat, Vinh proposed to his girlfriend. The player said he had scored the most important point of his life when his girlfrien...

  VBA, the Thang Long Warriors and Danang Dragons parted ways with long-time coaches Predrag Lukic and Phan Thanh Canh, respectively. The Thang Long Warriors officially announced coach Predrag Lukic’s departure in early September after the end of the 2022 VBA season. The Serbian coach spent five consecutive seasons, from 2018 to 2022, with the Thanh Long Warriors, during which time he led the Hanoi-based team to a second-place finish in the 2020 VBA season. Lukic was also voted ‘Best Coach’ during the 2019 VBA season.  A farewell poster for Thang Long Warriors’ coach Predrag Lukic. Photo: VBA “Due to personal future plans, coach Predrag Lukic will not be able to accompany the Thang Long Warriors team in future seasons. Thank you to coach Predrag Lukic for your achievements and dedication to the club over the past seasons. We wish you a lot of health and success in the future,” the Thang Long Warriors announced on its official Facebook page. His friends, ...