Many attendees expressed surprise and admiration upon learning about “dan bau” – an instrument widely regarded as a symbol of Vietnamese traditional music.

Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Tran Van Bay extended greetings to the local Buddhist community and acknowledged the important contributions made by the city chapter of the VBS and followers to local socio-economic development.

Most Venerable Thich Tri Quang, Supreme Patriarch of the VBS Patronage Council, called on Buddhist dignitaries, monks, nuns, and followers to continue serving society with mindfulness and compassion, uphold the noble traditions of Vietnamese Buddhism, and spread the light of kindness to foster a better life for all.

The opening night of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival-DIFF 2026 officially sparked a six-night fireworks festival from May 30 to July 11.

Among the highlights are the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) Asian Championship and the WDSF World Ranking Events, which will gather about 4,000 athletes from 37 countries and regions in the largest dancesport competition ever staged in Vietnam.

In recent years, many localities across the Dong Van Karst Plateau have strengthened efforts to integrate traditional culture preservation into schools. "Khen" performances, linen weaving, folk songs and traditional games are gradually becoming more familiar once again to younger generations.

The Vietnam Highlands Trail 2027 will feature five distances: 5km, 10km, 20km, 50km and 100km. The routes will take runners through various terrains typical of the Central Highlands, including four well-known mountain peaks – LangBiang, Bidoup, Pinhatt and Nui Voi.

Films for children and the public will be screened nationwide through mobile cinema teams and the FPT Play online entertainment platform. Direct screenings will also be held in the central province of Quang Ngai, which will host the opening ceremony of the film week.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Tran Huu Thuy Giang said the vegetarian food festival is being held for the third time with an increasingly expanded scale, bringing together hotels, restaurants, and pagodas to strengthen community connections through the spirit of compassion and sharing, and enrich the city’s cultural and tourism activities.

During the five-day programme, organisers will screen a total of 14 films, including three Swedish feature films and 11 Vietnamese animated films for children under the age of 16.

The “Indonesia – Vietnam Art Dialogue” exhibition showcases around 30 paintings in various media, including oil and acrylic painting, watercolour and lacquer, featuring diverse styles of impressionism, abstraction, surrealism and realism.

At the meeting, the two sides reviewed the outcomes of cooperation in journalism and communications and agreed on measures to strengthen coordination to meet new requirements in communications work amid digital transformation and deeper international integration.

The Vietnam Culture Week officially kicked off in Phnom Penh on May 26, featuring vibrant performances by the Vietnam Circus Federation, combining acrobatics with traditional and contemporary music and dance to present a vivid picture of Vietnam’s cultural identity.

To facilitate access for clients and media partners, VNA has launched a World Cup 2026 section on its electronic portal, available from May 25 to July 31.

Designed as a community-oriented programme, the event will be staged at an open-air venue along the Huong River. All performances will be free to the public, offering both residents and visitors access to a dynamic and inclusive cultural space.

The ninth edition of the Buddhist art exhibition “Sen dau ha” (Lotus in early summer) opened in Hanoi on May 24 during celebrations for Vesak 2570, featuring 58 works by 36 artists across a wide range of materials and styles, from lacquer, oil and silk paintings to watercolour and sculpture.

Finishing as a runner-up, Thai had produced an impressive run to the final. In the quarter-finals, he defeated world No. 3 Dick Jaspers of the Netherlands – winner of 32 World Cup titles, the second-highest tally in history – by 50–46. He then edged past world No. 2 Eddy Merckx of Belgium by the same scoreline in the semi-finals to reach his first-ever World Cup final.

Within the open space of the Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian area, professional circus acts, magic and comedy routines shared the spotlight with a traditional orchestra playing Vietnamese folk pieces “Ly cay da” (Ode to the Banyan Tree) and “Trong com” (Listen to the Drums), alongside a violin rendition of “Viet tiep cau chuyen hoa binh” (Keep Writing the Story of Peace) performed by teachers and students.

The programme also highlighted cultural similarities and unique identities of each nation, while encouraging cooperation in arts education, training and professional development.

Nguyen Thi Quynh Nhu delivered a standout performance to win the gold medal in the women’s vault at the FIG World Challenge Cup 2026 in Uzbekistan on Saturday, earning Vietnam its first international gymnastics title of the year.