Hanoi (VNA) – The InternationalPuppetry Festival 2024 is scheduled to take place in Hanoi in October with the participationof troupes from countries worldwide as well as public and non-public units in Vietnam.
The event aims to promotecooperative relations in the field of culture and arts between Vietnam and othercountries. It will offer an opportunity forartists of the host country to introduce the value of Vietnamese puppet art tointernational friends as well as art managers and Vietnamese puppet artists to exchangeexperiences with foreign peers.
The festival is a chance to populariseVietnam as a beautiful and hospitable and a safe destination for internationaltourists. It also promotes the spirit of friendship and cooperation to findworks of high quality that meet the entertainment needs of the people.
The types of shows performedin the festival include water puppets, shadow puppets, and stick puppets.
The organising board said thegold and silver prizes will be presented to the best shows, while artists andtroupes with unique creativity will receive sub-awards./.
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.
The late painter and animator, celebrated for his timeless contributions to children’s art and classics like ‘Meo Con’ (The Kitten) and ‘De Men Phieu Luu Ky’ (Adventures of a Cricket), was posthumously awarded the prestigious Cricket Knight award at the 7th De Men Children’s Awards in Hanoi.
The tournament is taking place from May 23 to June 9 at Tien Son sport centre and My Khe beach park. Competitions are being held in four disciplines, including freestyle, Greco-Roman, women’s wrestling and U17 beach wrestling.
The opening ceremony was attended by National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thanh. It featured nearly 200 artists and performers. Throughout the evening programme, audiences were taken on an immersive artistic journey celebrating the rich cultural heritage and historical legacy of Ninh Binh.
Vesak, commemorating the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni, has been recognised by the United Nations as an international cultural and religious festival for peace. This year’s event takes place in central Da Lat from May 23 to 31, featuring a large-scale series of cultural, spiritual and charitable activities expected to attract tens of thousands of Buddhist dignitaries, followers, visitors and local residents.

