VietExplorer2026

The program was attended by VUFO leaders and officials, and its member organizations; Ambassador and officials of the US Embassy to Vietnam; leaders of the Hanoi People’s Committee; representatives of US non-governmental organizations and businesses; American individuals and families in Vietnam; students in Hanoi; Vietnamese residents, tourists; and news agencies. The program includes the Conference “US-Vietnam: 10 years Comprehensive Partnership in retrospect and prospects of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development;” Displaying and Promoting Vietnam-US culture and Vietnam-US Friendship Festival. The Conference “US-Vietnam: 10 years Comprehensive Partnership in retrospect and prospects of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for peace, cooperation and sustainable development” will take place on the morning of December 2. The Conference includes two main points: Looking back at Vietnam-US relations and The Future of comprehen...

The two streets will border Ban Nguyet (Crescent) Lake and Street 11N, and will feature a variety of food stalls. The opening of the two pedestrian streets is part of a program to boost nighttime economic growth and promote tourism in the city. Authorities in District 7 are responsible for ensuring food safety, fire prevention, environmental protection, and regular price checks in the two designated walkways. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade had previously suggested that the municipal People’s Committee develop a nighttime economy focused on tourism at three locations in District 7. As planned, a tourism, cultural, and pedestrian street will be established at the Crescent Lake – Anh Sao Bridge complex in the Phu My Hung residential area. Meanwhile, a section of Ton Dat Tien Street, stretching from Nguyen Van Linh Boulevard to Anh Sao Bridge, will maintain cuisine, commercial, and pedestrian services. The area will also host art and cultural performances. The...

Starting in 2003, Nam Phan and Doi have spent their mornings searching for medicinal herbs in the gardens and rice fields of Cai Rang District. They cut the herbs into small pieces, dry them, and then distribute them for free to local herbalists who distribute them to the community. Before their retirement, the couple raised ducks for a living. Now, their goal is to ensure that everyone in the community has access to a healthy life, regardless of their financial situation. Doi said, “He just laughs and refuses when people try to pay him for the herbs,” as she cleaned licorice in a river near their house. Finding the herbs is a difficult task. Nam Phan and Doi often row their boat for dozens of kilometers to find important herbs like polyscias fruticosa and licorice. “Thanks to my good health, sound mind, and a little luck, I am able to find herbs wherever I go. I feel really happy when people take my medicine and become healthier,” said Nam Phan. Nam Phan learned how to identify m...

The 36-year-old Serb was defeated by the local favorite Sinner earlier this week in the group stage, but he got his revenge with an outstanding performance, winning 6-3 6-3. A packed crowd at Turin’s Pala Alpitour had hoped to see the 22-year-old Sinner claim the biggest title of his career, but Djokovic was simply on another level. The world number one only dropped two points on his serve in a flawless first set, and once he broke Sinner’s serve in the fourth game, it was mostly one-way traffic. At one point, Djokovic won 14 consecutive points against the world number four before Sinner briefly halted the 24-time Grand Slam champion’s momentum. Sinner managed to avoid going down a double break as Djokovic surprisingly missed a routine passing shot. Sinner then had chances to break back in the sixth game, but he couldn’t convert either of them. Djokovic also failed to convert break points that would have given him a 5-2 lead, as a few errors crept into his game. The crowd did the...

With 121 of the 171 valid votes, Vietnam secured its position as the second-ranked among the elected states from five regions, according to the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The election took place during the 24th session of the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage Convention) in Paris. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ha Kim Ngoc, who also serves as the Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO, stated that this is Vietnam’s second time being elected to the most important executive body for culture at UNESCO. The significant number of votes received reflects Vietnam’s international prestige, the international community’s trust in and support for Vietnam’s contributions and leadership capabilities at global multilateral institutions, as well as the recognition of Vietnam’s practical efforts in UNESCO and the preser...

A ceremony was held on November 24 to officially inaugurate Hanoi night tourism offers , launch the “Welcome to Hanoi” photo contest, and announce the recognition of Hoan Kiem Lake and its surroundings and the Old Quarter as a city-level travel destination. Hanoi’s iconic Quan Truong Gate was lit up with a light show on November 24. Photos: Duy Minh/The Hanoi Times According to Dang Huong Giang, director of the Hanoi Tourism Department, this series of activities comes within the month of the “Creative City Event” to promote the night economy in the capital. “The night tourism offers would help improve tourists’ travel experience, make them stay longer, and thus contribute to the capital’s economic growth,” she said. Among the officially announced night tours, some are completely new, including the one at the Vietnam Women’s Museum entitled “ Legend of Youth- Live a Worthy Life ”; “ Thang Long – Hanoi Night Cycling Tour ”; and the “ The Quintessence of Education ” tour...

Locals and tourists will have the opportunity to enjoy the light shows that will take place at 22 Hang Buom Cultural and Arts Center and Quan Chuong Gate from November 24 to 26. The event is held within the framework of the launching ceremony of Hanoi Night Tours 2023. A folk performance at Quan Chuong Gate in Hanoi’s Old Quarter Area. Photo: Van Dung According to the Department of Tourism of Hanoi, the city will introduce 15-night tours with new and diverse contents and forms to promote local tourism and offer a variety of night tourism experiences. The opening ceremony of the event will be held at 8pm on November 24. For the first time ever, visitors can witness a stunning light show at the 22 Hang Buom Cultural and Arts Center. This will be a unique opportunity to explore the beauty of Hanoi’s night through the lens of art in the heart of the city’s cultural heritage. The grand light performance will showcase thirteen tangible and intangible heritages of Hanoi, inc...

According to Tran Nguyen Ba, deputy director of the Kien Giang Department of Culture and Sports, this is the first world-class sporting event ever held in Phu Quoc City. The event has served as a platform to showcase Phu Quoc’s breathtaking landscapes, rich culture, and warm-hearted people to both local and international visitors. “Sports tourism has become a global trend, and we are planning to propose to the provincial People’s Committee to organize more sporting events annually. This initiative aims to attract both local and international tourists to Phu Quoc, giving them the opportunity to explore and experience the beauty of our landscapes,” Ba added. A high number of foreigners participate in the BIM Group Ironman 70.3. Photo : Chi Cong / Tuoi Tre The athletes competed in a 2km open water swim, followed by a challenging 90km bike ride, and finished with a half-marathon distance of 21.1km. Mark Allen, a six-time Ironman world champion, expressed his awe at Phu Quoc...

The walking event took place along Nguyen Van Huong Street in Thao Dien Ward, Thu Duc City, an administrative district under Ho Chi Minh City. The fundraising walk gathered Nguyen Van Dua, former permanent deputy secretary of the municipal Party Committee; Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam, former deputy secretary of the municipal Party Committee and chairwoman of the municipal People’s Council; and many other officials in the city. The second edition of the walkathon this year was organized on a bigger scale than its previous iteration, said vice-chairman of the Thu Duc administration Nguyen Ky Phung. More than VND18 billion (US$742,000) was raised in the event and will be used to fund social welfare programs of which poor people will be the main beneficiaries, he added. Among the first finishers, Thu Suong revealed that her five-member family joined the walkathon which she described as a truly meaningful and humane event. “Our family has beautiful memories this morning,” Suong said. The eve...

There will be a charity market at the French Residence from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm this Saturday, with the goal of bringing European festive cheer to the Vietnamese city. This will mark the first European Christmas market in the bustling metropolis of Ho Chi Minh City. Situated on a sprawling 1.5-hectare land in downtown Ho Chi Minh City, the French Residence boasts an array of old trees and diverse animal species, including weasels, squirrels, and birds. During the forthcoming Christmas market, the gardens of the French Residence will be transformed into a magical wonderland, complete with the aroma of traditional Christmas cakes and mulled wine, accompanied by the enchanting melodies of choirs singing traditional carols. Visitors to the market will find a plethora of European artisan crafts and decorative items, making it an ideal place for holiday gift shopping. Furthermore, the event will feature various fun activities designed to introduce children to European traditions and cult...

The band’s arrival at the airport was met with a warm reception from the concert organizer and a large number of fans. They came bearing photos of the band members and banners. The upcoming concert, which will take place at Thong Nhat Stadium in District 10, is part of the band’s The Wild Dreams Tour. Shane, Nicky, Kian, and Mark, the four members of the band, excited the Vietnamese fans with their friendly demeanor and the use of their phones to capture the moments of their welcome. Westlife returns to Vietnam after 12 years. Tickets for their concert in Ho Chi Minh City have already sold out. The organizer had previously introduced more standing-room tickets at VND600,000 (US$24.8) each. However, this move garnered mixed opinions on the organizer’s Facebook page as some seat ticket holders claimed that the new standing-room section – being closer to the stage and more affordable – infringes on their benefits. The organizer clarified that the addition of more tickets was made ...

Born in Vietnam, Badillo was adopted and grew up in France. She thought that she was very ‘French’ before she returned to Vietnam for the first time. After three times of coming back to her homeland, she met her biological mother and felt that she belongs to Vietnam, especially when she dons ao dai . Her Vietnamese name is Bao Ngoc. Badillo recounted that she was adopted by a married couple who could not have a child when she was five months old. The couple traveled to Vietnam to pursue dentistry when they decided to adopt a child. Her biological mother could not afford to raise her, thereby sending her to a local orphanage in Ho Chi Minh City. “I smiled at my adoptive mother when I first met her, so she was so touched,” she said, adding that her mother told her that story. “I knew that I was an adopted child when I was young. My parents often told me about Vietnam, took me to a Vietnamese restaurant each week, and allowed me to join Vietnamese festivals such as Tet in France.” ...

The Photo Exhibition that was opened to the public at Bach Dang Park on Phu Quoc Island in Kien Giang Province, southern Vietnam, on Tuesday, brought a visual feast to domestic and international visitors. The exhibition, co-organized by the propaganda department of the Party Central Committee and the Kien Giang Province Party Committee, showcases 187 photos depicting the captivating beauty of the country’s border areas and highlighting cultural features. The objective of these photos is to introduce the beauty of the border landscapes and cultural values, while instilling patriotism among the Vietnamese people, according to Nguyen Thanh Phong, head of the propaganda commission of the provincial Party Committee. The exhibition also aims to raise awareness of Vietnam’s land and sea sovereignty, as well as honor the border forces who tirelessly protect the country, added Phong. Representatives cut a ribbon to launch the photo exhibition in Phu Quoc City, Kien Giang Province, ...

The book was launched within the framework of the Vietnam – UK Business Forum 2023 taking place on November 24 in Hanoi. In his welcoming remarks, Director General of the European-American Market Department Ta Hoang Linh (Ministry of Industry and Trade) emphasized that two-way trade between Vietnam and the UK reached a total import-export turnover in the first 10 months of 2023 reached US $5.87 billion, an increase of 1.6% over the same period in 2022. The event is part of a series of events organized by the Joint Committee on Economic and Trade Cooperation between the two countries (JETCO) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the United Kingdom. Ireland (1973-2023). However, to seize the opportunity to bring Vietnamese products into the UK market and to fully understand the British business culture, local businesses need to be systematically equipped with a lot of knowledge and skills. Dr. Nguyen Hoang Long, Vietnamese Amba...

The purpose of the trip is to enhance the relationship between the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) and Japanese partners and establish relationships with new organizations and partners on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Japan. A working session between the VUFO delegation and non-governmental organizations in Japan. During the trip, the VUFO delegation met and worked with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), non-governmental organizations, and international organizations. The delegation also cooperated with JICA to organize discussions with Japanese partners. During the working sessions, JICA and other organizations affirmed that Vietnam is an important partner and a top priority for Japan in international cooperation activities and foreign non-governmental aid. In addition, JICA representatives expressed their delight and appreciation for the VUFO delegation’s trip. ...

The four-day festival starting on November 16 seeks to enhance mutual understanding of culture, cuisine, and tourism between the citizens of the two localities. Many young people gather together at the Quang Ninh planning, fair, and exhibition palace to participate in various activities during the event. Street art performances attract thousands of visitors as they snap photos with robots, cartoon characters, and manga cosplayers. Bumblebee is a fictional robot character who appears in the Transformers franchise. The character is a member of the Autobots, a group of sentient, self-configuring, modular extraterrestrial robotic lifeforms. Tourists enjoy taking photos with people transforming into fishermen and miners. Doraemon, a famous character in the Japanese manga series with the same name, is associated with the childhood of Vietnamese children for many generations. Participants enjoy Yosakoi dances during the event. A special space with snow is set up for visitor...

Members from foreign representative agencies in Ho Chi Minh City attended a ‘pho’ (noodle soup) cooking class under the guidance of chefs from the Saigon Professional Chefs Association (SPC) on November 23, VNA reported. Co-hosted by the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs, the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF), the Ho Chi Minh City Food & Beverage Association (FBA) and the SPC, the event drew leaders and staff of representative agencies from the UK, Australia, Belarus, Cambodia, Hungary, Indonesia, New Zealand, Japan, China and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) who cooked beef, lamb and vegan ‘pho’. Foreign Diplomats in Ho Chi Minh City Learn to Cook Pho. Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs Pham Tran Thanh Thao said the exchange activity, in response to Vietnam’s Day of Pho on December 12, enables diplomats and their families to explore and spread the essence of Vietnamese culinary culture, and the ...