Happy Vietnam

Vietnam’s women’s sepak takraw team on October 3, 2026, defeated Thailand 2-1 in the final of the women’s team of four event at ASIAD 2026, successfully defending the gold medal they won at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. This was also Vietnam’s third gold medal at this year’s Games. Photo by courtesy/VNA

As part of the second World Cultural Festival in Hanoi, an international delegation on October 2, 2026, visited and experienced the cultural spaces at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Doai Phuong commune, Hanoi, exploring the distinctive cultural features of Vietnam’s ethnic communities. By learning about traditional customs and crafts, enjoying folk arts and interacting with local ethnic communities, the delegates gained vivid experiences of Vietnamese culture. The activity contributed to promoting Vietnam’s cultural identity and bringing the country and its people closer to international friends. Photo: Khanh Hoa - VNA

Gia Lai province has been mobilising resources to address the European Commission (EC)’s recommendations on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The application of digital technology has contributed to making fisheries data more transparent and strengthening seafood traceability. Photo: Dinh Quan - VNA

The A Mu Sung Border Guard Station under the Lao Cai Border Guard Command, in coordination with the A Mu Sung Primary and Lower Secondary Boarding School, organised an extracurricular “Border Lesson” programme for 40 students October 1, 2026. Photo: Huong Thu - VNA

Known as one of Vietnam’s “four great mountain passes” and the legendary “Heaven’s Gate of Yen Bai,” Khau Pha Pass has in recent years become increasingly popular for its paragliding services. From the summit of Khau Pha Pass, visitors embark on a paragliding adventure filled with unique emotions, combining excitement, anticipation and a sense of novelty as they glide through the air and admire from above the spectacular landscape of beautiful terraced rice fields during the water-filled season or the golden harvest season, as well as the villages of Lim Mong and Lim Thai. Paragliding over Khau Pha Pass can be considered a highlight of adventure tourism in the northwestern highlands and has become a unique choice for visitors to Lao Cai. Photo: Pham Hau - VNA

The second Cultures of the World Festival in Hanoi 2026 opened on October 1 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel under the theme “Converging Heritage - Shaping the Future.” The event aims to promote friendship, mutual understanding and trust among peoples, while highlighting the power of culture to connect people across borders and differences and contribute to a peaceful, humane and sustainable world.

On September 28, the luxury Hanoi - Ninh Binh tourist train welcomed its first passengers on a journey themed “Connecting Heritage Destinations”. The high-quality rail tourism product offers not only a comfortable and novel travel experience, but also a new, sustainable approach to tourism, adding a distinctive attraction to the ancient capital.

The Nghe An provincial People’s Committee on September 30, 2026 held a ceremony to launch and put into pilot operation the Shared Data Repository and the provincial Analysis and Management Platform. The system comprises four components: the Shared Data Repository; the iNgheAn Management Handbook; the Real-Time Management Platform; and Open Data and Open Sharing. To date, data repositories have been established in eight out of 10 sectors, containing 158 datasets. At the provincial level, the Shared Data Repository has recorded 138 datasets across 31 categories. Photo: Trinh Duy Hung - VNA

Dak Lak province currently has 1,069 prestigious local figures in 1,546 villages, hamlets and residential groups across 102 communes and wards. In the province’s development process, village elders, village heads and other prestigious figures are regarded as “great trees” of the highlands. They serve as core forces in inspiring the spirit of self-reliance and self-strengthening, taking the lead in preserving cultural identity and eliminating backward customs, while actively mediating conflicts and helping strengthen the people-based defence posture from the grassroots, thereby contributing to bringing the Party’s guidelines and the State’s policies into people’s daily lives. Photo: Hoai Thu - VNA

Recognising science and technology, innovation, and digitaltransformation as important drivers for renewing the growth model, Vinh Longprovince has proactively implemented various programmes and solutions to putPolitburo Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW into practice. The province is determined toaccelerate solutions to remove “bottlenecks”, thereby creating strong andpractical momentum for socio-economic development. Photo: Phuc Son - VNA

Marking a historic milestone in Vietnam’s fetal medicine, doctors at the Fetal Medicine Centre of the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology have successfully performed the advanced FETO (fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion) technique to save a fetus suffering from severe congenital diaphragmatic hernia while still in the womb. The medical achievement not only offers new hope to many families but also demonstrates significant progress in the healthcare sector’s mastery of advanced and specialised treatment techniques. Photo by courtesy/VNA

The Vietnam Department of Peacekeeping Operations under the Ministry of National Defence held a welcome ceremony at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on September 29, 2026 for Engineer Unit No. 4, which had completed its United Nations peacekeeping mission with the UNISFA Mission in the Abyei Area and returned home. Photo: Tuan Anh - VNA

The Vietnamese women’s sepak takraw team defeated the Philippines 2–0 in the women’s doubles final, securing the second gold medal for the Vietnamese sports delegation at the 2026 Asian Games (ASIAD 2026). The victory also marked the return of Vietnam’s women’s sepak takraw to the top of the ASIAD podium after a 20-year wait. According to the team’s registered roster, athletes Nguyen Thi Khanh Ly, Le Thi Hong Lien and Nguyen Thi Thu Trang contributed to Vietnam’s gold-medal performance. Photo: Xinhua/VNA

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a project on conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of Kinh Thien Palace at the World Heritage Site of Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hanoi on September 29. Kinh Thien was the principal palace of the Forbidden City of Thang Long under the Le Dynasty (1428 -1789). The conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of Kinh Thien Palace goes beyond recreating an architectural structure. It aims to gradually restore the central space of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel and highlight the historical and cultural values of the nation. Photo: Thong Nhat - VNA

Every year in late September, early October the Ngoc Con Valley in Dinh Phong Commune, Cao Bang, dons its most vibrant attire. Amidst the vast expanse of rolling rocky mountains, golden rice fields cast their reflections upon the winding Quay Son River, creating a natural masterpiece that is both majestic and poetic. Far from the noise and haste of city life, the harvest season in Ngoc Con is imbued with the tranquil charm of a highland village: early morning mist dancing on mountain peaks, the rich fragrance of fresh rice carried on the breeze, and the radiant smiles of locals amidst stalks heavy with grain. Photo: Quoc Dat - VNA

The Nghe An Border Guards are establishing an additional channel for quickly, conveniently and securely receiving information from people in border areas through the “Anonymous E-Mail Box” model. The model not only encourages local residents to report crimes but also helps Border Guard forces closely monitor the area and promptly handle arising incidents, contributing to maintaining security and public order in border areas. Photo: Bich Hue - VNA

In the border commune of Muong Nha, Dien Bien province, the square-starred militia members are always ready to perform defence and security tasks while staying close to local residents and grassroots communities, joining hands to help people stabilise their lives. From border patrols, training and force building to assisting residents and conducting public communications and mobilisation, every effort helps strengthen the people-based defence posture and maintain peace in the border area. Photo: Xuan Tu - VNA

Following the Party and State’s policies on promoting national digital transformation and developing the digital economy and digital society, localities across Ca Mau province are proactively implementing modern infrastructure solutions and payment methods, bringing significant changes to traditional commercial activities. Photo: Chanh Da - VNA

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ba Chuc commune, An Giang province, in coordination with the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ninh Kieu ward, Can Tho city, on September 26, 2026 organised a programme providing free medical check-ups, medicines and gifts for poor households and policy families in Ba Chuc commune, An Giang province. At the programme, the delegation provided medical examinations, health consultations and free medicines to 300 local residents, and presented 300 gift packages to poor households and policy families, each including rice and essential necessities. The delegation also presented 25 gift packages to disadvantaged students. Photo: Thanh Sang - VNA

Pung Luong Commune (Lao Cai Province) jubilantly held its "New Rice Celebration" on September 26 - a traditional ritual rich in ethnic cultural identity and deep spiritual significance. This event serves as an opportunity for the community to preserve and promote traditional cultural values, while also showcasing the unique cultural beauty of the Hmong people to a wide range of domestic and international tourists. Photo: Tuan Anh - VNA