Happy Vietnam

The craft of making banh cuon Thanh Tri (Thanh Tri steamed rice rolls) has officially been recognised as part of Vietnam’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage, upholding Hanoi’s long‑standing culinary traditions.

On a chilly winter morning, An’s small family is filled with warmth. Today, she relives her wedding day from eight years ago - this time with her two children by her side.

In its latest list, the US-based magazine noted that while cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City attract millions of visitors each year, Vietnam’s true allure lies in its diverse natural landscapes and immersive travel experiences. The country, it said, is “a haven for outdoor enthusiasts” and anyone drawn to scenic beauty.

Vietnam climbed to the 46th place in the World Happiness Report 2025, its highest position since the ranking was introduced in 2012.

Skytrax has ranked Da Nang International Airport in the central city of Da Nang of Vietnam 75th among the world’s Top 100 airports in 2026, up nine places from 2025 and placing it among Asia’s top 10. Photo: Tran Le Lam – VNA

A grand groundbreaking ceremony for primary and secondary boarding schools in border communes was held on March 19 morning, with Party General Secretary To Lam and Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attending at the main venue in Dong Dang commune, the northern mountainous province of Lang Son. The hybrid event was co-hosted by the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), state broadcaster Vietnam Television, telecom giants VNPT and Viettel, and authorities of 17 cities and provinces. VNA Photo

Since the United Nations designated March 20 as the International Day of Happiness, the global community has increasingly recognised that development is not solely about economic growth, but also about improving quality of life and inner well-being. With its strong emphasis on family and community, Vietnam has embraced this approach, underlining the importance of social policy, cohesion, and positive living.

Tourism experts attributed the strong growth to a combination of factors, including more open visa policies, diversified tourism products, and intensified promotion activities. Vietnam’s growing reputation as a safe and friendly destination has also played a significant role in attracting international travellers.

DIFF 2025 attracted more than 1.88 million visitors, up 26% compared with DIFF 2024, including nearly 770,000 international arrivals.

Ly Dai Thong, Head of the Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Nam Dam village in Quan Ba commune, Tuyen Quang province, has been a pioneer in preserving the Dao ethnic script and cultural traditions – an important part of the spiritual life of the Dao people closely associated with rituals such as the Cap Sac (Coming-of-Age) ceremony. Recognising the importance of cultural preservation, he has opened classes to teach the Dao script, traditional dances and musical instruments to younger generations. These classes not only help learners master the writing system but also gain deeper understanding of traditional rituals, thereby contributing to safeguarding the unique cultural heritage of the Dao ethnic group. With more than 26 years of Party membership, he has earned the community’s trust not only for his contributions to political work but also for his dedication to maintaining traditional cultural values. Photo: Minh Duc – VNA

T&T Group is implementing a series of large-scale projects in Quang Tri province, focusing on energy and infrastructure development, including LNG-to-power, biomass power, wind power and solar power projects, along with the Quang Tri Airport project and logistics, urban and tourism systems, contributing to creating new growth drivers for the central region. Photo: Nguyen Linh – VNA

Cu Lao Cham Island in Tan Hiep commune, Da Nang city is recognised as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, noted for its rich biodiversity and extensive coral reefs surrounding the island. Local residents use only small boats for daily fishing trips and often release rare marine species caught in their nets back into the sea, helping preserve the marine ecosystem.

The election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People's Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term concluded completely at 21:00 on March 15, with a voter turnout of 99.68%, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs. As of 23:23 the same day, official data from the National Election Council showed that 76,188,544 voters had cast their ballots, representing nearly all registered voters. VNA Photo

At exactly 7:00 a.m. on March 15, voters across the country enthusiastically headed to more than 72,000 polling stations, marking the start of the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026-2031 term. Earlier, several polling stations had conducted early voting in accordance with the law due to local conditions. In this election, nearly 79 million voters nationwide will exercise their electoral rights and responsibilities. Photo: VNA

Amid efforts to promote innovation in line with Resolution No.57-NQ/TW, the establishment of production–consumption linkages for agricultural products is becoming an important direction in Tay Ninh province. This approach not only helps increase the value of farm produce and stabilize output for farmers but also creates momentum for modern and sustainable agricultural development. Photo: Giang Phuong – VNA

When March comes, the Northwestern mountainous province of Dien Bien is endowed with the pure white mountain ebony blossoms. The flowers not only bloom across the forests and mountains, but also appear along streets, in parks and residential areas, forming picturesque scenes that attract both locals and visitors to stop and admire.

Through creative initiatives such as QR code-integratedkeychains, digital maps guiding voters to polling stations, and artificialintelligence applications that answer voters’ questions, many localities in HoChi Minh City are gradually innovating election communication. These solutionshelp bring information closer to citizens while contributing to building amodern, transparent and convenient election in the digital transformation era. Photo:Thanh Vu – VNA

From the perspective of students at universities in the central province of Nghe An, who are often referred as Gen Z, the election of deputies to the 16th National Assembly and People’s Councils at all levels for the 2026–2031 term represents not merely an administrative procedure but an important milestone in political maturity. For many first-time voters, each ballot reflects trust and responsibility towards the nation’s future. VNA Photo: Bích Huệ

Nestled in a mountainous area where ancient houses and traditional cultural life of the Nung ethnic people are well preserved, Bac Hoa village in Tan Son commune, Bac Ninh province is gradually transforming from a purely agricultural village into a new highlight for community-based and eco-tourism development in the locality. Photo: Danh Lam – VNA