Happy Vietnam

The Ministry of National Defence held a ceremony in Hanoi on September 24 to see off Level-2 Field Hospital Rotation 6 and Engineering Unit Rotation 3 to carry out United Nations peacekeeping missions in South Sudan and the Abyei area. The field hospital consists of 63 members, all of whom have been thoroughly trained in political, military, logistical, technical, and medical expertise, as well as peacekeeping knowledge, meeting all UN criteria and mission requirements. The engineer unit, meanwhile, comprises 184 members, including 18 female soldiers. Photo: Trong Duc - VNA

Muong Lay town was originally the economic, cultural and political centre of the former Lai Chau province (which included modern-day Dien Bien and Lai Chau provinces). It is now famous as an attractive tourist destination because of a street of stilt houses with stone roofs by the Da Giang River, creating a unique and poetic beauty. Photo: Xuan Tu - VNA

The adoption of children by border guard soldiers has helped many ethnic children in remote mountain areas attend school. The model has been replicated at many border stations nationwide. Living with soldiers, the children get used to an orderly lifestyle and become confident and amiable. Border guard stations share economic burden of ethnic families, help the children nurture their dreams, and raise the general education quality in remote, mountain areas. Photo: VNA

Trang waterfall is a natural waterfall hidden betweenancient trees, terraced rice fields and Muong ethnic people’s homes in Trang Tahamlet, Tan Lac district, the northern province of Hoa Binh. The waterfall hasthree distinct sections, with a lake firmly surrounded by rocks at the foot ofthe waterfall, creating a clear blue natural swimming pool. The water is cleanyet rather freezing, suitable for summer vacation. Visitors to the waterfallcan enjoy a Muong ethnic lunch with wild chickens, wild crabs, snails andgrilled fish caught from streams. Trang waterfall is considered one of the mostbeautiful natural waterfalls in Hoa Binh province, which visitors cannot missthis summertime. Photo: Trong Dat - VNA

Bamboo backpack in the culture of the ethnic minorities inthe Central Highlands in general and of the Jrai people in Gia Lai province inparticular is not only an object used in the daily life but also a work of artwith many decorative patterns, showing skillful hands, aesthetic sense, andexpressing feelings. Photo: Hong Diep - VNA

Located in Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province, Lung Tam isa small valley surrounded by rocky mountains. It is a land where the Mongethnic minority people have lived for generations and found fame from weaving,creating many unique brocade products. The Mong women split the threadscarefully to obtain sheaths. The flax sheaths are then crushed in stone mortarsto soften them until only the tough threads remain. After being boiled severaltimes in water mixed with ash and beeswax, the linen threads become softer andwhiter. This is when the Mong women work with their looms. Photo: VNA

The Tam Giang Lagoon, about 11km north of Huế, erstwhilecapital of Việt Nam, is among Southeast Asia’s largest fresh water bodies. Thelagoon, which borders four districts in Thua-Thien Hue Province, Phong Điền,Quang Điền, Hương Trà and Phú Vang, is about 24km long and covers a 5,200haarea. Its waters are 2-7 metres deep. The lagoon’s rich and diverse ecosystemplays an important role in conserving the country’s biodiversity. The vastfishing ground is a source of livelihood for about a million people who catchtonnes of fish and other seafood every year. It also serves as a shield,protecting the region from salt intrusion and floods; and provides refuge tofishing boats during violent storms. Today, Tam Giang’s pristine waters andwell-preserved cultural heritage of local fishing communities make it amust-visit ecotourism destination in the central region. Photo: Ho Cau - VNA

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee of Hanoi launched an all-people cleanup campaign for Hanoi in order to restore environmental sanitation to the capital city after Typhoon Yagi. Photo: VNA

The northern province of Phu Tho is well-known in Vietnam for its historical values and local specialties like Doan Hung pomelo and green tea. Green tea is grown on hills in various communes of Phu Tho, including Long Coc, with the green colour of tea leaves stretching out to the horizon. Visitors to Long Coc commune will not only get to see a magnificent view of the green tea hills, but also gain a chance to try some of the best tea varieties, including Bat Tien, Phuc Van Tien and Shan Tuyet tea. Photo: Trung Kien - VNA

Son Tra Peninsula, about 10km from the center of Da Nang City, offers an ideal habitat for the red-shanked douc langur, which has a population of about 1,300 individuals. A red-shanked douc langur has a tuft of white hair, maroon legs and white forearms. They often seek food on the Than mat (Millettia ichthyochtona) trees. Red-shanked douc langurs live in familiar groups and troops with 5-7 individuals in each herd. With a colourful body, these red-shanked douc langurs have been honoured by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as the “Queen of Primates”. They attract numerous professional and amateur photographers to the peninsula. Photo: Van Dung - VNA

Pha Din Pass is one of the four great peaks of the Northwestregion along with 3 passes of legendary O Quy Ho, Khau Pha and Ma Pi Leng. It'sone of the most highlight tour to Dien Bien Phu Vietnam. In the local language,Pha Din means "heaven and earth", also a reference to the height ofthis pass. Pha Din Pass has a total length of 32km. It's located on Highway 6,which is divided between Son La and Dien Bien provinces. Photo: Xuan Tu – VNA

Corals reefs only emerge on the water surface from May tothe end of July, especially on the 1st and the 15th day of lunar months whenthe tide is low and the coral reefs are clearly visible on the sea watersurface, creating beautiful scenery. Whenever the tide recedes, coral reefsstretching for kilometeres on Dong Hai beach in Phan Rang-Thap Cham city, NinhThuan province, showing up unique shapes and colors. Photo: Nguyen Thanh - VNA

Sung hamlet in Da Bac district, the northern province of HoaBinh, is a residence of some 80 households of Dao Tien ethnic people who stillpreserve many traditional cultural values. Located at an altitude of 530 metersabove sea level, Sung hamlet now becomes an attractive tourist destination witha pristine and wild beauty of the natural landscape, typical architectures andthe unique traditional culture of Dao Tien ethnic group. Photo: Trong Dat – VNA

Tau Sai is an important event celebrating the coming of ageof men and women among the Dao Tien ethnic minority group in the northernprovince of Cao Bang. The ceremony has been held for hundreds of years,honouring the principles of marriage, family happiness and uniting people in theirfamily and community. In the Dao group’s tradition, rank or title is veryimportant, which marks the moment someone can have an important voice in thecommunity and have the right to host various important rituals. The ceremonyalso aims to wish for peace, prosperity and luck for the family. Photo: Chu Hieu– VNA

Ap Ho Chieng festival (New Year hair-washing ritual of Thaiethnic women) has been reenacted as part of the annual Then Kin Pang festivalin Phong Tho district of the northern province of Lai Chau since 2014. Ahighlight of the Ap Ho Chieng festival each year is the scene of beautiful womenof White Thai ethnic minority group as they wash their hair together on thelast day of the Lunar New Year at Nam Lum spring in Khong Lao commune, PhongTho district. Then Kin Pang festival, taking place on the 9th and 10th days ofthe third lunar month (this year's festival was held on April 17-18), is amajor festival that plays a significant role in the spiritual lives of the Thaiethnic people. It is an opportunity for local people to express their wishesabout a peaceful life, good health, and abundant crops, among other things. Photo:Nguyen Oanh – VNA

The Xuan Thuy National Park was recognised as a Ramsar site- a wetland site designated to be of international importance under the RamsarConvention - in 1989. It is also the first Ramsar site in Southeast Asia. Thanksto its rich biodiversity, the reserve holds considerable potential for ecotourismand countryside tourism. To experience the wild nature there, from the XuanThuy National Park, visitors can sail along the Vop River to reach the Ba LatEstuary or visit the lighthouse on the coast of Tien Hai district (Thai Binhprovince) and the islets of Con Ngan, Con Lu, and Con Xanh. There, visitors canlearn about the life of rare migratory bird species and enjoy beautifullandscapes of mangrove forests. Photo: Lam Khanh - VNA

Heavy rains and floods triggered by super typhoon Yagi, oneof the strongest to hit Vietnam in decades caused great losses in the northernregion. People and all forces across the country have always joined hands withlocal governments and people in affected areas to overcome the consequences ofthe natural disasters. Photo: VNA

Visitors to the northwestern region of Vietnam are often overwhelmed by its stunning landscapes along the roads that are impressive with mountain ranges, green forests and beautiful terraced rice fields considered as “staircases to the sky.” The region is also attractive to travelers by its diverse cultures of ethnic minorities. Photo: Phan Tuan Anh - VNA

Over 23 million students nationwide celebrated the official start of the 2024-2025 school-year on September 5 morning. VNA Photo

Rao Tre village kindergarten in Huong Lien mountainous commune, Huong Khe district, Ha Tinh province has been upgraded to welcome children of the Chut ethnic people in the new 2024-2025 school year. Photo: Thanh Tung – VNA