Happy Vietnam

The coastal province of Ninh Thuan is the grape capital of Vietnam, with a total area of over 1,000 hectares. In addition to selling grapes to traders, Ninh Thuan’s growers also open their vineyards to tourists, with images of local vineyards laden with fruit as beautiful as those in Europe, creating a “fever” on social networks. The vineyards within Thai An grape village have been attracting tourists with their delicious grapes. Visitors can take photos and pick and enjoy grapes and other local specialties. The village has more than 200 hectares of grapes, including red, green, pink, and candy grapes. Visitors will have the opportunity to learn and discover the different grape varieties and growing techniques and can buy their favourite varieties to plant. Photo: Nguyen Thanh – VNA

The Mekong Delta province of An Giang hosted its annual Bay Nui (Seven Mountains) ox racing festival in Tinh Bien township on September 29. This year marked the 24th instalment of the event, with 64 pairs of oxen from An Giang and Kien Giang provinces competing in the race. The festival is part of the Sene Dolta, one of the most important annual festivals of the Khmer community in the southwest region, along with Chol Chnam Thmay (New Year) and Ooc Oom Bok, a festival honouring the moon for a good harvest. Photo: Cong Mao – VNA

Dinh A Ngui, a man of the Bahnar ethnic group in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai is Chairman of A Ngui tourism service company limited in Gia Lai province. He attaches importance to community-based tourism, improving tourism services at ethnic villages and spiritual sites to preserve traditional culture. Photo: Hong Diep - VNA

Vietnam has obtained certain successes in illiteracy eradication, and efforts are still maintained to push ahead with the task. The International Literacy Day is observed on September 8 every year. In Vietnam, the literacy rates at Level 1 (completing Phase 1 of the illiteracy eradication programme and engaging in continuing education after acquiring literacy skills) and Level 2 (completing Phase 2 of the illiteracy eradication programme and engaging in continuing education after acquiring the skills) among people aged 15 - 60 currently stand at 98.85% and 97.29%, respectively. Photo: Quý Trung - VNA

Vietnam’s Military Engineering Unit Rotation 2 has successfully fulfilled its peacekeeping mission at the UN Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) and was welcomed home with a ceremony at Hanoi-based Noi Bai International Airport on September 28. Photo: Trong Duc - VNA

The second mock session of the "Children’s National Assembly " initiative was held in Hanoi on September 29, bringing together 306 young delegates from 63 provinces and cities across the country. Child delegates focused discussions on preventing and combating school violence to create a safe environment for children, and preventing and controlling the harmful effects of tobacco and stimulants in the school environment. Photo: Minh Duc – VNA

The Dao Tien ethnic minority group in Da Bac district, Hoa Binh province, have spared no effort in promoting their brocade weaving craft as a way to preserve their cultural traits and boost local tourism. Photo: Trong Dat - VNA

Kon Tum Cathedral, a 100-year-old church made of beautiful wood that is considered a masterpiece of Catholic architecture in Southeast Asia, is a must-see destination for visitors to the Central Highlands province. Construction of the church, the only Basilica-style wooden Catholic church left in the world, started in mid-March 1913 and was completed in early 1918. Many hardships, including the breakout of the First World War, slowed down the construction progress. Photo: Thanh Dat – VNA

Many foreigners joined local residents in Hanoi to clean up trash along streets in Hanoi on September 14 and 15 after super Typhoon Yagi causing aftermath in the city. Photo: VNA

The impact of Typhoon Yagi has caused tens of thousands ofhectares of rice, vegetables in Hanoi to be submerged and damaged. Soldiershelped farmers of My Luong district harvest rice in flooded fields. Photo: AnThanh Dat – VNA

Bang Vuong, or the square-fruit Malabar Almond tree, is not only a distinctive plant of the Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelago but also a symbol of the resilience and vigorous spirit of the Vietnamese Navy soldiers. Photo: VNA

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