VietExplorer2025

President Vo Van Thuong invites German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier to step on the podium while military bands play the national anthems of both nations. Vietnam and Germany first established diplomatic relations in 1975. The two countries lifted ties to strategic partnership in 2011. Germany is Vietnam’s biggest trade partner in Europe, and more than 350 German businesses are operating in Vietnam. As of May 2023, Germany had 444 valid projects worth over US$2.36 billion, ranking fourth from a total of 24 European countries investing in Vietnam. The two leaders inspect the guard of honour. This is the first foreign visit of the German President in 2024 and the first high-level delegation exchange between the two countries this year – a pivotal year towards the 50th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2025. The two leaders hold talks immediately after the welcome ceremony. During two-day visit, German Presid...

Sulimsky, one of the world’s leading singers, will join forces with the Sun Symphony Orchestra to present an extraordinary New Year concert. The concert will feature the delightful Carnival Overture of Dvořák and his beloved Symphony No. 9 “From the New World”, both composed during the same period as the Biblical Songs, representing a prolific era of masterpieces by the composer. In addition, Vietnamese soprano Dao To Loan will grace the stage, performing special songs composed by Van Cao. Sulimsky has achieved great international acclaim throughout his career. In 2010, he emerged as the winner of the International Giacomo Lauri-Volpi Competition in Italy. Notably, his portrayal of Prince Kurljatew in Tchaikovsky’s Charodeyka (Enchantress) in Christof Loy’s production at the Theater an der Wien in 2014 garnered significant attention. Since then, Sulimsky has continued to excel, making his debut at the Salzburg Festival in 2018 as Tomsky (Pique Dame) under the baton of Mariss Janso...

The expert team from the Archaeological Survey of India, under the Indian Ministry of Culture, has started surveying the tower in Tuy Hoa City, as the first step towards its preservation and refurbishment. This restoration plan was established based on a memorandum of understanding signed between the Vietnamese and Indian governments. On Sunday, the Indian experts measured the tower, used drones to capture the relic, and created 3D scans of the structures for data collection. Due to its deteriorated state over the years, the Tuy Hoa authorities have requested the Indian experts to propose suitable repair and recovery solutions. The team plans to replace damaged bricks, treat cracks, reinforce structures, remove harmful organisms, and clean up the inside of the tower. During the process, they will ensure that the sightseeing experience for visitors is not disrupted. The Nhan Tower holds great significance as a signature symbol of Tuy Hoa and Phu Yen. It was built between the late 11th a...

The duo initially dominated with impressive scores of 7-1, 9-3, and 15-5, but faced a challenge when Indian opponents Arjun Cheema and Rhythm Sangwan narrowed the gap with a 15-11 victory. Despite a strong performance from both Vietnamese athletes, they only managed to secure a narrow victory with a 0.2-point lead over their Indian rivals. While the gold medal is a promising start for the team at the Asian tournament, it does not count as an Olympic qualifier. Currently, Vietnam has earned only one spot for the Paris Games thanks to Trinh Thu Vinh, who achieved a fifth-place finish in the women’s 10m air pistol event at the 2023 ISSF World Shooting Championships in Azerbaijan last August. Vietnamese athletes Pham Quang Huy (R) and Trinh Thu Vinh (L) cheer with head coach Park Chung Gun after winning the gold medal in the 10m air pistol mixed team event at the Asian Rifle/Pistol Championship 2024 in Indonesia, January 9, 2024. Photo: Nhung Nguyen / Tuoi Tre The ongoing ...

The year 2023 was a successful year for Hanoi tourism , with its targets met and prestigious travel awards received. In 2024, the industry aims to welcome 27 million visitors, including 5.5 million international visitors.   Nguyen Van Hung, a member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism , presented Certificates of Merit to the Hanoi Department of Tourism for their achievements during the previous year. Photo: Hoai Nam Le These were the main highlights discussed in the conference titled ‘Summarizing the Work in 2023 and Implementing the Task of Developing Tourism in Hanoi City in 2024’. The event took place in the afternoon of January 19, organized by the Hanoi Tourism Department, and was attended by Nguyen Van Hung, a member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, as well as Nguyen Manh Quyen, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee. During the conference, groups and individuals who mad...

All streets, entertainment centres, and markets have been beautifully decorated to welcome the New Year. This creates a lively atmosphere and offers young people the opportunity to take memorable photos. Some people enjoy strolling around the streets of Hanoi these days to fully experience the festive ambiance before Tet. Various items commonly used as offerings to ancestors or as gifts during Tet are available for sale in many wet markets. Ceramic products are highly sought after in markets as Tet approaches. Hoa Cúc (chrysanthemum) and roses are in high demand in markets these days as housewives prefer them for offering to ancestors. Street vendors selling flowers can be easily seen in various locations across Hanoi these days. Groups of young people gather in Hanoi’s Old Quarter to take photos and capture memories of Tet. Coriander is also popularly sought after in wet markets. People, especially in northern Vietnam, be...

The festival, organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade and the Vietnam Cuisine Culture Association, showcases a combination of traditional and contemporary art programs, along with various national Tet rituals. The event features over 150 booths exhibiting a diverse range of Vietnamese products and specialties from different regions. Many tourists gather to observe artisans wrapping and cooking “banh chung” (a square glutinous rice cake), a traditional dish during the Tet holiday. A special attraction of the festival is a calligraphy market where calligraphers, dressed in “ao dai” (Vietnamese traditional long dress), sell calligraphy works written in black and yellow ink on red paper. Visitors also have the opportunity to participate in traditional folk games such as stilt walking, tug of war, blindfolded clay pot breaking, and mandarin square capturing. A booth showcasing “To He” (toy figurines) attracts...