15th ASEAN Senior Official Meeting on Sports opens in Vinh Phuc
The 15th ASEAN Senior Official Meeting on Sports (SOMS-15) opened in the northern province of Vinh Phuc on October 14, drawing the participation of 70 delegates from ten ASEAN member states, Timor Leste, Japan, China, ASEAN Secretariat and partners.
At the 15th ASEAN Senior Official Meeting on Sports (Photo: VNA)
Vinh Phuc (VNA) – The 15th ASEAN Senior Official Meeting on Sports (SOMS-15) opened in the northern province of Vinh Phuc on October 14, drawing the participation of 70 delegates from ten ASEAN member states, Timor Leste, Japan, China, ASEAN Secretariat and partners.
At the hybrid event, the secretariat updated on the upcoming actions for the decisions made at SOMS-14 held in Thailand last year while participants reviewed and worked to carry out the ASEAN Work Plan on Sports (Work Plan) for 2021-2025 and several important projects and events.
The ASEAN member states reported on their activities this year in response to the ASEAN Sports Day. Meanwhile, Thailand presented its preparation for the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) and 13th ASEAN Para Games in 2025.
At the ASEAN Plus FIFA session, the two sides discussed necessary steps to push ahead the building of an ASEAN – FIFA cooperation plan and accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN - FIFA Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
In the meantime, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the Southeast Asia Regional Anti-doping Organisation (SEARADO) reported on the implementation of a MoU on harmonised anti-doping efforts which were in accordance with the Work Plan for the period at the ASEAN Plus WADA Plus SEAPRADO session.
Besides, ASEAN’s affiliated organisations and partners provided a brief update on the ongoing and future initiatives to carry out the Work Plan and proposed measures to enhance collaboration with SOMS.
According to the agenda, the seventh ASEAN Plus Japan SOMS will take place on October 15 and the third ASEAN Plus China SOMS the following day.
🥃 Vietnam joined SOMS in 2012 and first hosted the meeting in Hanoi two years later./.
Vietnamese taekwondo martial artist Chau Tuyet Van along with nine other prominent athletes and sports officials in ASEAN have been appointed as ASEAN Women in Sports Ambassadors.
Foreign sport delegations to the 13th ASEAN Schools Games in Vietnam’s central city of Da Nang are impressed by the organisational work for the regional sport event.
The ambassador noted that among the 300,000 Vietnamese residing in the RoK, around 3,000 are living in Pyeongtaek and contributing actively to the local economy. Ho expressed his hope that the local authorities will continue support the overseas Vietnamese community in the city.
This is the first time since the adoption of the Convention that a country has served two consecutive terms on the Committee. The outcome shows the trust and recognition that member states have given Vietnam for its efforts and achievements in carrying out and promoting the Convention, as well as for its active role, strong standing, and growing credibility at UNESCO.
Quang Duc pottery is known for its wide range of forms, including wine bottles, jars, lime pots, vases, plant pots, incense burners and candle stands. Decorative motifs are equally rich, featuring mythical creatures, pastoral scenes, floral patterns, deer, peacocks, bats and more.
Vietnam’s cinematic appeal lies in its diverse settings, from terraced mountains and limestone karsts to bustling markets and ancient towns. Its mix of ethnic vibes, buzzing street life, and old traditions gives directors a goldmine for storytelling.
The Vietnamese team will gather on June 26 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, where they will train until July 14 before departing for Indonesia for the ASEAN U23 Championship 2025, which runs from July 15 to 29. Vietnam will face Laos on July 19 and Cambodia on July 22 in the group stage.
The exhibition showcases more than 100 valuable documents and artifacts, divided into two main parts: “Journalist Nguyen Ai Quoc – Ho Chi Minh” and “President Ho Chi Minh – Founder and Mentor of Vietnamese Revolutionary Press.” This is an opportunity to recall the late leader’s journalism journey and affirm his exceptional role in founding and guiding the revolutionary press in Vietnam.
For the first time, the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF) has granted Vietnam hosting rights for the two championships, including the Asian women’s solo category, which debuts this year as an officially recognised event.
Eight teams will join the tournament, divided into two groups. Group A features Vietnam, the Philippines, Sichuan Club (China), and Australia, while Group B consists of Vietnam U21, Korabelka Club (Russia), Taiwan (China), and U21 Thailand.
Despite strong home support and high expectations, Vietnam were unable to overcome the defending champions, who secured their third consecutive win over Vietnam in a regional final, following previous victories in 2014 and 2023.
The event, part of Vietnam’s cultural diplomacy strategy through 2030, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Venezuela and USM’s Faculty of International Relations. It attracted thousands of students from universities across Venezuela.
For the first time, Vietnamese audiences will have the opportunity to experience the ballet masterpiece "Don Quixote" in its original version by renowned choreographer Marius Petipa.
The contest carried deep meaning as it was the first time the life of Vietnamese women abroad had been highlighted as the central theme, said poet and writer Nguyen Quang Thieu, Chairman of the Vietnam Writers’ Association.
The event formed part of Vietnam’s ongoing campaign to seek UNESCO World Heritage status for the complex at the 47th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, scheduled to take place in Paris in July.
Creative cultural festivals are fast emerging as a new catalyst for tourism development in Vietnam, as localities increasingly invest in these vibrant events on a more systematic and larger scale.
This marks the first time Vietnam has hosted a continental-level Muay event which will feature competitions across 28 weight categories in combat and eight performance categories.
Coming to the Vietnamese booth, visitors had the chance to take part in a bamboo dance, a workshop on painting woven bamboo or rattan, or quizzes about Vietnam.
These are impressive achievements, not only showing the efforts and prowess of Vietnamese paddlers but also serving as proof of the sports sector’s strategic and systematic investment.
