HDBankCup Int’l Chess Tournament opens in HCM City
The ninth HDBankCup International Chess Tournament kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on March 7, drawing more than 300 players from 28 nations and territories.
HDBank Deputy General Director Le Thanh Trung (L) and winner of HDBankCup International Chess Tournament 2018 Mareco Sandro in a friendly match (Source: laodong.vn)
HCM City (VNA) – The ninth HDBankCup International Chess Tournament kickedoff in Ho Chi Minh City on March 7, drawing more than 300 players from 28nations and territories.
President of the VietnamChess Federation (VCF) Nguyen Dong Tien said that the week-long event offers agood chance for competitors to improve their skills as it brings together theworld’s top masters.
According to VCF VicePresident Nguyen Phuoc Trung, the host Vietnam sends to the tournament 161players, including top figures such as Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son, Tran Tuan Minh,Nguyen Anh Khoi, Pham Le Thao Nguyen and Vo Thi Kim Phung.
The nine-round event,organised by the Vietnam Chess Federation, has two sections: a masters categoryfor male players with Elo rating of above 2100 and women rated above 2000, anda challengers category for unrated players and those rated below 2100.
The event has a totalprize purse of 60,000 USD, of which the winner in the masters category willreceive 16,000 USD.
First launched in2011, the tournament has attracted 1,400 players from 36 countries andterritories worldwide.-VNA
Vietnam’s top chess player Le Quang Liem advanced to the next round after drawing with the world’s sixth ranked Maxime Vachier Lagrave from France in the eighth round of the Gibraltar International Chess Festival.
More than 300 players from 27 countries and territories worldwide will compete at the ninth HDBankCup International Chess Tournament slated for March 7-13 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Vietnam’s top chess player Le Quang Liem continued his progress by beating Grandmaster Rustam Kasimdzhanov from Uzbekistan in the fourth round of the ongoing Spring Chess Classic on March 5 in Saint Louis, Missouri, the US.
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.
HDBank Deputy General Director Le Thanh Trung (L) and winner of HDBankCup International Chess Tournament 2018 Mareco Sandro in a friendly match (Source: laodong.vn) 
