Spring festival draws tourists to Bac Ninh province
Visitors flocked to Phat Tich pagoda in Tien Du district, the northern province of Bac Ninh, for a local annual spring festival held on January 28 (the fourth day of the first lunar month).
Hanoi (VNA) – Visitors flocked to Phat Tichpagoda in Tien Dudistrict, the northern province of Bac Ninh, for a local annual spring festivalheld on January 28 (the fourth day of the first lunar month).
Apartfrom rituals praying for peace, the festival featured an array of cultural andart activities, and folk games.
Duringthe festival, Tien Du district has paid attention to ensuring security andsafety for visitors, environmental protection, food hygiene and safety, andfirefighting.
The Phat Tich pagoda, aspecial national relic site located just 25 kilometres northeast of Hanoi, wasbuilt in 1057 on a mountain called Lan Kha during the reign of King Ly ThanhTong (1054-72). It was reduced to ashes by French colonialists in 1948 andrestored in 1987. During the excavation of the pagoda from 1949-51,archaeologists found numerous old stone sculptures carved with flowers anddragons, bird goddess statues from the 17th century, and a piece engraved withthe head of a fairy, all of which are now on display at the National HistoryMuseum. A giant Buddha Amitabha statue, 27 metres tall and weighing3,000 tonnes, was installed outside on the Lan Kha Mountain in 2010. It wasadapted from a similar structure from the Ly Dynasty. The Phat Tich Pagoda is associated with Tu Thuc’s meetingwith a fairy. As the legend goes, there were endless peonies on Lan KhaMountain and in the pagoda, leading a young woman to visit the pagoda one dayto see the flowers. She carelessly broke a tree branch and was fined by themonks, but a local scholar, Tu Thuc, was also visiting the pagoda and offeredhis coat to compensate for the broken branch. They became friends and continuedto meet at the pagoda. The woman ultimately invited Tu Thuc to visit her house, leading him to a peony forest andinto a cave on the mountainside with an imperial palace with high walls andstone footsteps. She revealed that she was a fairy and they got married. Every year, people visit the pagoda to take part in the peonyfestival, where they enjoy looking at the flowers, listening to quan ho (loveduets) and poem recitations, and playing traditional games. The festivalusually lasts two days. The pagoda was recognised as a national relic site in 1962and a special national relic site in 2014./.
Thousands of locals, visitors and Buddhism dignitaries and followers flocked to the opening ceremony of the Tien Pagoda Festival in Lac Thuy district in the northern province of Hoa Binh on February 8.
Boasting a long list of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, the northern province of Bac Ninh has huge potential to develop its non-smoke industry.
But Thap Pagoda in the northern province of Bac Ninh was recognized as Special National Relic in 2013 and Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Statue in the pagoda was named National Treasure in 2012.
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.
An art performance at the festival (Photo: VNA) 
