Vietnam’s Mother Goddess worship introduced in India
A festival highlighting the worship of Mother Goddess in Vietnam was held on February 22 at India Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in New Delhi, India.
Performance of Mother Goddess ritual at the event (Source: VNA)
New Delhi (VNA) – A festivalhighlighting the worship of Mother Goddess in Vietnam was held on February 22 atIndia Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) in New Delhi, India.
It waspart of a series of activities jointly held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Indiaand ICCR to celebratethe 45th anniversary of Vietnam-India diplomatic ties (January 7, 1972 – 2017),10 years of the two countries’ strategic partnership (July 2007 – 2017) and oneyear of their comprehensive strategic partnership (September 2016 – 2017).
The worship of Mother Goddess can beconsidered a live museum which preserves the history and culture of the Vietnamesepeople, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh said at the openingceremony.
He expressed his hope that Indian andinternational audiences will gain a deeper insight into the Vietnamese culturethrough the rituals of the worship, which are performances combiningtraditional costumes and folk music.
The festival will travel to the ExhibitionCenter and Shopping Mall Dilli Haat INA in Guwahati city on February 23, AssamState in Northeastern India on February 25 and Kolkata city in Western Bengal State,Eastern India on February 27.
The practice related to the Vietnamese beliefin Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms was recognised by UNESCO as part of theintangible cultural heritage of humanity on December 1, 2016.
The belief in Mother Goddess worship reflectspeople’s desire for health, wealth and fortune.
The practitioners are comprised of templeguardians, ritual priests, spirit mediums, mediums’ assistants, musicians whoperform the songs for the spirits, disciples and lay adherents who share thesame beliefs in the spiritual power, supernatural strength and protection ofthe Mother Goddess spirit pantheon. All of these practitioners form groups whoworship together, take part in traditional festivals and perform spiritpossession rituals at temples and palaces dedicated to Mother Goddesses.
Vietnam is already home to several culturalpractices inscribed as world intangible cultural heritages, including Nha Nhac(royal court music), the Space of Gong Culture in the Central Highlands, QuanHo (love duet singing), Ca tru (ceremonial singing), Giong Festival, Xoansinging and Hung King worshipping rituals, among others./.
The practice of Mother Goddess worship in the modern society was the topic of an international symposium held in the northern province of Nam Dinh on January 6.
Vietnam’s traditional Mother Goddess worship was performed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on November 17, drawing crowds of international and local viewers.
The practice related to the Vietnamese belief in Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms has been officially recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
Nguyen Trong Nha Uyen has made history for Vietnam’s dancesport by clinching a bronze medal in the solo Latin category at the WDSF World Championship 2025 in Germany.
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.
Performance of Mother Goddess ritual at the event (Source: VNA) 
