Vietnam–Laos friendship spotlighted at international book festival in Vientiane

A series of cultural events honouring Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh has been held in Montreuil, France, highlighting his enduring legacy while strengthening cultural ties and friendship between Vietnam and France.

Located about 80km from downtown Ho Chi Minh City, Dinh Mountain stretches across Tan Hai, Long Huong, and Chau Pha wards.

PSNews - The UAE Embassy in Vietnam also confirmed that Vietnamese citizens holding ordinary passports, and their eligible accompanying family members, are able to get a visa on arrival from June 25, 2026 as long as they meet the above requirements.

The festival is part of Hanoi's strategy to boost its cultural industries by transforming cultural heritage into a driver of socio-economic development while preserving and promoting the city's traditional cultural values.

PSNews - From a land that once endured some of the greatest suffering during the war, Quang Tri today is rising to become a meeting point for connection, reconciliation, and the promotion of a global message of peace.

Nestled among coastal sand dunes in Cam Ranh, the project was conceived with a strong commitment to respecting the natural landscape and harnessing water as its central element. Rather than creating a visually dominant structure, the design blends into the terrain, making use of sand layers, native vegetation and open spaces to strengthen the connection between people and nature.

Hue is simultaneously stepping up efforts to attract investment into tourism, services and cultural industries. In the first five months of 2026, the city secured more than 19 trillion VND in newly registered investment capital, with projects planned in coastal tourism, lagoon-based ecotourism, cultural spaces along the Perfume River, convention and exhibition centres, night-time economy projects and cultural innovation hubs.

With coordinated efforts in planning, infrastructure development, product diversification, human resources training, digital transformation and destination branding, Phu Tho is well-positioned to transform tourism into a spearhead economic sector and a new engine of sustainable growth in the years ahead.

As the tourism sector seeks to increase visitor spending and extend stays, the development of the night-time economy is increasingly seen as a way to create new tourism products, enhance destination appeal and support sustainable urban growth.

As cultural industries and the creative economy gain momentum, AI is proving valuable in improving efficiency, streamlining operations and enabling creators to focus more on artistic content.

With its rich agricultural ecosystem, where each region boasts unique produce, culinary traditions, and farming practices, Vietnam is well positioned to develop and expand the farm-to-table model. Cities and provinces, such as Hanoi, Thai Nguyen, Da Nang, Hue, Can Tho, Lam Dong, and Vinh Long, are already embracing the model as part of their green tourism strategies.

Implemented under Plan 628, a joint initiative between the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the campaign marks a shift towards a more coordinated and long-term approach to protecting wildlife and natural resources.

According to experts, Vietnam needs a systematic and long-term strategy to bring its children’s literature to the world. This includes strong support for authors, illustrators, editors, translators, and copyright specialists, as well as greater participation in international book fairs as part of a cultural industry development strategy.

Scheduled for June 19-21 at Bong Lai Islet on Tinh Tam Lotus Lake in Phu Xuan ward, one of Hue’s most renowned scenic landmarks and a symbol of royal garden art, the festival draws inspiration from the lotus’s enduring beauty in court culture. The event aims to honour local heritage while offering visitors a distinctive summer tourism experience.

At the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, delegates visited the Doan Mon Gate and learnt about the formation and development of the ancient capital through different historical periods at display spaces. They also explored the Kinh Thien Palace’s Dragon Steps (large stone steps with dragon carvings), regarded as the political and ceremonial centre of the imperial citadel during successive Vietnamese dynasties.

Vietnam's Z121 Vina Pyrotech impressed spectators at Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) 2026 with a display deeply rooted in national identity. Using modern pyrotechnic technology, the team recreated the image of the palm tree, a symbol of the ancestral land of Phu Tho, before closing with a spectacular synchronised fireworks finale set to the iconic song Noi vong tay lon (Joining Hands Together), drawing enthusiastic applause from audiences.

The recognition marks the third UNESCO accolade for Phong Nha – Ke Bang, which was inscribed as a World Natural Heritage Site in 2003 and again in 2015. The latest designation highlights the park's global ecological significance while opening new prospects for conservation and sustainable development.

During the first five months of the year, international arrivals reached a record 10.6 million, the highest figure ever recorded for the period.

Under the Politburo’s Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on the development of Vietnamese culture, Hanoi has been given fresh opportunities to leverage its cultural, historical, tourism and creative assets. The city’s recently approved project on developing the night-time economy for 2026–2030, with a vision to 2045, is expected to create momentum for cultural industry growth while enhancing Hanoi’s standing as a creative and modern city with a distinctive identity.

UNESCO presented certificates to 12 newly designated UNESCO Global Geoparks and 44 others that successfully passed revalidation in Paris on April 27, 2026. Among them, Vietnam’s Non Nuoc Cao Bang Global Geopark was once again honoured, reaffirming its outstanding heritage and sustained efforts in preservation and promotion.