CULTURE AND SPORT

The March rankings released by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) continue to show Vietnam’s strength in the junior category.

Crowds stood in heavy rain late on March 2 as authorities reopened access following the annual seal opening ceremony at Tran Temple in Ninh Binh Province.

Nearly 150 players from close to 40 countries are competing at the ITF World Juniors Competition, which opened in Lam Dong Province on March 2 and runs through March 14.

Hundreds gathered at a riverside pagoda in Ho Chi Minh City ahead of the first full moon of the lunar year, releasing floating lanterns and praying for peace and prosperity.

Vietnam claimed the 2026 World Team Three-Cushion Championship after a commanding 2-0 victory over hosts Germany in the final in Viersen early on March 2 (Vietnam time).

Vietnam’s national three-cushion carom team booked a place in the World Team Championship final after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sweden on March 1.

The Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra will launch its 2026/27 season on March 1 in Hanoi, under the baton of Honna Tetsuji and featuring Finnish pianist Henri Sigfridsson as soloist.

The 11th Japan-Vietnam Festival will return to HCM City this March, featuring more than 300 booths and a diverse lineup of cultural, economic and people-to-people exchange activities.

Vietnam forward Dinh Bac will miss the national team’s Asian Cup 2027 qualifying match against Malaysia in March 2026 after receiving an additional suspension from the Asian Football Confederation.

The Yen Tu Spring Festival opened on February 26 in Quang Ninh province, the first held since the Yen Tu-Vinh Nghiem-Con Son, Kiep Bac complex was recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

More than 800 performers dressed as deities and historical figures paraded through central streets in Dong Nai Province on February 26 as part of the Ong Pagoda Festival 2026.

Popular grilled snakehead fish stalls in Ho Chi Minh City sold thousands of fish on the God of Wealth day as customers flocked to observe a southern ritual for luck and prosperity.

The International Gong Festival will be held in Gia Lai Province in the fourth quarter of 2026, aiming to promote the unique cultural image of the Central Highlands region.

Fresh from winning the 2026 Premier League Pool, Duong Quoc Hoang has travelled to Las Vegas to compete at the 2026 Predator WPA Teams 10-Ball World Championship which kicked off on February 25.

Two representatives, Tran Quyet Chien and Nguyen Tran Thanh Tu, will compete for Vietnam as defending runners-up at the 2026 World Team 3-Cushion Championship in Germany.

As many as 23 photos by Australian photographer Tony Miller are on display in Dalat, offering audiences a quiet gaze, shaped by light and time.