CULTURE AND SPORT

Naturalised striker Nguyen Xuan Son has been named the most valuable player in Vietnam’s national team for the March 2026 training camp, while Hoang Hen ranks seventh, according to Transfermarkt.

Hanoi plans to build a new theatre with up to 2,500 seats, with estimated investment of about VND 2 trillion (about USD 75.94 million) in the 2026-2030 period.

Thirteen foreign cyclists will compete in the 38th edition of the Ho Chi Minh City Television Cycling Cup, organisers announced at a launching ceremony held in the city on March 22.

Vietnam will host Miss Heritage Global 2026 in August, marking the first time the international pageant is staged in the country and in Asia.

Hanoi will host nearly 330 players from 21 countries at the Vietnam International Challenge from March 24 to 29, as top badminton athletes compete for titles and prize money.

A striking image of a fisherman in Hoi An has won the top prize at a major photography competition in the UK, beating more than 14,500 entries.

Two gold-plated crosses have been hoisted to the top of Saigon Notre Dame Cathedral, marking a major milestone in its long-running restoration.

Authorities in Ca Mau Province have approved a USD 615,700 project to renovate the Cao Van Lau Theatre and Cultural Exhibition Centre, known for its distinctive three conical-hat design.

A contemporary ballet inspired by Vietnamese folk culture will premiere at the Ho Guom Opera House in Hanoi on March 29, offering a fresh take on classical performance.

A mega concert featuring popular artists from famous TV reality shows will headline the opening ceremony of National Tourism Year-Gia Lai 2026, promising an energetic night for young audiences.

Around 10,000 runners from Vietnam and abroad are expected to take part in the Danang International Marathon 2026, scheduled for March 21-22 with several race categories and community events.

Quang Ninh will organise a summer tourism week featuring 14 large-scale cultural, artistic, sporting and tourism activities that will create a vibrant festive atmosphere across the province.

The Russian State Ballet, one of Russia's most distinguished ballet companies, will present three performances in late March at the Ho Guom Opera House, marking its second visit to Vietnam.

A 97-year-old Hmong craftswoman from northern Vietnam has gone viral after a short video of her greeting a foreign visitor attracted millions of views online.

Vietnam’s women’s beach handball team have earned a place at the 2026 IHF Beach Handball World Championships, which will take place in Zagreb, Croatia, from June 23 to 28.

Vietnam saw their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup end after a 4-0 defeat to Japan in their final Group C match at the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup on March 10.

Restoration work is under way on Can Chanh Palace in Hue’s Forbidden Purple City, a key Nguyen Dynasty structure destroyed 79 years ago.

Vietnam’s Nguyen Thi Loan secured a silver medal in the women’s 53kg category at the 2026 US Open Taekwondo Championships, the best result for the Vietnamese team at the tournament.

Authorities in Vietnam have clarified that the upcoming holidays for Hung Kings’ Commemoration Day, Reunification Day and May Day will not create a nine-day break as widely shared on social media.