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The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has unveiled a revamped format for its prestigious club competition, signaling a new era for Asian football. With a reduced field of 24 teams, the continent’s elite clubs will battle it out for glory, kicking off on Monday with a fresh structure, increased prize money, and a quest for unparalleled quality. “It’s all about elevating the standard of Asian club football,” said AFC General Secretary Windsor John, as he explained the rationale behind the changes. “By reducing the number of teams, we’re ensuring that every match matters and that investors, both Asian and foreign, see the value in our competitions and our clubs.” The new format introduces the Swiss League system, dividing clubs into two 12-team leagues in East and West Asia. Each team will face eight unique opponents, adding variety and excitement to the group stage. With three times the prize money on offer, the champions will take home a lucrative $12 million, a fitting reward for th...

The Hanoi Autumn Festival persevered through floods and storms, and the resilient spirit paid off with a successful conclusion that left a lasting impression on all who attended. This festival was one of the many celebrations organized by Hanoi to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the capital’s liberation (October 10, 1954 – 2024). This year, the festival united 12 provinces and cities from across Vietnam, along with 17 districts, towns, and cities within the capital itself. It also garnered the enthusiastic participation and support of various associations, clubs, and tourism and travel companies. The festival attracted a diverse crowd of 50,000 visitors, including a significant number of international tourists. Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times At the closing ceremony on September 22, Nguyen Tran Quang, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Center (HPA), shared that despite the challenging weather conditions, the festival was a resound...

The Indian diaspora in the US expressed their excitement and enthusiasm at the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit. A member of the Indian community shared his anticipation, stating, “I am excited to meet Prime Minister Modi; he is a remarkable leader.” He further wished the Prime minister a long life and prosperity. “We are thrilled to welcome Prime Minister Modi, a true visionary leader. He has been one of the greatest prime ministers since our independence, and we, as a community, are incredibly proud of his achievements,” expressed the diaspora member to ANI. The atmosphere was filled with joy and patriotism as another member of the Indian Diaspora sang the beloved song ‘Saare Jahaan se Accha’ upon Prime Minister Modi’s arrival at Hotel duPont in Wilmington, Delaware. “Prime Minister Modi has ushered in a golden age for India, and we are forever grateful. This is a historic and cherished moment for all of us,” another community mem...

The Hanoi Autumn Festival 2024, with the theme “Hanoi Autumn – A Historical Season,” was a celebration of the city’s rich culture and beauty, marking the 70th anniversary of the Capital’s Liberation Day. This festival, organized with participation from 12 provinces and cities, along with local districts, businesses, and tourism associations, offered a unique glimpse into Hanoi’s autumn attractions and cultural heritage. Nguyen Tien Dat, Vice Chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association, expressed that the event successfully promoted the city’s distinctive autumn tourism. Visitors had the opportunity to immerse themselves in special cultural spaces that recreated Hanoi’s heritage, capturing memorable photographs. According to Nguyen Tran Quang, Deputy Director of the Hanoi Investment, Trade, and Tourism Promotion Center (HPA), the festival played a crucial role in establishing Hanoi as a prominent tourism brand, especially during the peak season for international travelers. The event sho...

Rana Flowers, acting resident coordinator of the United Nations in Vietnam, shared with reporters about the implementation of the SDGs. Photo: Phuong Hang Towards “Plan to save people and the planet” Rana Flowers, acting resident coordinator of the United Nations (UN) in Vietnam, stated that the SDG Summit marks the halfway point of implementing the 2030 Agenda with 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The conference provides an opportunity for world leaders to evaluate progress in implementing these goals, reflect on which goals are on track, and identify those goals that have not made expected progress. According to Rana Flowers, this is a crucial moment in the world’s development process, when countries, responding to the call of the UN Secretary-General, commit to accelerating and achieving breakthroughs to ensure a stronger planet by the end of this decade. “With the right political will, we can accomplish a lot in the next seven years,” said Rana Flowers. Al...

Vietnam-Japan Bolster Bilateral Relations Published on September 22, 2023 Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, chairwoman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians Group, and Japanese Crown Prince Akishino attended the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan relations on the evening of September 21. Photo: Quang Phuc Friendly and cooperative relations Speaking at the ceremony, Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, and chairwoman of the Vietnam-Japan Friendship Parliamentarians Group mentioned the history of people-to-people exchanges spanning more than 13 centuries since the 8th century, a half-century of cooperation and mutual development since the official establishment of diplomatic relations. (September 21, 1973-September 21, 2023). Vietnam and Japan joined hands to cultivate a practical and effective friendship and cooperation relationship with the foundation of cultural similarities, strong bonds, and high political trust. Truong Thi Mai, Politburo member, and chairwoman o...

Coordinate with the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association to organize activities that strengthen connection and friendly relations between the two countries, particularly in promoting business exchanges and cooperation. This is a key focus of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association in the last months of 2023 and early 2024, as agreed upon during the Expanded Executive Committee meeting in Hanoi. During the meeting, Nguyen Van Thanh, Vice Chairman of the Central Theoretical Council and Chairman of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association, emphasized that at the 12th Conference between the Executive Committee of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Association and the Thailand – Vietnam Friendship Association, which took place in Da Nang on September 11, the leaders of the two associations agreed to create a joint report on upcoming activities for coordination and implementation. At the Expanded Executive Committee meeting of the Vietnam – Thailand Friendship Assoc...

On September 21, Global Finance Magazine published an article titled “Vietnam’s Great Expectations,” which highlights Vietnam as one of the leading countries in Southeast Asia in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI). The article attributes this success to various factors, including Vietnam’s favorable demographics with 40% of its 100 million population under 25. Additionally, its membership in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) provides tariff-free access to a region with 800 million people. Screenshot from the article. “The 2023 outlook for the business environment in Vietnam shows promising signs of improvement,” says Thierry Mermet, CEO of Source Of Asia (SOA), a consultant for businesses seeking opportunities in Vietnam and ASEAN. “Foreign direct investment capital reached approximately $10 billion [in Q1 of 2023], representing a 0.5% increase compared to the same period last year.” SOA projects that this trend will continue. “Our projections fo...

Stage puppetry is a sophisticated art form that entails the manipulation of hollow puppets by skilled individuals to convey expression, gestures, and actions on stage. There are various forms of stage puppetry, including stick puppets, rod puppets, string puppets, hand puppets, and finger puppets. In Vietnam, the majority of puppetry performances draw inspiration from folk tales or excerpts from traditional theater productions. “Vietnam’s rich tradition of puppetry has long been overshadowed by international acclaim for its water puppetry. However, in 2013, I introduced my show entitled ‘Vietnam in Puppets,’ marking a significant turning point for the country’s puppetry art. With a desire to foster cross-cultural exchange and showcase the diversity of Vietnam’s puppetry traditions, I embarked on a mission to participate in international puppetry festivals. Through this global platform, I aimed to communicate to the world that Vietnam possesses a vibrant and dynamic puppetry scene, ...

On September 23, in Hanoi, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Trinh Thi Thuy and delegates cut the ribbon to launch the 13th Europe-Vietnam Documentary Film Festival (Photo: Hoa Nguyen) The European Network of Independent Cultural Institutes in Hanoi (EUNIC), in collaboration with the Vietnam Central Studio of Documentary Scientific Film, will organize the 13th EUNIC European-Vietnamese Documentary Film Festival in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from September 22nd to 28th. The event is expected to feature 19 distinct documentaries from seven countries, including Austria, Germany, Italy, Spain, England, Finland, Belgium, and Vietnam. Each European country will present one film, while Vietnam will showcase 12 films, including award-winning ones from international and Vietnamese film festivals. The films will cover social themes such as climate change, women’s empowerment, environmental protection, peaceful coexistence, and the risks of the digital age. Some of t...