From the vibrant pace of life in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City to the picturesque beaches of Da Nang and the majestic mountainous landscape of Sa Pa, each destination offers tourists new reasons to return to Vietnam. This year, the S-shaped country once again ranks among Asia’s top three destinations with the highest rate of repeat visitors.

The Times of the UK has recently named Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in the central province of Quang Tri among Vietnam’s 11 most beautiful destinations for 2026, continuing to affirm the appeal of the world natural heritage site on both Vietnam’s and the international tourism map.

Hanoi is studying a four-level underground complex around the Opera House, combined with pedestrian tunnels to improve connections with Trang Tien street and nearby cultural and art spaces.

The 73rd Miss World pageant, just held in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, has helped promote Vietnamese culture and tourism, with contestants from around the world showcasing the beauty of ao dai (traditional Vietnamese long dress).

Ho Chi Minh City is bringing culture closer to everyday life by transforming public spaces, heritage and the arts into engines of creativity, community engagement and sustainable development.

As integration and the digital revolution change the way of life, more parts of daily life are shifting online. Performing art organisations are joining in, adopting digital tools from online ticketing to unified portals that offer information, data, and services.

As travellers increasingly seek authentic local experiences, the central coastal city of Da Nang is stepping up efforts to integrate cuisine into tourism itineraries, linking culinary promotion with destination branding and cultural preservation.

The second nationwide “Marching Forward with Vietnam” event on August 30 brought together 1,774,268 people across all 34 provinces and cities, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest number of localities simultaneously organising walking activities to raise environmental awareness.

Vast melaleuca forests, a typical peatland ecosystem and local folklore have long made U Minh Ha a draw in Vietnam’s southernmost province of Ca Mau.

Vietnamese children won gold, silver and bronze prizes in both age groups at the global “National Treasures Seeing the World” painting contest, held in Hong Kong (China), with 13-year-old Hoang Ngoc Han taking the top prize in the youth category.

Vietnam has strong potential to develop sustainable tourism, particularly through community-based and agricultural tourism that preserves local culture, creates livelihoods and delivers lasting value to both visitors and communities, experts and local officials said at the ongoing 20th Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo (ITE HCMC 2026).

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hosted the first Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Tourism Ministers’ Conference in Ho Chi Minh City on August 26, establishing a ministerial-level tourism cooperation mechanism among the three countries.

Vietnam successfully defended their ASEAN Cup title after a 2-2 draw with Thailand in the second leg of the final at My Dinh Stadium in Hanoi on August 26 evening, completing a 4-2 aggregate victory.

Hanoi will waive entrance fees to tourist attractions, historical sites and cultural facilities that normally charge admission on September 2, the National Day, under a decision by the municipal People's Committee.

The Vietnam Classical Music Association (VCMA) has announced that it will stage a concert in Hai Phong city on August 29 to celebrate the National Day (September 2) and Vietnam Music Day (September 3).

Culture has once again demonstrated its role as a bridge connecting the people of Vietnam and Laos, as an exhibition and performance programme on the practices of Then by ethnic groups of the Tay–Thai ethnic language family drew audiences in Vientiane from August 17–19.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President To Lam has demanded a shift from passive preservation to active shaping of national memory, with each generation responsible not only for inheriting the past but also creating and safeguarding values that may become heritage for centuries.

Nguyen Xuan Son scored twice as Vietnam defeated Malaysia 2-0 in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal at My Dinh National Stadium on August 19 night, securing a 4-0 aggregate victory and a place in the final against Thailand.

A giant “mysterious object” is gradually taking shape on the horizon of Hon Thom, Phu Quoc. From a distance, the structure resembles a multi-tiered flying saucer perched atop a tower. Yet behind this intriguing silhouette lies an architectural concept inspired by a celebrated queen in Vietnamese history, as well as a far from simple engineering challenge at a height of nearly 80 metres.

The 2026 Dak Lak Durian Festival opened in Buon Ma Thuot ward on August 15, aiming to promote the local durian brand, expand export markets and enhance the global reputation of Vietnamese agricultural products.