People-to-people diplomacy fostered through film screening
The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) hosted a screening of the film Mua do (Red Rain) on September 9 for members of the consular corps and Lao and Cambodian students studying in the city, a part of activities marking the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2025),
The film's cast and crew and the audience at the screening (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) ✤– The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) hosted a screening of the film Mua do (Red Rain) on September 9 for members of the consular corps and Lao and Cambodian students studying in the city, a part of activities marking the 80th anniversary of National Day (September 2, 1945 – 2025),
Ho Xuan Lam, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of HUFO, said the event was aimed at giving international friends deeper insights into Vietnam, its people, and their indomitable will, courage, and aspiration for peace during the struggle for national independence and reunification. He expressed his hope that such cultural exchanges would help strengthen solidarity and friendship between the city’s residents and the international community living, working, and studying there.
Mua do is a war-themed feature inspired by the 81-day battle to defend Quang Tri Ancient Citadel in 1972. The film honours and remembers the young Vietnamese who devoted their youth to the country's independence and reunification, while conveying the people’s aspiration for peace.
Following the screening, the audience had the opportunity to chat with the film’s cast and crew.
Ariadne Feo Labrada, Cuban Consul General in HCM City, said the film stirred powerful emotions about revolutionary heroism and the sacrifices of Vietnamese army and people during a brutal yet heroic period, adding that the work helps the audience, especially the young generation, better understand the value of history and peace.
A representative of the Russian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City speaks at the exchanges with the cast and crew of Red Rain. (Photo: VNA)
Adiguna Wijaya, Acting Consul General of Indonesia in HCM City, thanked the director, actors, and production team for creating an impressive cinematic work about a pivotal chapter in Vietnam’s history.
Representatives from the consulates of Russia, China, Belarus, and India also extended congratulations to the film-makers, praising the artistic quality and humanitarian values of Mua do. They said that while the film depicts war, its central message is one of love, peace, reconciliation, and unity, reminding today’s generation of the importance of peace and the need for cooperation between people and people as well as among nations or global prosperity and development./.
In recent days, the film has been warmly received, with many viewers visiting the citadel afterwards to offer incense and flowers in tribute to fallen heroes. During the National Day holiday from August 30 to September 2, the site welcomed nearly 10,000 visitors – a record number.
Film Mua Do (Red Rain) has grossed more than 150 billion VND in ticket sales, setting a new benchmark for a historical, revolutionary war film in Vietnam.
Held on September 13-14, ManiFiesta – the annual festival of solidarity organised by the Workers' Party of Belgium – drew tens of thousands of participants from across Belgium and neighbouring countries. Alongside music, debates and cultural exchanges, Vietnam made a strong impression with a booth rich in national identity.
Vietnam’s top female badminton player Nguyen Thuy Linh, ranked 18th in the world, was unable to defend her title after losing 0-2 to Cai Yan Yan of China (world No. 107) in the women’s singles final of Yonex-Sunrise Vietnam Open 2025.
At Nhan Dan’s pavilion, visitors encountered a vivid chronicle of Vietnam’s milestones under the Communist Party of Vietnam and the late President Ho Chi Minh’s leadership, from the struggle for independence and reunification to modern development and global integration. Special publications marking Vietnam’s 80th National Day, coupled with performances by Vietnamese artists, intricate handicrafts, and fragrant dishes, had foreign visitors lining up in droves.
Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc will be among 23 artists from 23 countries participating in Intervision 2025, an international music competition often described as the “Eurovision of Eurasia", in Russia.
The event aims to promote solidarity among ethnic minorities, particularly the Cham people, in southern and south-central Vietnam, following the recent merger of provincial-level administrative units.
The animated feature Buffalo Kids, hitting Vietnamese theatres on September 12, is developed from the record-breaking short Strings (2024), which holds the Guinness World Record for the most awarded short film in history.
The national achievement exhibition, themed “80 Years of Independence – Freedom – Happiness,” is the largest of its kind held in Vietnam so far, bringing together 28 ministries and central agencies, 34 localities, 16 state-owned economic corporations, and 94 leading private enterprises.
Victory Vietnam by Swedish film director Bo Öhlén is a deeply moving and authentic documentary, officially premiered in April 2025 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification of Vietnam (April 30, 1975 – 2025).
The LION Championship 26 (LC26) will take place at Tay Ho Gymnasium in Hanoi on September 13, with the spotlight on the debut of World WBC Muay Thai Champion Truong Cao Minh Phat, who will square off against Irish fighter Aaron Clarke in the 61kg MMA Striking category.
The archives consist of administrative records, maps, and technical drawings from 1911–1955 left by French coal companies, along with images capturing coal mining, colonial architecture, miners’ lives, and the local community. These materials not only carry historical value but also offer vivid insights into Quang Ninh’s socio-economic landscape before 1955.
Vietnam’s rich cultural heritage and stunning landscapes are taking centre stage at the third photo exhibition “Vietnam Through the Lens of International Photographers”, which opened in Hue city on September 10.
With this victory, Vietnam finished at the top of Group C with nine points, officially securing a place in the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 Finals, scheduled for January 2026.
On the opening day, Vietnam’s Vu Thi Trang played the first match for the host country, defeating Indonesia’s Aashi Rawat 2-1, marking an encouraging start for the home team.
The Cultural Day is expected to help further strengthen the Vietnam – RoK friendship while reaffirming Hue’s determination to expand international exchanges and assert its role as a cultural and tourism hub of the country.
Now in its second year, the event has grown into a dazzling cultural, culinary, and artistic extravaganza in the heart of London, celebrating the identity, diversity, and unity of the Southeast Asian region.
This year’s festival will offer audiences the chance to discover seven outstanding documentaries from seven foreign countries, along with 11 works from host Vietnam.
Inspired by the renowned Turkish novel "Madonna in a Fur Coat", the film portrays the tender love story of Manav (Shantanu Maheshwari), a young man aspiring to become a singer who is sent to study in Vietnam. There, he is enchanted by the self-portrait of Linh (Kha Ngan), a painter and dancer, setting the stage for a poignant romance.