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“Now a tourist attraction, this massive network of tunnels on the outskirts of Ho Chi Minh City served as a base during the Vietnam War,” CNN reported. Lying approximately 60 kilometers northwest of the center of HCMC, the Cu Chi Tunnels were utilized by Vietnamese soldiers as hiding places, communication routes, and supply lines during the war against the United States. Inside of Cu Chi Tunnels. Photo: Vinpearl These tunnels were constructed in the late 1940s during the French occupation of Vietnam and endured heavy bombardment by the U.S. in the 1960s. Besides being a bustling economic center, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) boasts historical relics that attract both domestic and international tourists. The Cu Chi Tunnels are one of the city’s most significant relics, offering firsthand experiences inside the extensive underground caves and providing insight into the lives of Vietnamese soldiers during the war. Stretching to the Cambodian border, the Cu Chi tunnel system...

The five-day event has brought together nearly 600 domestic and foreign artists of 18 art troupes from seven countries from across the world. The competition is expected to promote the image of friendliness, hospitality, and peace of Vietnamese people in general, as well as the local people of Hoi An in particular, said Nguyen Van Lanh, vice chairman of the Quang Nam provincial administration, at the opening ceremony.   Johan Rooze, artistic director of Interkultur, which the world’s leading organiser of international choir competitions and festivals, hailed Vietnam’s experience in organizing such a competition since Interkultur brought the first choral competition to Hoi An in 2011, saying this year’s competition has attracted 19 art groups from not only Southeast Asia but also the Middle East and Europe. He expected the 2023 competition would be another success to help popularize the genre of art in the public. The competition will feature 13 events with eight grade...