Swimmer Anh Vien looks to repeat title win

Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien is expected to defend her title at the Best Athletes and Coaches of 2014, which is being held on December 30 in three cities across the nation.
Swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien is expected to defend her title at the BestAthletes and Coaches of 2014, which is being held on December 30 inthree cities across the nation.

The 18-year-old delivered an outstanding performance this year, bringing home countless titles and records.

Vienis the first swimmer of Vietnam to win a medal at the Asian Games. TheCan Tho province-born athlete placed third in the women's 400m medleyand 200m backstroke events during the Incheon Games held three monthsago.

She is ranked amongst the world's top 10 swimmers in the current event.

Vien triumphed in the 200m medley and set a national record in the first Youth Olympic Games in China, which was held in August.

Shewas voted the best athlete in the 16-18 age group during the ASEANSwimming Championships. She also won nine gold, four silver and threebronze medals. She set nine records during the event as well.

Thetalented athlete also swept the national competition with 18 golds and14 records after winning a berth in the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics.

Vien was voted the Best Athlete of 2013, with 916 points, leaving her rivals far behind in the tally.

Her possible rivals this year include marksman Hoang Xuan Vinh and weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan.

Vinh'sbest achievement is a gold medal and a world record in the men's 10mair pistol at the World Cup held in the United States in March.

He maintained his excellent performance throughout the year and will participate in the Brazilian Olympics.

Tuanshowed off his impressive skills by winning a gold medal at the WorldYouth Weightlifting Championships and setting two records in the men's56kg category. He was honoured as the world's best player in thiscategory.

He won one gold and two silvers and set 11 records (world, Asian, ASEAN and national) during the world tournament.

Tuan came in second and pocketed a record in the snatch event at the Asian Games in the Republic of Korea.

He will also join Vien and Vinh at the Olympics.

Apartfrom the athletes, the votes from sports officials, experts andjournalists will also be considered for the awards for Best Coaches,Best Athletes with Disabilities and Best Coaches of Athletes withDisabilities.

Other athletes who might be included in the top 10are Asian Games winner (wushu) Duong Thuy Vi, world U12 champion (chess)Nguyen Anh Khoi, world No 50 (badminton) Vu Thi Trang, and worldchampion (bodybuilding) Pham Van Mach. World winner (taekwondo) ChauTuyet Van and ASIAD silver medallist (cycling) Nguyen Thi That are alsoexpected to be part of the list.

One new rule will be applied in this year's selection of winners.

Theathletes and coaches included in the top 10 will be stripped of theirtitles if they break any laws and regulations in training and competing.

Accordingto Hoang Du, head of the organising board, the new rule aims to notonly encourage sporting spirit but also limit bad behaviour that couldstrongly influence the reputation of national sports. Unacceptablebehaviour includes fighting, using swear words to intimidate rivals andreferees in the competition, and refusing to serve the national teams.

The results of the top 10 will be announced on December 31.-VNA

See more

Vietnamese football players try to put pressure on their opponents but spurned chances to break the duck. (Photo: VNA)

Football: Vietnam held to goalless home draw by Kyrgyzstan

Vietnamese could not make home ground advantage count as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Kyrgyzstan at the Group I of the AFC U17 Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2025 Qualifiers held in the northern province of Phu Tho on October 23.

The excavation covers an area of over 6,000sq.m with 60 research pits, each measuring 100sq.m. (Photo courtesy of the Institute of Archaeology)

Over 100 burials from 4000 years ago discovered in Hanoi

Archaeologists from the Vietnam Institute of Archaeology, the Hanoi Museum and the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities have announced the discovery of over 70 graves from the pre-Dong Son period and 40 graves from Dong Son period at the Vuon Chuoi archaeological relic in Kim Chung commune, Hoai Duc district.

Pho bo (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) and nem ran (fried spring rolls) attract the attention of many Korean and foreign visitors at a festival in the Republic of Korea. (Photo: VNA)

Festival promotes Vietnam-RoK cultural exchange

A cultural festival has been held in Uijeongbu city of the Republic of Korea (RoK)'s Gyeonggi province to mark the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam Women’s Association (VWA) in the country.

The women dance to the tunes of the “Nguoi Ha Noi (Hanoi people)”, “Tien ve Ha Noi” (Marching to Hanoi), and “Ha Noi nhung cong trinh” (Hanoi’s construction works)” songs. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi Ao dai dance marks Vietnamese women’s day

More than 70,000 women from across the capital city of Hanoi dressed up in Ao dai (traditional long dress) and participated in a folk dance ensemble on October 20 to mark the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Hanoi and the 94th founding anniversary of the Vietnam Women’s Union.

Runners compete in the Vietnam Jungle Marathon last year. This year, the event will welcome around 1,500 runners from almost 40 nations. (Photos courtesy of the organising board)

Vietnam Jungle Marathon welcomes runners from around the world

The Vietnam Jungle Marathon (VJM) returns for its seventh edition, welcoming around 1,500 runners from almost 40 nations to the stunning trails of Pu Luong Nature Reserve in Thanh Hoa province on October 19, featuring picturesque 10km to 70km routes.

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Ha Kim Ngoc speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam attends UNESCO Executive Board’s 220th session in France

Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Ha Kim Ngoc led a Vietnamese delegation to attend the 220th session of the UNESCO Executive Board on October 14-16 in Paris, which saw the participation of representatives from 58 member countries and over 100 observer countries.

Vietnamese men's football is set to enter the top eight in Asia and qualify for World Cup. (Photo: VNA)

Sports development strategy approved

Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long has signed a decision approving the sports development strategy until 2030 with a vision to 2050, with an aim to promote the sector in a sustainable and professional direction.

An exhibition held during the annual international ArtTech Fusion event last year (Photo courtesy of UEH)

HCM City to host international ArtTech event

New technological applications in the ArtTech field will be showcased at the annual international ArtTech Fusion event that will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from October 22-24.

The reenactment of a royal procession in the late 19 century at the National Museum of Asian Art. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam Week in US helps promote Vietnamese cultural heritage

The Vietnam Week 2024 has been held in Washington D.C, the US, from October 4-12, aiming to honour the country’s rich cultural heritage, enrich Vietnamese-American people's identity and commend the achievements of the Vietnamese-American community.