New Vietnam marathon record set

Athlete Hoang Nguyen Thanh from the southern province of Binh Duong broke the 21-year-old national marathon record today (January 21) when he finished 10th at the Asian Marathon Championships in Hong Kong, China. Thanh finished the race in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 43 seconds, beating the previous record of 2 hours, 21 minutes and 51 seconds set by Hanoi's Nguyen Chi Dong in 2003.

Thanh became the first Vietnamese runner to win a SEA Games marathon when he won the gold medal at the SEA Games 31, hosted by Vietnam in 2022.

Binh Dinh province to host Vietnam's first powerboat races in late March

The coast in Binh Dinh Province's Quy Nhon City.

The central coastal province of Binh Dinh plans to host Vietnam's first powerboat races in late March, bringing together some 70 professional racers and 50,000 visitors from around the world. The races, including the F1H20 Grand Prix and Aquabike Grand Prix 2024, will be held in the provincial capital of Quy Nhon.

The province is also considering other activities such as an international culinary festival, a music and fashion show, and a business matchmaking event. The races are expected to boost the province's tourism sector.

Central bank launches inspection of gold market

The State Bank of Vietnam has requested the cooperation of the Ministries of Finance, Industry and Trade and Public Security to launch an investigation into the gold market amid the rapid appreciation of gold    in recent months.

The move comes in response to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's order for the central bank to tighten control over the gold industry and keep prices stable.

Hanoi stages drone light show on Lunar New Year eve

Hanoi expects to set two new records in Vietnam and Southeast Asia by using 2,024 drones to perform a light show on the eve of the Tet (Lunar New Year) holiday. The show at West Lake or My Dinh National Stadium was the first drone event ever held in Hanoi.

During the Lunar New Year celebrations, known as the Year of the Dragon, Hanoi will launch 600 fireworks at 32 locations, including nine aerial pyrotechnic shows.

Vietnam's central coastal region emerging as an attraction for foreign investors

The northern part of Vietnam's central coastal region could become a favorable destination for international direct capital, Nikkei Asia reported, citing Shigeo Fukuda, head of Sumitomo Corp's overseas industrial park development department. The report cited the region's well-developed road network to Hanoi, room for further income growth, and efforts by provincial authorities to attract foreign capital.

The Central Coast region consists of six provinces: Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri and Thua Thien Hue.