International Yoga Day in Son La Province 2025

On June 14th, at Moc Chau Island Tourist Area – Bach Long Glass Bridge, Moc Chau town, Son La province, the People's Committee of Son La province, in coordination with the Embassy of the Republic of India in Vietnam, organized the International Yoga Day with the theme "For one planet, one shared health".

Attending the event were Dr. Monica Sharma, Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, Embassy of the Republic of India in Vietnam; leaders of provincial departments and agencies; Moc Chau town; and more than 200 members of Yoga clubs in Son La city and Moc Chau town.

Yoga is an ancient Indian practice and is recognized by the United Nations as a holistic approach to health and well-being; promoting the benefits of yoga contributes to improving the health of people around the world.

The International Yoga Day program organized in Son La province will contribute to encouraging and promoting the practice of yoga, improving people's health, and serving as a bridge to promote the beautiful nature and friendly, hospitable people of Son La to domestic and international tourists. The event will also foster solidarity and friendship between the people of Vietnam and India, making them even stronger.

As part of the program, a mass performance of the popular Yoga Protocol took place with over 200 members from Yoga Clubs in Son La city and Moc Chau town.

A mass yoga performance at the International Yoga Day in Son La province in 2025. Photo: Huy Thanh

Famous Indian films were screened.

Earlier, on the evening of June 13th, at the Son La Provincial Cultural and Cinema Center,Son La Provincial People's CommitteeIn collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Vietnam, they organized the opening ceremony of the Indian Film Festival in Son La province.

The Indian Film Festival, taking place from June 13th to 15th, will screen four renowned Indian films free of charge: "The Roar of Freedom," "Live Only Once," "English and English," and "The Female Wrestler." These captivating films, recognized globally, offer profound content, recreating Indian history in 1920, portraying friendship, self-discovery, self-respect, the value of living life to the fullest, and addressing issues of empowerment, breaking social stereotypes, and gender equality.

Each film, with Vietnamese and English subtitles, represents the diverse facets of Indian cinema, suitable for audiences of all ages, promising a rich cinematic experience for viewers in Son La.

Ms. Monica Sharma, Director of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre Hanoi and Ambassador of the Republic of India to Vietnam, presents gifts to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Foreign Affairs of Son La province. Photo: Nhu Thuy

Strengthening cooperation between Son La province and India.

Earlier, on April 11th, in Hanoi, a delegation from Son La province, led by Mr. Nguyen Dinh Viet, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, and Head of the Provincial National Assembly Delegation, held a working meeting with the Embassy of the Republic of India in Vietnam. Receiving and working with the Son La delegation was His Excellency Sandeep Arya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to Vietnam.

The delegation from Son La province included Ms. Trang Thi Xuan, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, leaders of several provincial departments and agencies, and Moc Chau town.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of Son La province held a working meeting with the Embassy of the Republic of India in Vietnam. Photo: Huy Thanh.

During the meeting, His Excellency Sandeep Arya, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to Vietnam, warmly welcomed the delegation from Son La province to the Embassy. Following his visit to agricultural and tourism models in Moc Chau town last March, the Ambassador highly appreciated the economic, social, and tourism development potential of Son La province and expressed his desire to continue exploring and strengthening relations, acting as a bridge for investment cooperation in Son La province, especially in the fields of agriculture, agricultural exports, and tourism. The Ambassador proposed that Son La province cooperate in organizing a program to celebrate International Yoga Day in Moc Chau town and an Indian Film Festival in Son La province.

On behalf of the Son La Provincial Delegation, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Viet thanked the Ambassador for the thoughtful and respectful reception. Son La Province agrees with the proposals of the Embassy of the Republic of India regarding the joint organization of the Indian Film Festival in Son La Province and the International Yoga Day celebration program in Moc Chau town. The proposal is to hold the International Yoga Day celebration event at Khan Pieu Square - Moc Chau Island Tourist Area, Muong Sang Ward, Moc Chau town. Regarding the Indian Film Festival in Son La Province, the planned screening location is the Provincial Cultural and Film Center.

The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of India to Vietnam presents a gift to Mr. Nguyen Dinh Viet, Chairman of the People's Committee of Son La province. Photo: Huy Thanh.

Mr. Nguyen Dinh Viet, Chairman of the Son La Provincial People's Committee, expressed his hope that in the future, the Embassy of the Republic of India would facilitate and support the province in communicating, promoting, and introducing tourist destinations, products, and cultural and tourism events between Son La and localities in India. He also requested cooperation in digital transformation of tourism; tourism product development; human resource training; and learning from India's experience in tourism management and development. Furthermore, he suggested surveying and utilizing footage of the Moc Chau National Tourist Area and other tourist attractions and scenic spots in Son La province in Indian films. Finally, he proposed researching and implementing policies to promote and support English language teaching in secondary schools throughout Son La province.

These events are meaningful cultural activities, marking an important milestone in Son La province's foreign affairs work. This is also the result of the working session between the Son La Provincial People's Committee delegation and the Indian Embassy in Vietnam (April 2025).

The event contributed to strengthening cultural exchange between Son La province and India, expanding opportunities for international cooperation, and promoting cooperation in many fields, especially tourism, services, and agriculture... demonstrating the high level of proactiveness of Son La province's leaders in the era of integration.