Participants gathered in a mass yoga event held in Hanoi on June 14, 2026 in the occasion of International Day of Yoga. (VTV.VN)
On June 14, a large public yoga session brought hundreds of participants together in Hanoi, coinciding with the occasion to celebrate the upcoming International Day of Yoga and reinforce cultural ties between Vietnam and India. This year’s theme, “Yoga for Healthy Ageing”, focuses on yoga’s contribution to maintaining physical and mental health while enhancing resilience at every stage of life.
The programme was co-hosted by the Institute for South Asian, West Asian and African Studies under the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, and the Embassy of India in Vietnam. Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy Bastian N. Chacko said 2026 marks the 12th year since the United Nations established June 12 as the International Day of Yoga.
Opening the event, Associate Professor Dr Nguyễn Đức Minh, Vice President of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said cultural interaction has become an increasingly important foundation for international partnerships, complementing official diplomacy by encouraging closer connections between people from different countries.
Yoga, first developed in India, has evolved into a global practice that promotes physical fitness, mental well-being and inner harmony. Moreover, Dr Nguyễn Đức Minh added its widespread adoption in Vietnam, reflects not only growing interest in healthier lifestyles but also an appreciation of India’s cultural traditions and their lasting relevance. The gathering also conveyed broader values of peace, friendship and sustainable development.
According to Associate Professor Dr Nguyễn Xuân Trung, Director of the Institute for South Asian, West Asian and African Studies, yoga has gone beyond being simply a form of exercise and is now recognised worldwide as a practice that nurtures harmony between individuals, society and nature. He said cultural initiatives such as the event provide valuable opportunities to strengthen mutual understanding while supporting the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India.
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