Thailand promotes “soft power” through Songkran festival
The Thai government is actively promoting its "soft power" by organising the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024 with a series of events taking place over five consecutive days from April 11 to 15.
Thailand promotes “soft power” through Songkran festival (Photo: aleenta.com)
Bangkok (VNA) - The Thai government isactively promoting its "soft power" by organising the Maha Songkran WorldWater Festival 2024 with a series of events taking place over five consecutivedays from April 11 to 15.
This activity celebrates the Songkran traditional New Year festival being recognised as an intangible cultural heritage of the world by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation(UNESCO).
Salam Luang Park in the heart of Bangkok has been transformed into a hugeamusement and cultural exhibition area, drawing both Thais andtourists from all over the world.
Organisers set up three stages, including an electronic dance music stage for spectacular sound and light shows by top DJs; a main stage for festival opening and closing events, concert performances, traditional andcontemporary arts and cultural performances of Thailand; and a small stage for introducing culinary culture of five regions in the country.
In addition,visitors also have an opportunity to admire the floats with performers indiverse costumes from provinces and cities across Thailand. Each car participating in the procession bears a different theme,but all feature eye-catching decorations,attracting a large number of visitors.
Through the World Water Songkran Festival 2024, theThai Government also promotes its "soft power" by introducingfood, fashion, film, martial arts, and festivals.
This year’s🍰 Songkrancelebrations aim to not only honour traditional cultural values of Thailand but also help introduce this festival to people around the world.♚/.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is offering prizes worth over 500,000 THB (nearly 13,700 USD) for videos with content about Songkran and posting it on TiKTok as part of Songkran 2024 celebrations.
Bangkok is charging ahead with plans to host the Maha Songkran World Water Festival 2024, a grand celebration of the Thai New Year, from April 11 to 15.
In celebration of Thailand’s Songkran Festival, Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue has sent greetings letters to Thailand’s Speaker of the House of Representatives Wan Muhamad Noor Matha and President of the Senate Pornpetch Wichitcholchai on the occasion of the country’s traditional New Year festival.
Connectivity is expected to improve further with the completion of the fifth Laos–Thailand Friendship Bridge by the end of 2025, facilitating logistics and agricultural exports to Vietnam, Thailand, and China.
Two naval gunboats intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 1.5 tonnes of methamphetamine hydrochloride off the coast of the main island of Luzon just before dawn, in a joint operation with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.
In the today context of socio-economic development and growth, the professionalism of Vietnam’s revolutionary journalists continues to rise, guided by exemplary mastery of new information technologies and the modernisation of their founding principles to preserve the enduring values of revolutionary journalism.
Thai Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Commerce Vuttikrai Leewiraphan Thailand's formal proposal will be substantial enough for the US to consider further detailed negotiations. He hoped for a tariff rate not exceeding 10% and suggested that the US might extend the negotiation period if an agreement is not reached by the July 8 deadline.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture and the Association of Thai Silk & Culture Promotions, the event honors Her Majesty the Queen on her 47th birthday anniversary and promotes Thai craftsmanship on an international stage.
Prensa Latina's recent article on Vietnam’s assurance of smooth and effective transition to a leaner structure highlighted Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s latest directions on implementing 28 resolutions regarding the decentralisation and delegation of authority.
The lab focuses on four key thematic areas: energy transition and green innovation, sustainable agriculture, circular economy and sustainable cities, and nature-based solutions and biodiversity.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
Thailand promotes “soft power” through Songkran festival (Photo: aleenta.com) 
