Vietnam Will Build The Largest Stadium In The World Called Trong Dong With A Capacity Of Over 130,000 People

The construction of what will be the world's largest stadium in terms of spectator capacity has begun, aiming to become a new landmark in the region.

Vietnam will become the country with the largest stadium in the world. The new stadium, which is currently under construction, will be able to accommodate 135,000 people, surpassing North Korea's Rungrado, which is currently the largest stadium in the world, by five thousand seats.

The world's largest new stadium is expected to be completed by 2028, which is the tentative inauguration date. The new stadium will be called Trong Dong and will feature a retractable roof, allowing it to host not only sports events but also community and artistic activities throughout the year.

This stadium is also seen as Vietnam's opportunity to become a new host for high-performance international events, whether by FIFA, AFC, or the Olympic Council, as it is being built to become a regional benchmark and meets all the strict standards that these organizations require for stadiums to host their events.

At this moment, the top 3 largest stadiums in the world are the Rungrado in North Korea with a capacity of 130,000 spectators, followed by the Grand Stade Hassan II in Morocco, which is vying to host the 2030 World Cup and can accommodate 120,000 people, and finally, the Michigan Stadium with a capacity of approximately 107,000 people.

by Juan Cruz Lara Pérez

Vietnam Welcomes 1st Tourists To Resort Island After 2 Years

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — More than 200 foreign tourists arrived on Vietnam’s largest Phu Quoc island on Saturday, the first to visit the Southeast Asian country after nearly two years of border closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The fully vaccinated travelers from South Korea will spend their holidays in hotel resorts without a mandatory 14-day quarantine. They were tested on arrival, and once the negative results are returned, they can join activities on the island including sightseeing, shopping and entertainment events that require vaccine certificates.

“The program is among the country’s efforts to revive its tourism industry while reopening and developing the economy step by step under a new normal context,” said Nguyen Trung Khanh, chairman of Vietnam’s Administration of Tourism who welcomed the charter flight on the airport tarmac.

According to the Health Ministry, all staff members working in service facilities and 99% of Phu Quoc’s adult residents have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19. The island is planning to vaccinate children aged 12 to 17 next month.

Vietnam closed its border in March 2020, shortly after confirming its first COVID-19 case.

Since then, it only allowed only several international flights a week with foreign experts, diplomats and returning Vietnamese nationals. Those international arrivals must undergo a 14-day quarantine in designated hotels or government-run facilities.

Vietnam is the latest Asian nation to start opening up to fully vaccinated visitors. Thailand had begun by limiting tourists to its southern Phuket island before expanding to other areas, including Bangkok, since Nov. 1. The Indonesian island of Bali opened to arrivals last month with some restrictions including testing and a five-day hotel quarantine, and Malaysia opened up Langkawi island under a pilot bubble program.