Notably, this year marks the first time that podcasts, one of the fastest-growing forms of digital audio content, will be included as an official competition category, said Pham Manh Hung, vice president of Voice of Vietnam (VOV), said at a press briefing in Hanoi on March 30.

The festival themed “Radio for a strong and prosperous Vietnam” will serve as a platform connecting radio professionals nationwide, fostering innovation and adaptation to digital transformation, said Hung, who is also head of the festival’s organising committee.

He noted that the introduction of podcasts reflects global media trends, where audio-based journalism is increasingly integrated with multiple formats and distributed across digital platforms.

VOV aims to become a leading podcast producer in Vietnam, guided by three key criteria - digital reach, audience impact, and professional production standards, he said.

This year’s festival will bring together 34 press and broadcasting organisations nationwide, including VOV affiliates, the Military Broadcasting Centre, the Public Security Communications Department, and various digital audio content producers. Entries will span multiple categories such as live radio, feature reports, investigative journalism, thematic programmes, ethnic language broadcasts, and podcasts.

An international jury will be invited to evaluate the podcast category, alongside an international seminar on the role of podcasts in the digital era, featuring 35 domestic and international experts to enhance professional capacity and promote global cooperation.

In addition to the competition, the festival will host professional workshops as well as the closing ceremony and awards presentation for categories such as Best Presenter, Outstanding Podcast Host, and Best Technician.

A large-scale art programme titled “Sounds of a New Era” will be held at October 30 Square, offering 50,000 free seats and blending cultural heritage with modern elements to bring radio closer to the public. Quang Ninh will also organise side events, including an OCOP (One Commune One Product) fair, a food festival, and a photo-video contest themed “Quang Ninh – Aspiration to Rise with the Nation,” along with exhibitions showcasing the history of Vietnamese radio and local journalism.

According to Nguyen Thanh Tung, deputy director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, preparations for the festival have been largely completed, including infrastructure and supporting facilities. He expressed hope that the event would help promote radio to a wider audience while showcasing Quang Ninh’s cultural heritage and development.

The opening and closing ceremonies will be broadcast live on VOV channels (VOV1, VOV2, VOV3, VOV Traffic), as well as on VOV.VN, VTC News, digital platforms, and local radio and television stations.

Frankfurt Radio Symphony to perform in Vietnam for 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties

VOV.VN - The Frankfurt Radio Symphony (hr-Sinfonieorchester Frankfurt) will give two concerts in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City this October to mark the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-Germany diplomatic relations.