The Embassy of India, Hanoi organised the 4th International Day of Yoga celebrations in Hanoi on 16 June 2018 at the Cung Dien Kinh Hanoi (Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium) in partnership with the People's Committee of Hanoi, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnam India Friendship Association. Playing of national anthems of Vietnam and India were followed by the traditional lighting of the lamp, broadcasting of the messages of Mr. Narendra Modi, Honourable Prime Minister of India, Mrs.Sushma Swaraj, Honourable External Affairs Minister and Mr. Shripad Naik, Honourable Minister for AYUSH and a welcome address by Ambassador of India Mr. P. Harish and a speech by Mr. Kamal Malhotra, UN Resident Coordinator. Dignitaries attending the event included Most Venerable Thich Duc Thien, Padma Shri Awardee and Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association, Ambassadors and members from the diplomatic corps and senior representatives of the Hanoi People's Committees and Ministries of the Vietnamese Government. Around 1000 yoga enthusiasts from different walks of life and of all ages performed the yoga protocol led by Mr. Akhil Arya, Yoga Teacher at the Swami Vivekanand Cultural Centre, Hanoi and Vietnamese students of yoga class at the Indian Cultural Centre. Leading Vietnamese insurance firm, BaoViet Life, was the main sponsor of the event and Tata Motors was a co-sponsor.
