The festival is being held at the National Documentary and Scientific Film Studio in Hanoi and DCiné Ben Thanh in Ho Chi Minh City. It features 22 exceptional documentary films from Vietnam and Austria, Italy, Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Belgium (Wallonia-Brussels), and Israel.

This year, the festival introduces new topics, such as children’s rights and human rights. A notable addition this year is a day dedicated to films by independent film makers.

The festival showcases a wide array of themes. The selected Vietnamese films focus on the preservation of cultural heritage, particularly traditional arts and games, as a means of connecting generations and healing historical divides. Meanwhile the European films delve into the transformative power of artistic practices, such as singing, music, visual arts, traditional crafts, and sports.

Director and Meritorious Artist Trinh Quang Tung, Deputy General Director of the National Documentary and Scientific Film organization, said: “The attraction lies in the fresh approaches and new topics from countries around the world. These films, which have won numerous awards globally, bring new perspectives and methods of storytelling. Young audiences are drawn to documentaries because they reflect life, everyday stories, and global issues like gender equality, children's rights, and environmental concerns.”

The festival will feature 13 Vietnamese documentaries, including "Dong Song Ky Uc" (Reminiscence River), and "Ngon Lua Dao Tan" (Dao Tan fire), as well as nine international films.

Audiences will have the opportunity to gain deeper insights into different countries, peoples, and cultures. The festival also serves as a platform for filmmakers and producers to network and opens up potential collaborations between domestic and international filmmakers in the future.