HA NOI —(VNS) The 18th National Film Festival will open on October 14-16 three days later than scheduled, due to the national funeral being held for General Vo Nguyen Giap starting on Saturday. The General passed away last Friday, aged 103.

According to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the film festival will officially take place in the northern province of Quang Ninh's Ha Long City from October 14-16 instead of the previously planned October 11-15.

The ministry said the event would also be shortened, but major sideline activities, including the "Cinema with Quang Ninh" exhibition, a workshop on film-making and distribution co-operation, and an exchange entitled Artists with Coal Miners, would remain unchanged.

The film festival is expected to attract around 1,000 participants including international guests. — VNS