Beijing Olympic torch relay concludes in Ho Chi Minh city

HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City concluded here on Tuesday night after Vietnam's top Olympic official ignited the cauldron in a stadium near the Tan Son Nhat International airport.

    Nguyen Danh Thai, chairman of Vietnam's Olympic Committee, ran as the last torch bearer. When he lighted the cauldron at 20:20 local time (1320 GMT), he also ignited loud cheers and applause from the spectators.

    A closing ceremony was held at the stadium, with the presence of Vietnamese Vice Premier Nyuyen Thien Nhan.

Torchbearer Nguyen Danh Thai, chairman of Vietnam's Olympic Committee, lights the altar during the ceremony after the Olympic torch relay in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam，April 29, 2008. Ho Chi Minh City is the 19th leg of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games torch relay outside the Chinese mainland

    "Ho Chi Minh City torch relay is the last leg outside China, and the successful torch relay in the city marks the successful conclusion of the Beijing Olympic flame's global journey outside China," said Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hu Qianwen after he completed the last but one leg as a torch bearer.

    "I am so excited to be both as an ambassador and a torch bearer," he said.

    During the torch relay, thousands of people, many of them enthusiastic Chinese expatriates and students, lined the 10-km relay route, chanting support for the Beijing Olympic Games.

    The torch relay started from the Opera House in the city center and 60 torch bearers, including five Chinese, ran through the 10-km routes, with Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, vice mayor of Ho Chi Minh City as the first torch bearer.

    On Wednesday, the Beijing Olympic flame will fly to Hong Kong where a torch relay will be held on May 2.