The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City kicked off on Tuesday in the square before the Opera House in the city center.

HO CHI MINH CITY, April 29 (Xinhua) -- The Beijing Olympic torch relay in Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City kicked off on Tuesday in the square before the Opera House in the city center.

Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, vice mayor of Ho Chi Minh City, received the torch from Chinese Ambassador to Vietnam Hu Qianwen, before running the opening leg of the torch relay.

"It is an honor for me to be the first torch bearer," said Ha, who is also chairwoman of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay Organizing Board of Ho Chi Minh City.

Sixty torch bearers will run through the 10km route that will end at a stadium near Tan Son Nhat International Airport.

Hundreds of police have been deployed along the route to ensure smooth sailing of the torch relay.

This is the 19th leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay around the world, and also the first time for Vietnam to host an Olympic torch relay. After Ho Chi Minh City, the Olympic flame will head to Hong Kong.

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