Locals look forward to the holiday season, and Hanoi's Old Quarter is a hive of activity as Christmas preparations get underway.

The "Bach Hoa Bo Hanh" or "Parade of Flowers" is a celebration of the Vietnamese national attire, showing young people's love and pride for the nation's cultural heritage.

The goal of the first-ever Vietnam International Piano Competition and Festival is to establish itself as one of the country's most prominent piano contests and cultural events.

The movie Trung So (Jackpot) is the only Vietnamese representative at the 25th Golden Rooster and Hundred Flowers Film Festival in Tangshan, in north China’s Hebei Province.

Vietnam’s futsal (indoor football) national team made history by reaching the knockout stage at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in its first-time appearance at the event in Colombia.

Four films selected from the FIFA Mons, the Festival of Films about Love of Mons (Festival international du film d’amour de Mons), are being screened in Hanoi from September 14 through September 17.

World No 42 Vietnam beat world No 24 Guatemala 4-2 in their opening game on September 12 at the FIFA Futsal World Cup are being held from September 10 to October 1 in Colombia.

Vietnamese swimmer Vo Thanh Tung won the silver medal in the final of the Men`s 50m Freestyle - S5 Heat 2 at Rio Paralympics 2016 in Brazil on September 13.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent a message conveyeing his congratulations to the Vietnamese Paralympics delegation and Le Van Cong in particular, expressing his hope that members of the delegation will win more medals at the Paralympics 2016.

In early morning of September 9 (Vietnam time), power-lifter Le Van Cong has won the first-ever gold medal at a Paralympics for Vietnam in the men’s 49kg category.

“Cuoc Doi cua Yen” (Yen’s Life) directed by Dinh Tuan Vu will be screened during the fifth ASEAN film festival in the Prague, the Czech Republic, according to the information of the Organisation Board announced during a recent press conference.

Vietnam will host the 5th Asian Beach Games (ABG) slated for September 24-October 3 in the central province of Da Nang toward free from cigarette, according to the Games organising board.

About 100 athletes from four Southeast Asian countries are showing off their gymnastic skills at the 2016 SEAGZone Artistic Junior & Age Groups Championships in Hanoi.

Eternité (Eternity), the latest French language debut by French-Vietnamese director Tran Anh Hung, will be screened in Vietnam this September.

Shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh was welcomed by cheering fans upon his return to Hanoi on August 14 after his Rio Olympics victory.

Vietnamese badminton player Vu Thi Trang defeated Indonesia’s Lindaweni Fanetri 2-0 in the women’s singles group J on the eighth day of the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 13 (Brazil time).

Vu Thi Trang is hard at work preparing for her upcoming competition, getting her rackets and shuttles ready, warming up, and starting her training with a senior teammate in Brazil.

Vietnam will take part in friendly matches with Indonesia as a warm-up for November’s ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup.

Scoring 191.3 points in 20 shots, Vietnamese shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh on August 10 won the silver medal in the men’s 50-metre pistol shooting event at the ongoing Rio Olympics in Brazil.

Vietnamese rowers Ho Thi Ly and Ta Thanh Huyen will compete in the semifinals C/D of the lightweight women’s double sculls in the Rio Olympics.

August 10 night Hanoi time will also be the second time shooter Hoang Xuan Vinh will go for gold in the men’s 50m pistol event in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Vietnam’s hope for more medals at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro city Brazil is fading as its athletes performed poorly on August 8, the third day into the games.

Vietnamese fashion designer Vo Viet Chung will introduce 25 designs in his latest collection, Vuong Trieu (Royal), to the Haute With Heart Fashion Show that takes place at Hilton San Diego Bayfront on August 13.