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.

Hoang Xuan Vinh has made history when he secured a gold in the men’s 10m air pistol event at the Rio Olympics on August 6, becoming the first Vietnamese to win an Olympic gold medal.

Fencer Vu Thanh An will be Vietnam’s flag bearer at the Rio Olympic Games, which is scheduled to open in Brazil on August 5.

Coach Huynh Huu Chi said that weightlifter Thach Kim Tuan, Vietnam’s biggest medal hope at the upcoming Rio Olympic Games, is still training hard for the world’s foremost sports competition.

Vietnam gained a place in Group B at the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup 2016, according to the draw on August 2 in Myanmar.

Vietnam finished in fourth position at the ASEAN University Games, following the final day of competition, on July 17 in Singapore.

The Yonex-Sunrise Vietnam Open 2016, commencing next week, might be the last international event in which national number one badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh will play on the home ground.

Miss Vietnam 2016, the biennial national beauty contest, will kick off with qualifying rounds in July and the final round will be held on August 27 in HCM City.

Vietnamese singers Thanh Bui and the band The Lyricist appeared in the music video for "Don’t You Need Somebody" by American music producer - musician RedOne, a Grammy award winner.

Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) held a ceremony in Hanoi on June 20 to announce and introduce German Jurgen Gede as the VFF new Executive Director.

Vietnam International Challenge winners Nguyen Tien Minh and Vu Thi Trang will represent Vietnam at the Xiamenair Australian Badminton Open which starts on June 7 in Sydney.

Both Vietnam and Syria considered their friendly match on May 31 at My Dinh Stadium to be a test for their upcoming tournaments.

Manchester United ambassadors Dwight Yorke and Bryan Robson will come to Hanoi on May 15 to take part in an on-stage Q&A with fans.

During the finale night of the Miss Ha Long pageant held in the Quang Ninh province on May 2, contestant Vu Thi Van Anh overreached 20 others to be crowned Miss Ha Long 2016.

A Vietnamese film on childhood titled ‘Toi Thay Hoa Vang Tren Co Xanh’ (I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass) has won the Best Film title at the TFF Kids International Film Festival 2016.

Domestic designers took the first show of Vietnam International Fashion Week 2016 (VIFW) by storm, which is taking place in Ho Chi Minh City from April 23-26 , Quan Doi Nhan Dan (People’s Army) newspaper reported.

On April 18, gymnast Phan Thi Ha Thanh scored 52.700 points in the women’s all-around category at an Olympic qualifying tournament in Brazil, earning a slot to compete at the 2016 Olympic Games this summer.

A special premiere of ‘White Valentine’ a Vietnamese film that touches on so many issues lesbians face in real life and gives voice and visibility to homosexual women will screen starting April 15 at five AMC Theatres in the US.

Vietnam’s best fashion designers such as Nguyen Cong Tri, Hoang Minh Ha, and their international counterparts from France, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and the UK will show their collections in the Vietnam International Fashion Week Spring – Summer 2016, which will take place in HCM City on April 23-26.

A 20-year-old talented Korean guitarist Sungha Jung will perform two concerts at Vietnam’s Youth Theatre in Hanoi on April 16 and at HCMC Conservatory of Music in Ho Chi Minh City on April 17.

The central city of Da Nang is gearing up for the fifth Asian Beach Games (ABG 5) scheduled for September 24 – October 3, according to the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.