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.

Children’s art workshops offer a dynamic cultural experience, introducing young participants to the vibrant world of contemporary Vietnamese art.

A cultural programme themed "The story of Vietnamese lacquer painting" to promote and honour traditional lacquer painting, is being organised at Kim Ngan Temple, 42-44 Hang Bac street, in Hanoi.

Ho Chi Minh City will set off fireworks in four venues to mark the 41st anniversary of the liberation of south Vietnam and national reunification (April 30) and the 130th International May Day (May 1).

Actress Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc, who plays the role of Ut Thom in movie Trung So (Jackpot), won Best Actress of Golden Kite award for feature movie at the awarding ceremony on April 20 night in Hanoi.

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.

The Ministry of Education and Training opened the third Vietnam Book Day in Hanoi on April 19.

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Hanoi People`s Committee opened the art programme to welcome the Cultural Day of Vietnamese ethnic groups (April 19) at the Culture-Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups in Son Tay town in Hanoi on April 16.

State President Tran Dai Quang attended a ceremony and beat a drum to open the Truong Yen Festival 2016 at the Hoa Lu ancient capital historic site in the northern province of Ninh Binh on April 15.

A benefit concert will take place on April 23 at the Trung Vuong Theatre in Danang City to raise funds to provide treatment and other support services for child burn survivors and their families throughout the nation.

Nearly a hundred photos capturing the miserable lives of Indochinese workers in the French Toulouse Region during world wars in 1914-1918 and 1939-1945 are being exhibited in Toulouse city, from April 2-23.

Amateur kayakers will compete in the Da Nang Kayak Open Race in the sea along coastline of My Khe beach on April 30.

Ho Chi Minh City on April 13 hosted a festival featuring customs and rituals of Cambodian, Lao, Myanmar and Thai people during their traditional New Year celebrations.

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.

The first Hanami festival held in the central coastal city of Da Nang on April 9-10, is part of the activities organised by Asia Park to popularise the traditional and cultural values of Asian countries, aiming to bring outstanding tourism products to visitors.

Thirty pictures exposing the essence of the night in Hanoi and Hue through the lens of Sebastien Laval will be on display at Sofitel Legend Metropole hotel in Hanoi from April 14 – 24.

Vietnamese photographers have won top prizes at the second International Salon of Photography Donegal 2016 in Ireland.

The Sheraton Phu Quoc Resort designed by architect Vo Trong Nghia won the 2016 Green Era Award which was presented at the ceremony held in Germany`s Berlin Intercontinental hotel from April 3-4.

A competition for promoting understanding among member countries of ASEAN has been launched in Hanoi.

Opera Australia will perform La Boheme at the Hanoi Opera House on April 10.

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.

Surpassing 150 competitors, Ninh Duc Hoang Long, a Vietnamese student, secured his victory at the ninth Simandy Jozsef International Singing Competition in Hungary on April 4.