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.

"Hanoi deserves to be an national key cultural center", this comment was said by Deputy Chairman of Hanoi People`s Committee Le Hong Son at the conference to review the performances of the municipal Department of Culture and Sports in 2015 and orientation for 2016 on January 7.

The Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations presented its certificate of patronage of the “Son Nam – Ba Chua Vuc Temple”, part of the Pho Hien relic complex in northern Hung Yen province, on January 6.

Vietnamese athletes will compete at various tournaments in January with the ultimate goal of earning at least 15 tickets to the Rio 2016 Summer Olympics.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibition held a ceremony to award the “Discover Vietnam” photo competition and opened a photo exhibition themed “Discover Vietnam” in Hanoi on January 6.

As many 500 photographs featuring the history of Vietnam`s National Assembly (NA) has just been published in a photo book by the Vietnam News Agency Publishing House.

Ho Chi Minh City’s annual spring flower festival will be held at Tao Dan Park and on Cong Truong Quoc Te Street from February 3 (the 25th day of lunar December) to February 14 (the 7th day of lunar January) with a myriad of activities.

An arts performance was co-organised by the National Assembly Office and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism at the Hanoi Opera House on January 5 to celebrate the 70 years of the first General Election (January 6).

Hanoi`s delegation led by former Chairman of the municipal People`s Committee Nguyen The Thao paid a working visit to the central province of Binh Dinh on January 5.

A female Vietnamese photojournalist is showcasing her 45 photos featuring the beauty of Vietnamese women to raise funds for disadvantaged women in Cam Binh Commune in central Binh Thuan province’s La Gi Town, where the photos are on display.

More than 1,000 documents on the National Assembly’s 70-year history are being displayed at an exhibition that opened at the Hanoi National Library on January 4.

Indian movie star Siddharth Shukla has detailed the agenda for his January 6-9 visit to Ho Chi Minh City on his Facebook page.

Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports announced 10 outstanding cultural and sports events in 2015. The events were selected fromr consultation of nearly 100 media agencies in the city.

Eighty-three-year-old Meritorious Artist Nguyen Thi Ban has devoted her life to preserving “Quan ho” (love duet singing).

A ceremony was held in Muong Lay township, the northwestern province of Dien Bien on December 31 to publicise the recognition of the Xoe dance and Kin pang Then ritual as national intangible cultural heritages.

A concert was held at Park 23/9 in Ho Chi Minh City on December 30 to celebrate the birth of ASEAN Community on December 31, 2015, featuring artists from Vietnam and other ASEAN nations.

The national education channel - VTV7 will be officially aired on the first day of 2016, with the slogan "For a learning society", Vietnam National Television’s Deputy General Director Pham Viet Tien said on December 28.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 29 revealed the top 10 culture, sports and tourism events in 2015.

Vietnam`s first motor race for females will take place at Binh Phuoc province stadium on January 10.

Art exhibition “Yu Yu Vietnam Blue” by renowned US artist Mark Cooper in collaboration with Vietnamese partners kicked off at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi on December 28.

The Sai Gon - Cho Lon - Gia Dinh Revolution Memorial Complex was inaugurated on December 27 in Cu Chi district, Ho Chi Minh City.