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 Vietnam Film Week is underway in Berlin, Germanyn from December 12-15 as an activity to mark the 40th anniversary of the Vietnam-Germany diplomatic relations.

Among events to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Vietnam – Cuba diplomatic relationship (December 2) and the 57th anniversary of the Cuban revolutionary (January 1), the Vietnam – Cuba Culture Day was organised in HCM City on December 13.

A festival promoting cultural exchange between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) took place in the central city of Da Nang on December 12 as part of activities to celebrate the 23rd anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

An exhibition of ancient and modern sculptures is being held at Maison Des Arts in Hanoi.

The National Political Publishing House on November 4 announced a list of books for the fourth quarter of 2015, which feature the development of the Vietnamese Party and revolution cause, life and political career of some incumbent and former Party and State leaders.

The third friendship get-together of the fine arts associations of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia was held to discuss ways to enhance cooperation in Hanoi on December 10.

Two Vietnamese writers have received the Mekong River Literature Prize together with ten authors from Laos , Cambodia , Thailand , China and Myanmar.Nguyen Ngoc Moc and Cao Xuan Thai were awarded at the 6th Mekong River Literature Conference held in Vientiane, Laos on December 9.

King Tran Nhan Tong was honored as King-Monk when he ceded his throne to lead a religious life and became the founder of Vietnamese Zen Buddhism.

The closing ceremony of the eighth ASEAN Para Games was held at the Marina Bay Sands area in the evening of December 9.

The Vietnam-US Society in collaboration with the US Embassy in Vietnam organised a photo exhibition themed “Vietnam in my eyes” of US`s painter Soraya Runkel at the Vietnamese Women’s Museum (36 Ly Thuong Kiet street, Hanoi) on December 8.

Vietnamese athletes with disabilities have shattered 16 records at the 8th ASEAN Para Games, which is taking place in Singapore from December 3.

As many as 242 athletes from 10 countries and territories in Asia will compete in the fifth Aerobic Gymnastics Asian Championships, which is scheduled for December 11-13 in Ho Chi Minh City.

According to the organising board, about 500 programmes of television (TV) production units will compete in nine categories at the National Television Festival, which will be held in the central province of Quang Binh from December 16-19.

Vietnamese athletes won a total of 36 gold medals after five days of competition at the ongoing eighth ASEAN Para Games in Singapore that opened on December 3.

Two Vietnamese films including Chang trai nam ay (Dandelion) and Dap canh giua khong trung (Flapping in the middle of nowhere) will be screened at the 2015 Luang Prabang Film Festival (LPFF), which starts on December 7 in Laos.

At the closing ceremony of the 19th Vietnam Film Festival wrapped on December 5 in HCM City, four Golden Lotus Awards were presented to the most outstanding works, including Yellow Flowers in the Green Grass (feature film), the Boy and Reed Grass (animation), the Symphony (scientific film) and the Peak of Victory (documentary).

Swimming and powerlifting brought five more gold medals for Vietnam at the ongoing ASEAN ParaGames 2015 in Singapore on December 5.

The Vietnam Designer Fashion Week 2016 will open next weekend with an ambitious goal: bringing 20 top local designers closer to the general public and giving the nascent fashion industry a much-needed boost.

After years of dedicated work, half of the 326 Hung King relics found throughout Phu Tho province have been successfully restored.

Vietnamese swimmers on December 4 made a splash at the ongoing ASEAN ParaGames 2015 in Singapore, bringing home three gold medals while setting two new Games records.