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.

The 10th cultural-sports exchange festival between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) was held in the Yongin city of Gyeonggi province on August 29 in a bid to deepen the bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Hundreds of Vietnamese and Japanese residents in Da Nang and Hoi An participated in the annual Vietnam-Japan Culture Exchange at the central city`s Administrative Centre Park on August 28.

A detailed plan on restoring, preserving and promoting the values of the Thang Long Imperial Citadel relic site’s central sector has been approved by the Ministry of Construction, according to Hanoi Moi newspaper.

Vietnam`s Pham Trinh Phuong Thanh took first prize for best cartoon in a contest entitled Talk ! Talk ! Korea launched by the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).

A book on contemporary Vietnam compiled by a research centre for Vietnam and ASEAN under the Russian Academy of Science (RUS) is set to be released shortly.

An exhibition on Vietnam’s 70-year socio-economic achievements kicked off at the Vietnam National Library in Hanoi on August 25.

Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai on August 24 agreed with a proposal on building the National Exhibition and Fair Centre in Hanoi, covering 300 ha in Co Loa commune, Dong Anh district.

The “Vietnam Day in Austria” will be held at Ottakringer Brauerei and Ottakringer Platz squares in Vienna on September 4-5 to mark Vietnam’s National Day by Viet EU Association.

A pop song written by composer Nguyen Van Chung of HCM City has been included on two CDs by the Casa Musica, a music company in Germany.

Tran Quoc Tuan of Vietnam was elected as Deputy Chairman of the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) for the 2015-19 term during the federation`s 22nd congress held in Yangon, Myanmar on August 22, according to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

About 1,500 special documents of the August Revolution (August 19), National Day (September 2) and President Ho Chi Minh will be on display at the exhibition on Vietnam’s 70-year socio-economic achievements at the Vietnam National Library in Hanoi from August 26 to September 6.

“The Hanoi Days” will be held in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan on August 22-28. According to the organizing board, Thang Long Water Puppet Theatre will attend “The Hanoi Days” in Japan.

Hanoi will hold various cultural activities to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2) from August 18.

The grand finale of the 9th Sao Mai Television Singing Competition in Thanh Hoa on August 16 was a night for female singers as all they took home all three of the top awards.

Vietnamese swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien bagged bronze at the women’s 400-metre individual medley event on August 16 at the 2015 International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Cup Paris in Chartres city, France.

The permanent representative missions to the United Nations (UN) of 10 countries in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) celebrated “ASEAN Family Day” in New York on August 16.

The organising board said, the annual Vietnam-Japan Culture Exchange 2015 will be held at Administrative Centre Park in Da Nang city from August 28-30.

The Hanoi Department of Planning and Architecture announced a detailed planning for the National Sports Complex integrated with shopping, convention and tourism centres in Nam Tu Liem district on August 13.

The Korean Cultural Centre in Vietnam with the support of Vietnam Cinema Department and Vietnam Animation Film Studio opened the second Vietnam-Republic of Korea (RoK) cartoon festival in Hanoi on August 13.

A “Vietnamese Cultural Night” gala featuring traditional art performances and fashion shows was held on August 12 at the New-York Historical Society Museum and Library Archive (NYHS) in New York.