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.

Japanese dance performances which are based on street dance by three groups, “Moreno Funk Sixers”, “Memorable Moment” and “90’s” will serve fans in Hanoi.

Hoang Sa island district People’s Committee and Japan’s Wrights Architects have recently signed a contract on consultancy and design of Hoang Sa (Paracel) exhibition house.

A photo of Vietnamese war veterans taken by Spanish photographer Sergio Diaz had its name on the shortlist of the Sony World Photography Awards 2015.

The Yen Tu Festival, one of the country`s most famous spring festivals, opened on February 28 in Thuong Yen Cong commune, Uong Bi city, northern Quang Ninh province.

The ASEAN traditional music festival will be held in central Thanh Hoa City from August 1 – 6 with the participation of 12 art troupes from ASEAN nations and partners.

The Women`s Empowerment Journalism Award 2015 has selected 19 journalistic works for its final round in the Asia Pacific Region.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam has approved the Radio Voice of Vietnam (VOV)’s plan to launch a 24/7 English language channel.

The Prime Minister has approved the founding of a Council Steering for the compilation of a Vietnam encyclopedia. Accordingly, the Steering Council will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam

A ceremony for the Soc temple relics to receive award recognized as the special National Site and opening of Soc Temple Festival 2015 was held on February 24 (the 6th day of the first lunar month) at the Soc historic temple area, Soc Son district, Hanoi city.

The seventh annual ploughing festival to bring a year of favourable weather and a bumper crop season took place on February 25 at Doi Son commune, Duy Tien district in the Red River Delta province of Ha Nam.

The opening ceremony of three-month long Huong Pagoda Festival was organized at Thien Tru Pagoda on February 24 (the sixth day of the first lunar month). Vice Chairman of Hanoi People’s Committee Tran Xuan Viet attended the event.

Several artists will perform traditional music in three French cities - Paris, Marseilles and Bordeaux - to celebrate the overseas Vietnamese community and the French during the Lunar New Year festival.

Vietnamese people are celebrating the new year as the Year of the Goat, the eighth zodiac animal in the lunar calendar.

Thousands of people participated in the Dong Da festival held in Hanoi on February 23 (the fifth of the first lunar month) to commemorate the 226th anniversary of the historic Ngoc Hoi-Dong Da victory (1789-2015).

Tet dishes have special significance as they reflect the Vietnamese tradition of each family member expressing their personal progress, happiness and professional prosperity through the tray of dishes.

Cultural activities of northern ethnic minority groups were demonstrated at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in Hanoi on February 22.

Young talented composers like Do Hieu and Pham Toan Thang are introducing quality songs that are expected to win them new achievements in the new year.

Five teams from South Africa, Australia, Poland, the US and Viet Nam will perform in the 2015 Da Nang International Fireworks Competition on April 28 and 29.

"Banh Chung" (square glutinous rice cake) is a traditional cake of Vietnamese people in Tet holidays. For the Vietnamese, making Banh Chung is an ideal way to express gratitude to their ancestors and homeland.

Tet, the Lunar New Year festival, is the most important holiday in Vietnam. As people believe Tet refreshes everything in their lives, they treasure the tradition of seeing off the old year and welcoming the new year.