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 Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam Culture Week with the aims to promote traditional products and the unique cuisines of the three countries to international visitors was held on December 8 in the northern province of Thai Nguyen.

More than 60 foreign and Vietnamese guitarists are playing at the 3rd International Guitar Festival which opened in HCM City on December 7.Organised by the HCM City Music Conservatory, the festival will last until December 11.

Vietnamese documentary movie Singing from behind the Bars won the Best Asian Project award at Docs Port Incheon 2016, which was held in the Republic of Korea last month.

Nearly 1,000 Vietnamese and French people gathered in Paris on December 5 to enjoy a night music show of Vietnamese classical choruses.

The Central Highlands province of Dak Nong is surveying the volcanic cave system in Krong No district to compile a dossier seeking UNESCO’s recognition as a global geopark.

The 2016 Vietnam-Korea Giant Lantern Festival, that will take place for the first time at Leparc by Gamuda in Hoang Mai District, Hanoi from December 3 to January 22, is expected to be an attactive destination for visitors at the end of this year.

According to the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the practice related to the Vietnamese belief in Mother Goddesses of the Three Realms has been officially recognised by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity on December 1.

A stamp exhibition, themed “Vietnam - endless charm” was kicked off at the Thai Philatelic Museum in Bangkok, Thailand, on November 29 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Thailand (1976-2016).

Vietnam will have one representative at the Asian Football Confederation’s (AFC) Champions League in the next two years.

The museum of the northern province of Quang Ninh has cooperated with the History Faculty of the Hanoi University of Social Sciences and Humanities to excavate two ancient tombs dating back from 1,800-2,000 years.

The fourth International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Moot Competition of Vietnam started in Ho Chi Minh City on November 28.

Truyen Kieu (The Tale of Kieu), a masterpiece written by Vietnamese poet Nguyen Du in the late 18th century, has provided a wealth of inspiration for playwrights.

The Vietfest 2016, an annual Vietnamese cultural festival, opened at Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra on November 24.

Midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang scored the only goal in a match on November 23 that Vietnam defeated Malaysia 1-0, helping the national football team secure a place in the semifinals of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2016.

Overseas Vietnamese in Macau, China participated in the “Asia Ethnic Cultural Performances 2016” held in Hong Kong on November 20.

An art programme featuring Vietnamese and Korean melodies was held in the central province of Binh Dinh on October 14.

The Republic of Korea ranked first in the second Vietnam International Judo Championship 2016 by winning 10 golds, and three bronzes.

The central city of Da Nang is hosting the annual cinema festival from November 8 to 16, to encourage upcoming filmmakers and promote co-operation between Vietnamese and international filmmakers.

International art lovers get an insight into the development of the Vietnamese lacquer painting art when visiting an exhibition underway at Fahrbereitschaft exhibition house in Lichtenberg district, Germany’s Berlin.

With the result of 4 minutes 37.71 seconds in the 400m individual medley, swimmer Nguyen Thi Anh Vien brought home the first gold medal of the Vietnamese team at the Asian Swimming Championship 2016 in Japan on November 17.