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.

Vietnam’s futsal (indoor football) national team made history by reaching the knockout stage at the FIFA Futsal World Cup in its first-time appearance at the event in Colombia.

An international workshop was held in the central province of Thua Thien Hue on September 16 to seek ways to preserve and promote cultural heritage values during the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945).

The Vietnam Cai luong Theatre will attend the China-ASEAN Theatre Festival, performing a cai luong show for the first time, in Nanning, Guangxi, from September 17 to 23.

Four films selected from the FIFA Mons, the Festival of Films about Love of Mons (Festival international du film d’amour de Mons), are being screened in Hanoi from September 14 through September 17.

The central city of Da Nang has launched “Impressive Moment", a video clip competition marking the 20th anniversary of its recognition as a central government city.

The two Vietnamese films will be screened at the the 21st Busan International Film Festival that is scheduled to take place in the Republic of Korea on October 6-15.

A Memorandum of Understanding to co-host the world cultural festival 2017 was signed by authorities of HCM City and Gyeongsangbuk-do province from the Republic of Korea (RoK) on September 13 during the visit to RoK from September 7-14 of Secretary of HCM City’s Party Committee Dinh La Thang.

World No 42 Vietnam beat world No 24 Guatemala 4-2 in their opening game on September 12 at the FIFA Futsal World Cup are being held from September 10 to October 1 in Colombia.

Vietnamese swimmer Vo Thanh Tung won the silver medal in the final of the Men`s 50m Freestyle - S5 Heat 2 at Rio Paralympics 2016 in Brazil on September 13.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK and Ireland have jointly held a programme in Ireland’s capital of Dublin to introduce Vietnamese culture to Irish people.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has sent a message conveyeing his congratulations to the Vietnamese Paralympics delegation and Le Van Cong in particular, expressing his hope that members of the delegation will win more medals at the Paralympics 2016.

In early morning of September 9 (Vietnam time), power-lifter Le Van Cong has won the first-ever gold medal at a Paralympics for Vietnam in the men’s 49kg category.

Vietnamese film director Nguyen Hoang Diep has been awarded the title of “Knight of Arts and Letters” by the French Government, making her the first Vietnamese female director to win the accolade.

Artworks by students from six secondary schools in Hanoi are showing for the first time at an international exhibition titled Rivers of the World in Vietnam’s capital and London.

“Cuoc Doi cua Yen” (Yen’s Life) directed by Dinh Tuan Vu will be screened during the fifth ASEAN film festival in the Prague, the Czech Republic, according to the information of the Organisation Board announced during a recent press conference.

Hanoi Museum in collaboration with Hanoi Ceramic Museum has hosted a thematic exhibition named “12 typical kinds of Vietnamese folk paintings”.

Vietnam will host the 5th Asian Beach Games (ABG) slated for September 24-October 3 in the central province of Da Nang toward free from cigarette, according to the Games organising board.

The survey report of the InterNations Expat Insider 2016 pointed out Vietnam has made the biggest jump, increasing an astounding 24 places to come in the 11th out of 67 countries.

Traditional arts and culture contribute to peace and stability, said Cambodia Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona in a keynote address launching Vietnamese Cultural Week in Phnom Penh.

About 100 athletes from four Southeast Asian countries are showing off their gymnastic skills at the 2016 SEAGZone Artistic Junior & Age Groups Championships in Hanoi.