To make Quoc Oai District a magnet for visitors, the local government planned to improve service quality and work with travel agencies to include its destinations in tour itineraries.

From sunrise workouts in bustling parks to cleaner meals on family tables, Vietnam is quietly embracing a lifestyle centred on health and wellness.

Locals look forward to the holiday season, and Hanoi's Old Quarter is a hive of activity as Christmas preparations get underway.

Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports opened the 2016 Calligraphy Writing Festival in the Temple of Literature on February 2 with an exhibition themed "While drinking water, remember its source".

Quan An Ngon on February 2 opens a Tet Market Day, a traditional culture of Vietnam, to give locals and foreigners in Hanoi the taste of traditional characteristic foods.

The Youth Union of Hanoi has made the detailed plans on voluntary activities to assist communities across the city and help ensure social security in 2016.

Youngsters will once again be indulged at the Japan-like cherry blossom festival Shinnen 2016 – Lunar New Year Festival at Savico Megamall Long Bien centre on January 30-31.

The Hanoi cultural department, the organising board, said that the 2016 Calligraphy Writing Festival will be organised at the Literature Lake in Hanoi`s Temple of Literature from February 2-15.

The Hanoi Department of Industry and Trade held a meeting to announce the implementation of the “Act for consumer rights 2016” programme on January 26.

Hanoi People`s Committee opened a traditional flower market for the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2016 on January 25 in Hang Luoc street, Hoan Kiem district.

With two weeks remaining until the Lunar New Year (Tet) Festival, Nhat Tan village on the edge of Hanoi`s West Lake is blooming with a variety of flora, especially peach flowers.

Hanoi is the only city in Vietnam where ancient streets can be found. The capital city has an old quarter of 36 streets with thousands of roofed houses that have existed since its initial establishment, creating a unique beauty.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that numerous cultural and artistic activities will be held in the framework of Lunar New Year festival 2016, which is taking place from January 20 (the 11th of the 12th lunar month) at the Vietnam Exhibition, Culture and Art Centre, 2 Hoa Lu street, Hanoi city.

Mai Dich park with a lake inside will not provide more public parks and playgrounds, but also address demand for green space in Hanoi’s Cau Giay and Nam Tu Liem districts

The Tet Art Fair 2016 - "Contemporary Paintings Fair" with the theme “Convergence of quintessence” will be held at the Hanoi Creative City, No.1 Luong Yen in Hanoi from January 21-31.

Hanoi will conduct the investigation, statistic, inventory and classification of traditional craft villages in the city into eight groups to overcome and improve pollution.

The 2016 International Circus Gala to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Vietnam Circus Federation will take place on January 14 at the Vietnam Central Circus, No. 67-69 Tran Nhan Tong Street, Hanoi.

According to the recent happiness index of MasterCard – a global leading company in payment, Hanoi ranked the fourth with 71 points behind India’s Bangalore (73.2 points), Indonesia`s Jakarta (72.1 points), and India’s New Delhi (71.7 points).

A famous Italian guitarist Ermanno Bottiglieri is set to perform “The music’s ways vol.4” at L`Espace, 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi on January 7 along with artists and lecturers from the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

Hanoi Tourism Department closed the "Memories of Hanoi" programme at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel on January 4.

Traditional theaters play an important role in Vietnamese culture. Despite the rapid development of contemporary art genres and the entertainment industry in Vietnam, traditional theaters continue to inspire both Vietnamese and foreign audience.

Bat Trang, the seven-century old pottery village, is an interesting attraction in Hanoi that tourists should not ignore.

As the clock ticks down the last hours of the year 2015, Countdown Parties are due to be held in different locations in the city.