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.

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism opened the "National Great Unity – Vietnamese Cultural Heritage" Week 2015 at the Vietnam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Son Tay Town`s Dong Mo on the outskirt of Hanoi on November 15 night.

Authorities have been exerting more efforts and implementing various solutions, especially in energy efficiency, to turn the capital city of Hanoi into a greener city.

An European Music Festival, which will be organised in Hanoi and HCM City from November 18-29, is expected to bring to the Vietnamese audiences with concerts performed by famous artists from eight EU member countries and Vietnamese young band Hac San.

With the aim of spreading awareness about wildlife trafficking, particularly the sale of rhino horns, a film and music festival will be organised on November 8 at the Thang Long Citadel Complex in Hanoi.

The Vietnam Cultural Heritage Week 2015 aims to show the strength of national solidarity and honours the cultural identity of 54 ethnic groups.

A Food Week showcasing the specialties typical of three regions in Vietnam will open at Vinhomes Riverside, Long Bien district, Hanoi, from November 7-15.

A special art program with the theme of "Singing from the city named after President Ho Chi Minh" took place in Ly Thai To garden at 31 Oct.

Hanoi People`s Committee recently held a ceremony to reveal the decision of the Prime Minister approving the master plan for restoring the Co Loa spiral-shaped citadel in suburban Dong Anh district on October 26.

Cultural experts and Ca Tru (ceremonial singing) aficionados in Hanoi gathered at a talk held in the city on October 22, discussing measures to preserve this intangible cultural heritage.

Cultural researchers and devoted dancers of Hanoi are making every effort to collect and conserve ancient dances of the old capital city of Thang Long, which are at risk of slowly fading into obscurity.

At the meeting with President of the Vietnam General Confederation of Labour (VGCL) Dang Ngoc Tung in Hanoi on October 12, Director of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) in Vietnam Chang Hee Lee said the ILO has plans to work with the VGCL to support trade unions nationwide.

Monsoon Music Festival 2015, one of key cultural activities to celebrate the 61st anniversary of Hanoi’s Liberation Day (October 10), took place at 8 pm on October 8 at the Thang Long Royal Citadel in Hanoi.

The fourth International Puppetry Festival will be held in Hanoi from October 10-16, with the participation of puppeteers from host Vietnam and nine foreign troupes from Russia, the UK, Germany, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Belgium and the Philippines.

Hanoi`s Tourism Cultural Craft Village Festival 2015 kicked off at the Quan Ngua Sports Palace on October 7.

Deputy Director of Hanoi Culture and Sports Department Truong Minh Tien said Hanoi cultural and traditional craft village festival 2015 themed "Traditional quintessence - Integration and Spreading" will be held at the Quan Ngua Sports Palace from October 7 to 11.

A photo exhibition featuring 12 photos of Hoan Kiem Lake (Sword Lake) sceneries is opening at Hoan Kiem Lake Cultural Information Centre in downtown Hanoi.

An exhibition featuring 40 contemporary, abstract and realism paintings by talented artists will open at the Viet Art Space facility in Hanoi October 3, the organizers of the event have unveiled.

Apart from numerous world`s famous sites such as Cuba’s Havana, Peru’s Machu Picchu - Incan ruins, Hanoi has recently been ranked in the top list of “Places to see before you turn 30” by the US`s Business Insider.

The Vietnam National Academy of Music has unveiled that child piano prodigy Vincent Vu will take to the Grand Concert Hall stage October 1-2 performing Tchaikovsky`s Piano Concerto No 1 and Sibelius’s Symphony No 2.

The New York-based news website Business Insider has singled out the most iconic food to eat in 50 countries worldwide in an article, in which “pho”, a traditional meal in Vietnam, was declared a must-try.