Abundant arts and cultural programmes, including special programmes for kids, will help Hanoi celebrate the New Year this week.

The National Institute of Traditional Art Performance of the Republic of Korea (RoK) on December 29 handed over a set of Bien Chung (brass bells) and Bien Khanh (stone gongs) to the Hue Imperial Relics Preservation Centre (HIRPC). 

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, the Vietnam Television and the Vietnam Cinematography Association jointly held an awards present ceremony for the fourth National Environmental Film festival (NEFF) on Dec. 29.

An exhibition entitled “Vietnam Fine Arts-Connecting Past and Present” was held in Hanoi on 28 December to mark the 40th anniversary of the Hong Kong-based Sunwah Group in Vietnam.

The well-known Chinese actor Liu Xiao Ling Tong met with his fans in HCM City on 28 December during his visit in Vietnam.

Thinking of You by Vietnamese-American Vu Quang Huy has won the Golden Heart prize for best film at YxineFF, Vietnam's first online short film festival.

A traditional music exchange programme between students from China’s Beijing University and their peers from Vietnam National Academy of Music took place in Hanoi on December 27.

Vietnam Television has launched the 2011 Folk Singing Festival to discover new original folk melodies peculiar to each region as well as prominent folk singing voices.

Vietnamese leading musicians and guitarists, including Luong Xuan Dinh, Le Duc Son, and pianist Nguyen Tuan Nam, will perform at the Flamenco show on January 24, 2011 at the Hanoi Opera House.

The Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts was assigned to planning the highland Gong culture preservation project by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Female singer Uyen Linh outdid her rival Van Mai Huong to win the 2010 Vietnam Idol contest, which is modelled on the shows in the US.

The fifth Cuisine Festival opened at 23/9 Park in Ho Chi Minh City on December 26 to promote Vietnamese and international cuisine to domestic and foreign visitors.

An array of eight famous Japanese animated films produced in the early 2000s will be screened at the National Cinema Centre from January 12-16, 2011.

A tourism-cultural week 2010 will take place in the northwestern province of Son La on December 25-28.

Vietnam’s world heritage Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh ranks sixth among the world’s top ten destinations for sailing cruises by the US’s National Geographic book Journeys of a Lifetime.

The 23rd Charming Vietnam Gala will take place in the south central province of Phu Yen on January 8-9 to raise money for the Nguyen Thai Binh Fund for poor students and the Vietnamese Talent Fund.

Female students Tran Nguyen Uyen Linh and Van Mai Huong will vie to be crowned Vietnam Idol in the finale of the series' third season on December 25 night.

The US National Geographic online magazine listed Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay as 6th in world’s top ten sailing cruise.

Aware of the tailoring and craft skills of the members of “Flower H’mong”, (Che Cu Nha commune, Mu Cang Chai district in the northwest mountainous province of Yen Bai) Craft Link, a Vietnamese NGO, is helping to preserve these traditional techniques and to present them beyond their village market.

Miss Earth Vietnam Luu Thi Diem Huong has been placed 17th in the Miss Grand Slam list on the Global Beauties website.

A photograph exhibition on Vietnamese television industry opened in Can Tho on December 21 within the framework of the 30th National Television Festival.

Findings on ancient Cham bricks and mortar have contributed to the restoration and conservation of My Son World Heritage.

As many as 101 photos capturing moments of General Vo Nguyen Giap’s life, taken by photographer Tran Tuan, are on show at an exhibition opening in Hanoi on December 21.

The Russian Writers’ Association has presented a bronze statue of Russian great poet A. S. Puskin to Hanoi to mark the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Thirty-five artists from Lao will participate in the music and fashion shows during the Lao Culture Week in Vietnam on December 21-28.

An international yacht festival will take place in the central province of Binh Thuan from Jan. 15-18, 2011, said Ngo Minh Chinh, director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Dec. 20.

Vu Dang Minh Anh, a 16-year-old pianist, will perform at Hanoi Opera House on December 21.

An exhibition of Hanoi’s streets by painters Nguyen The Duy and Cong Quoc Ha officially opened at the Republic of Korea’s Cultural Centre on 49 Nguyen Du Street in Hanoi on December 20.

The Vietnam Guinness Book of Records has recognised 30 new records at the 20th meeting of Vietnamese record holders held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 18.

The biggest ever exhibition of Vietnamese contemporary art is taking place at the Fine Arts Museum of Gwangju city, the Republic of Korea (RoK) from December 16, 2010 to February 6, 2011.