The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan has worked with various domestic and overseas colleagues to organise a series of cultural events during Vietnamese Culture Month in several big cities in Japan to celebrate the 36th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnamese-Japanese diplomatic relations.

With a decrepit building as its only venue for performing in the city, the very existence of cai luong (reformed theatre) is under threat, a heartbreaking scenario for professionals and fans of this traditional performance art, who have been longing for a new and modern theatre.

A Vietnamese junior high school pupil has won second prize at the 38th UPU Letter Writing Contest, reported the Ministry of the Post and Telecommunications, citing sources from the Universal Post Union (UPU).

Plans for a trading ships museum in the ancient city of Hoi An in the central province of Quang Nam have been made in co-ordination with the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Hoi An City.

“Vietnamese-Japanese Mid-Autumn festival 2009” will be held at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology from September 25 - 27.

25 black-and-white photographs of Vietnamese people by Spanish photographer Sergio Sanz are being shown in the city of Zaragoza, Spain.

A seminar on Japanese literature will be held in Hanoi from September 16-19 as part of a number of activities acknowledging the Mekong-Japan exchange year. 

Father Joseph Nguyen Nang was officially ordained as Bishop of the Phat Diem diocese at the Phat Diem Cathedral, Kim Son district, in the northern province of Ninh Binh on September 8.

Miss Supranational Vietnam Chung Thuc Quyen were named in the top-15 list at the first-ever Miss Supranational pageant held in Plock, Poland, on September 5.

Vietnamese pop singer Ho Ngoc Ha will arrive in the Republic of Korea to attend the sixth annual Asian Music Festival held from September 17-19 at the invitation of the RoK’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Vietnam International Week (VIW) has been launched to promote mutual understanding culture, education and society among participating countries.  

Vestiges of an ancient village dating back to some 2,700 years, have been discovered in Van Ninh district in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa . 

The Ho Chi Minh Museum on September 7 received nearly 200 documents and objects relating to the late President Ho Chi Minh, which had been collected by organisations and individuals over the 2008-2009 period.  

An exhibition of 40 northwestern market fair photos will be held by photographer Nguyen Xuan Khanh.

32 photographers from 15 countries have won awards at the 5th International Photography Contest, which was held in Vietnam by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the Vietnam Artistic Photographers’ Association.

The Vietnamese film “Choi Voi” (Adrift) will be screened during the 66th International Film Festival in Venice, Italy from September 2-12.

A Vietnamese cultural centre will be officially put into operation in Berlin, Germany, on the occasion of Hanoi’s Liberation Day (Oct. 10), to meet the increasing demand for cultural exchange among the Vietnamese community.

A photography exhibition entitled “Vietnam’s Beauty” opened at the Vietnam Cultural Centre in Paris, France, on September 4 as part of activities to mark Vietnam’s National Day (September 2).

A performance for children, especially those living in difficult conditions, will be held in Hanoi on October 1 to ease their pain and lift their spirits.

A documentary film produced by Thailand on President Ho Chi Minh has been shown on Vietnam Television’s channel 4 as from September 2 to mark National Day and  will be screened VTV Channel 1 in late September.

More than 10 directors are collaborating to produce a 25-episode documentaryon Implementation of Uncle Ho’s Testament in 40 years.

Vietnamese Cultural Days were held in South Africa from August 31 to September 2 as part of activities to mark Vietnam’s 64th National Day and the 16th anniversary of the establishment of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

The Ho Chi Minh City museum opened an exhibition on “Hoang Sa and Truong Sa-Vietnam’s seas and islands” on September 1 to celebrate National Day (September 2) and the 40th anniversary of the implementation of Ho Chi Minh’s Testament.

An exhibition of Korean handicrafts, organised by the Korean Fund of Culture and Heritage, will be held at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology from September 5-15. 

The Japan-Vietnam Culture Association (JVCA) on August 31 launched a new centre to provide more information on Vietnam to the Japanese people.

More than 100 works of art from Vietnam are on display at an exhibition opened in Vientiane on August 31.

A contest entitled “Global Vietnam Martial Arts Star” was launched in Hanoi on August 31 to promote Vietnamese martial arts and look for talented artists for the Vietnamese film industry.

A ceremony was held at the Suoi Tien cultural and tourist resort in Ho Chi Minh City on August 31 to mark the Vu Lan religious festival, which falls on the 15th day of the 7th lunar month.

A festival for disabled musicians will take place from August 31 to September 4 in Gyeonggi in the province of Gyeonggido, the Republic of Korea.

The Vietnam - Hungary Friendship Association Central Committee held a meeting in Hanoi on August 29 to celebrate Hungary’s National Day (August 20) and Vietnam’s National Day (September 2) in the presence of Hungarian Ambassador Vizi Lazlo.