A narration completed in 1961 by the late President Ho Chi Minh is to be submitted to UNESCO for recognition as a World Documentary Heritage.

A group of five Vietnamese painters left Ho Chi Minh City on July 21 for Penang, Malaysia to take part in an international art exhibition from July 23-27.

The 26th Vietnam Film Festival will take place in Ho Chi Minh City from December 8-12 with the participation of delegations from China, Laos, Cambodia, Russia, the Republic of Korea, Japan, the US, Finland and Singapore.

The Hanoi City People’s Committee has requested that steps be taken for the local Giong Festival to be recognised by UNESCO as the world’s intangible cultural heritage.

A giant coconut shell mosaic depicting General Vo Nguyen Giap and his victory at Dien Bien Phu has been placed on display in time to celebrate the hero’s upcoming 99th birthday on August 25.

Hundreds of local spectators and Japanese tourists flocked to the courtyard in front of Hue Royal Citadel’s Thai Hoa Palace on July 17 to enjoy a special performance that brought together “nha nhac” (Vietnamese court music) and “gagaku”, its Japanese counterpart.

The pageant aims to honour women who are beautiful and successful and have much contributed to the society.

135 students won prizes at the 20th International Biology Olympiad, which concluded in Tsukuba City in Ibaraki, Japan on July 18.

The Hanoi Chapter of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations on July 17 announced a number of key activities for the remaining months of the year that will mark Thang Long-Hanoi’s millennial celebrations.

A concert featuring both Japan’s traditional music, Gagaku, and Hue royal music of Vietnam was held on the evening of July 17 at the Thai Hoa Palace in the former imperial city of Hue.

The People’s Committee of Hoi An City in the central province of Quang Nam has worked with its Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to promote tourism in Siem Reap, Cambodia.

A musical instrument called the “dan da” (lithophone) dating back 3,000 years has been found in the Dinh Quan district of southeastern Dong Nai province.

Ho Chi Minh City’s Rong Vang Water Pupetry Troupe will take part in the 2009 Kijimuna Festa in Japan from July 20 to August 6.

Hundreds of objects on display at the National Museum of Vietnamese History can give people insight into an ancient culture that flourished 2,000-2,500 years ago.

The Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee has asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the National Cultural Heritage Council to recognize Thanh Giong festival as an intangible cultural heritage.

The Thua Thien–Hue provincial People’s Committee has demanded that the Provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism implement a project to improve Hue royal court music performances on the Huong River.

The 20th International Biology Olympiad opened in Tsukuba City in Ibaraji province in Japan on July 13 with more than 200 students from 60 countries and territories taking part.

Twenty-six out of 85 countries have registered to send contestants to the 2009 Mrs World Pageant, which will be held in the southern coastal province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau in November, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

A grand ceremony to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi and National Tourism Year 2010 will involve 8 cities and all members of the Council for Promotion of Tourism in Asia (CPTA).

Ho Chi Minh City’s Rong Vang (Golden Dragon) water puppetry troupe, owned by Thai Duong Stage Arts Company, will represent Vietnam to take part in the 2009 Kijimura Festa Festival in Japan at the invitation of Eshio Okinawa Joint Stock Company.

Hong Kong actor and singer Raymond Lam will appear in a concert in HCM City on July 22 as part of his Asian tour.

Three Vietnamese models will take part in the Asian Supermodel Contest 2009 held in China from July 16-25.

A group of 16 Vietnamese high school students have taken part in the Vietnam-Japan goodwill exchange programme in Japan.

The ancient city of Hoi An in central Quang Nam province has launched a contest to create souvenirs to help preserve, develop and honour trade villages and encourage artists across the country to maintain their crafts and handicraft products.

The Institute for Vietnamese Gastronomic Research launched the site www.amthuc.net.vn on July 11 to promote Vietnamese dishes worldwide.

As many as 114 ancient Vietnamese artifacts will be showcased at an exhibition, in the US from September 2009 to June 2010, according to the Cultural Heritage Department.

Local authorities in the Central Highland province of Kon Tum are joining hands to preserve 12 sets of precious gongs that are possessed by the Brau ethnic minority group in Bo Y commune.

Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay has entered the third phase of a campaign voting for the world’s seven new natural wonders, according to the New Open World (NOW) website on July 10.

An American author, who is a veteran from the Vietnam War, has been in Ho Chi Minh City to promote his debut novel, ‘Saigon Gold’.

A Spanish reading room opened at the National Library in Hanoi on July 9.