An art performance was held at Can Tho University in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on Feb. 21 to introduce the first nation-wide online music festival for pupils and students.

Cuban audiences have had a chance to watch a documentary entitled “Del Amor y los Muertos” featuring Vietnam’s land and people in the post-war period.

"The Festive Day in my Homeland” culinary festival was held in Ho Chi Minh City on February 20.

A hand-written copy of Truyen Kieu (Tale of Kieu) by the great poet Nguyen Du dating from 1852 has been found in the central province of Ha Tinh.

The world-renowned cellist, Julian Lloyd Webber, and Indian pianist, Pam Chowhan, are to perform at the 13th Hennessy Concert, which will take place at the Hanoi Opera House on March 6.

Vietnamese and Japanese folk cultures were highlighted in a festival held at the Tokyo-based National Theatre of Japan on Feb. 18.

The 2009 Nha Trang Sea Festival will be organised from June 6-12 to attract more domestic and foreign tourists to the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa.

The Vietnam Folk Arts Association in the central highland province of Kon Tum has opened a class to teach members of Gie Trieng ethnic minority group to play their traditional flutes.

More than 180 stunning photos taken by local and foreign photographers are being displayed at an exhibition that opened in Ho Chi Minh City on February 17.

Four Vietnamese writers and poets have won the 2008 Mekong River Literature Prize, reported the Award Council of the Vietnamese Writers’ Association (VWA).

An exhibition of paintings entitled “Voices of Vietnam” is currently on display in Sydney, Australia, featuring works of art created by both Vietnamese and foreign veterans.

Vietnamese theatre director Le Quy Duong has been named artistic director of the Asian Theatre Festival 2009, due to take place in China this June.

The 2009 carnival is scheduled to take place in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh province from April 25 to May 2, featuring floating stages and impressive fireworks displays.

By February 15, Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay ranked third among the 25 World Heritage Sites in category G in the second round of the campaign to select the new Natural Wonders of the World, according to the organiser, Newopenworld.

The 2009 Vietnam Sea Festival will be held in Paris, France on April 28-29 to promote advertising programmes and attract foreign visitors to tourist sites in Vietnam.

An EU-funded training centre for interpreters and translators was inaugurated at the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam in Hanoi on Feb. 12.

Two ancient bronze drums have been discovered in mountainous Axan commune, Tay Giang district of the central province of Quang Nam.

The 2009 Golden Kite awards will take place at the National Conference Centre on the evening of March 1, broadcast live by VTV.

Japan’s Tokyo Engeki Ensemble in coordination with Vietnam’s Youth Theatre will perform the drama “A Good Man in Sezuan” over five evenings in Hanoi, Hue and Ho Chi Minh cities between March 2-13.

Vietnamese piano talent Nguyen Viet Trung will play at the Hanoi Opera House on February 22 in a unique performance with two other young talents from Vietnam and Poland.

The International Kite Festival 2009 is scheduled to open on the morning of March 27 in Ho Tram Beach Resort & Spa, Xuyen Moc district, Vung Tau City.

Vietnamese thu phap (calligraphy) has been introduced at a special exhibition held recently in Berlin, Germany, attracting great interest and appreciation from local art lovers.

A Vietnam-Republic of Korea friendship concert took place in Ho Chi Minh City on Feb. 9, beginning a series of international cultural exchange events in the city this year.

A contract worth VND9.6 billion has been signed between the Da Nang municipal People’s Committee and sponsors for Vietnam’s second international fireworks contest.

Thuy Trang Felix Can, a beautiful 21 year-old Vietnamese French student studying at Sorbonne University, was crowned ‘Miss Spring 2009’ at a student beauty pageant held in Paris, France on February 8.

Thousands of famous contemporary poets and poetry lovers flocked to Van Mieu (the Temple of Literature) in Hanoi on February 9 to celebrate the 7th Vietnam Poetry Day.

Ho Chi Minh City Television Station, Channel 3, (HTV3) is set to show Seoul Broadcasting Studio’s Golden Bride, a soap opera featuring the Vietnamese people and culture which was shown in Korea in 2007.

Vietnamese and Russian linguists are working on the production of a joint paper on teaching and learning national and ethnic languages.

The “Making Peace With Vietnam” documentary made by a US producer will be presented at the Third New Beijing International Movie Week film festival, scheduled to take place from Feb. 28 to Mar. 8.

Vietnamese fans of ABBA will have an opportunity to listen to their celebrated musicians’ hits performed live by FABBA, the famous tribute band to the Swedish ‘rock and roll’ legend as they will make two-day performances in the country.