There is a plan afoot to make a documentary film on activities of Ho Chi Minh - the first President of Vietnam, in China's Guangzhou province.

Becoming a full member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Vietnam has officially joined the globalization playing field and promoting Vietnamese national culture will therefore become a pressing issue. However, the question is what and how to promote the national culture and who will do this job?

Italian national television Rai invited designer Minh Hanh to introduce her ao dai fashion collection “Dragon and Butterfly” in a special television show to be broadcast on Christmas Eve.

Thousands of relics of the Ha Long Culture dating back to 4,000-7,000 years ago have been discovered at the Cai Beo archaeological site on Cat Ba island, northern Hai Phong port city.

A bronze statue of the Great Buddha has been placed at Pho Minh Pagoda in HCM City as a gift from the Thai Foreign Ministry and the Mahachulalongkorn University of Thailand.

An international bazaar opened in Mexico City on December 16 as a joint initiative of the Vietnamese, Indonesian, Malaysian and Thai Embassies in Mexico with the aim of boosting cultural exchange as well as promoting ASEAN countries' image.

Twelve contestants have been awarded for their excellent works at a contest on the Republic of Korea (RoK) which ended in Hanoi on December 16.

A parade to highlight Vietnam’s pride of becoming a WTO member will take place concurrently in Hanoi and HCM City on the morning of December 24, with an estimated participation of 20,000 people.

Vietnamese pianist Nguyen Thuy Quynh gave a special performance at the Baisley Powell Elebash concert-hall in New York on the evening of December 12.

The Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) has a plan to grant 2,000 scholarships worth VND1 billion to poor outstanding students in 22 provinces and cities nationwide.

After Vietnam joins the World Trade Organisation, the education sector will have opportunities to access countries with advanced education and investment in the sector will be increased. However, the big challenge for the sector is to integrate into the world.

After studying two types of Vietnamese traditional theatre, Tuong (Classical Drama) and Cheo (Popular Opera), Eleanor Clapham is getting ready to hold her first official show at the Hanoi Opera House on December 22.

Vietnamese Film Days have been held in Fukuoka, Japan by the Japanese Film Library.

The youth unions in Vietnam and Laos should pay more attention to educating young people of their respective countries about the traditional friendship between the two countries in general, and between the two unions in particular.

An Inter-University Centre between the University of Hawaii and Hanoi University (HANU) has been inaugurated at HANU.

Vietnam should renew tertiary education to meet regional and international standards after the country joined the WTO, said Deputy PM Pham Gia Kiem at an international forum in Hanoi on December 11.

Hanoians are offering a chance to get essential information about education in the Republic of Korea (RoK) and procedures relating to enrolment and visa application thanks to an exhibition on the country's higher education opened in Hanoi on December 9.

A troupe of gong performers from the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak will go on a week-long tour of French cities in mid-February next year to introduce gong performing art, an intangible cultural heritage of Vietnam’s Central Highlands.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) attaches great importance to developing cultural relations with Vietnam alongside economic ties, said RoK Ambassador to Vietnam Kim Euiki.

The Vietnam Youth Federation (VNYF) and the National Cadet Corps (NCC) of India have agreed to promote the exchange of information and experiences between the two countries' youths during the 2006-2010 period.

An internationally acclaimed break-dance band B-boy Gambler and a traditional art troupe from the Republic of Korea (RoK) are performing in Ho Chi Minh City on December 5-6, moving on to Hanoi three days later.

The first ASEAN Arts and Crafts Festival ended in Thailand on December 3 with the participation of hundreds of artisans and businesspeople from the 10 member countries. Once again, the traditional Vietnamese dress and skilful handicrafts have made a good impression on visitors.

An oil painting exhibition by Overseas Vietnamese Tran Minh Quang and Marie Fossard opened at the headquarters of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in France in Paris on December 1, capturing the great attention of French visitors.

Film makers that have won international prizes this year were honoured by the Vietnam Cinematography Department in Hanoi on December 1.

Vietnam's films will be introduced at the fourth Asian Film Festival which is due to open in Rome on December 1.

Vietnamese film lovers will have a chance to enjoy Korean films next month.

Vietnam secures a silver and a bronze at the 19th Asian International Stamp Exhibition held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, from November 13-16.

The first ASEAN Arts and Crafts Festival 2006 opened in the ancient town of Ayutthaya, central Thailand on November 29, drawing the participation of artisans from 10 ASEAN member countries.

Vietnamese model Thuy Huong, who won the Supermodel Vietnam 2005 prize, will leave for Istanbul, Turkey on November 30 to attend “The Best Model of the World 2006” event from December 1 – 9.

The European Jazz Festival began at the Youth Theatre in Hanoi on the evening of November 28 with an opening performance by Swedish band Lina Nyberg & Pling.