The second international experimental stage festival will be held in Hanoi from December 12-16 by the Vietnam Stage Artists’ Association.

Central coastal Ninh Thuan province is an attractive destination for tourists who are interested in ecological and cultural tourism, especially tours to traditional craft villages of the Cham ethnic group.

The only Vietnamese musician participated in a competition for orchestra conductors across Russia in the city of Upha from November 21-26 won the consolation prize.

The Hanoi-Chicken from the Technology College, the Hanoi National University was placed third at the international contest for student programmers in the Asia-Pacific region which closed in Hanoi on November 25.

The central water puppetry theatre has attended several international puppetry festivals in Japan, France and Italy so far this year, said Vuong Duy Bien, Director of the theatre.

Vietnam's famous classical pianist, Dang Thai Son, performed with the Hanoi Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Mats Liljefors of Sweden, at the Hanoi Opera House on November 26.

The 51st Asia-Pacific Film Festival ended on November 24 in Taiwan, with a special prize being awarded to a Vietnamese film “Story of Pao” by Quang Hai.

Booyoung company from the Republic of Korea on November 24 granted eight scholarships to outstanding second-year Vietnamese students at Korean language departments.

More than 20 international restaurants and hotels in Ho Chi Minh City will join in introducing traditional cooking culture from 15 countries at a festival of international dishes.

Vietnam's most famous classical pianist Dang Thai Son will perform in concerts at the Hanoi Opera House on November 26-27 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Hanoi National Conservatoire.

Vietnam jumped 15 places from the 65th to the 50th to be listed among the top 50 countries in the “Grand Slam” ranking for most beautiful women by website “Global Beauties”.

Vietnamese royal music has made a strong impression on Japanese audience during various performances held in Miyazaki prefecture and Tokyo from November 18-20.

Music lovers will be offered a chance to enjoy a special classical guitar performance by two Vietnamese and Japanese guitarists, which is scheduled for November 21 in Ho Chi Minh City.

A delegation from the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO attended the first session of the Inter-governmental Committee on Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage, which opened in Algiers, Algeria on November 18.

Hundreds of Vietnamese students in the UK gathered at a cultural festival on November 18 to raise funds for charitable activities in Vietnam.

The first lady of the Republic of Korea (RoK), Kwon Yang Suk cut the ribbon to inaugurate the Korean cultural centre in Hanoi on November 18, which is the first in Southeast Asia.

A Vietnam-Spain guitar friendship club made its debut with a music festival entitled “giai dieu mo uoc” (dreamt melody) at the Vietnam Museum of Revolution on November 17.

A special art show entitled "Welcoming APEC 2006" was held in Hanoi on the evening of November 17, opening the "APEC - Integration and Development" Forum at the Vietnam Revolutionary Museum.

The Ministry of Education and Training met teachers who have recently been awarded the titles of professor and people’s teacher in 2006 on Vietnamese Teachers’ Day (November 20).

A large-scale music and art show will take place at the Opera House in Hanoi on November 18 to celebrate 20 years of the country’s renovation process and the APEC Summit 2006.

The Ministry of Culture and Information opened an exhibition of Vietnamese lacquer paintings at the Hanoi Fine Arts College on November 15.

An exhibition on Vietnam's integration and development will open at the Vietnam Revolutionary Museum on November 17.

Vietnamese photographers have won two bronze medals at the Hong Kong International Photo Festival.

An exhibition titled "APEC Image and Vietnamese Cultural Heritages" was opened at the Van Ho Exhibition Centre, Hanoi, on November 14 to welcome the 14th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (AELM).

A photo and painting exhibition of Vietnamese traditional culture opened in Paris’ southern suburb of Chevily Larue on November 12, attracting many overseas Vietnamese people and French friends.

The Prime Minister has agreed on Radio the Voice of Vietnam’s cooperation with the People’s Committees in the midland and northern mountainous areas.

Nearly 1,000 Vietnamese and foreign students attended an arts festival on November 12 in Hanoi to welcome the 14th APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting.

The first Tea Culture Festival will take place in Da Lat city, the Central Highland province of Lam Dong from December 21-24. On display at the festival will be 35 famous tea trademarks from Thai Nguyen, Yen Bai, Phu Tho, Tuyen Quang, Lao Cai, Son La, Nghe An, Hanoi and Lam Dong.

A Japanese boat with around 1,000 visitors on board called at the central Da Nang city on November 9 for a two-day stopover during its 55th Global Voyage for Peace.