The first exhibition of religious paintings of Vietnam's northern ethnic minorities opened in Hanoi on May 26.

The Ministry of Education and Training held a press briefing in Hanoi on May 25 to introduce the 48th International Mathematics Olympiad (IMO) 2007, which will be held in Vietnam in late July 2007.

The 2006 national Circus Festival will be held from June 6-9 as one of the main activities of the 2006 Hue Festival.

A number of Vietnamese cultural objects, handicrafts and products representing the country's socio-economic achievements and its international integration are displayed at an international cultural festival in the central Mexican City of San Miguel.

The “Vietnam Book Prizes” organising committee has decided to confer special prizes on two books, “Dang Thuy Tram diary” and “Forever the age of 20”, announced Phan Khac Hai, Chairman of the Vietnam Books Publishing, Printing and Issuing Association at the press briefing on May 24.

The central Vietnamese province of Quang Binh and the Lao province of Khammuon have agreed to cooperate in the areas of information and culture.

Around 300 people, including ranking officials and overseas Vietnamese in St. Paul city in the US state of Minnesota, on May 20 flocked to the Vietnam Centre to participate in the annual "Vietnamese culture day" festival.

The Committee for Overseas Vietnamese under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs opened a Vietnamese-teaching class in Hanoi on May 24 for overseas Vietnamese students coming from the US city of San Francisco.

The first "Vietnamese Cultural Month in Italy" will be launched in Rome from June 16 to introduce Italian people to Vietnam’s land, people and distinctive cultural identities.

Norway sculptor Oyvin Stobeakken, director of the Da Nang sculpture project, has presented 12 sculptural works to the City.

A lacquer painting exhibition by painter Le Thua Tien is taking place at the Vietnam Art Gallery in Hanoi and will last until early June 2006.

The semifinal round of the contest for “Beautiful ladies from former Vietnamese capitals” took place in Hanoi on May 21. The jury of the contest comprises familiar artists and culture experts such as professor and composer Vinh Cat, historian professor Le Van Lan, and people’s artist Tam Chinh.

Authorities in northern Ha Tay province, close to Hanoi, on May 19 held a ceremony to announce the Government's recognition of its Duong Lam ancient village as a national historic relic site.

The Ha Long Bay Management Board on May 19 inaugurated a floating cultural centre in Cua Van fishing village in the north-eastern province of Quang Ninh.

A group of eight script writers, directors and cameramen are taking a train from Ho Chi Minh City to London to capture highlights of different cultures throughout Asia and Europe.

A festival themed “Honour President Ho Chi Minh and praise the Party and the country’s renewal” was held in Vinh City and Nam Dan district of central Nghe An province on May 18 and 19.

An exhibition on cultural heritage specific to the Central Highlands (Tay Nguyen) opened in the central city of Da Lat on May 18 and will last until May 25.

An international music camp will be organised by the Vietnam Composers’ Association and the Music Association of central Thua Thien-Hue province from May 21-31 as part of the 2006 Hue Festival.

A total of 50 Vietnamese students from 14 universities nationwide were awarded scholarships, each worth US$200, by the Japanese FUYO Group's Fund in Support of Training.

A Vietnamese Cultural Night was held in Lictenberg district of Berlin, Germany on May 17 to promote mutual understanding between the Vietnamese living in Germany and the local community.

In the eyes of Chinese people, Vietnam is attached to the name and reputation of President Ho Chi Minh, who is regarded as the very embodiment of the country.

Visitors to the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Vietnam cannot keep their eyes off an embroidery picture, a gift that featured the friendship between President Ho Chi Minh and an American friend.

More than 100 photos selected from thousands on late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh by a French photographer are being displayed at an exhibition opened in Hanoi on May 17.

A photo exhibition themed "Hanoi 1996-2006" opened at the French Cultural Centre in Hanoi on May 16 as part of activities to mark the 100th founding anniversary of the Indochina University (now Hanoi National University).

An exhibition featuring President Ho Chi Minh's thoughts and his virtuous life opened in Hanoi on May 16 to mark his 116th birthday (May 19).

Vietnam's museums will offer free tickets and organise special exhibitions on the country's big holidays to celebrate International Museum Day 2006 (May 18) themed "Museums and Young People".

The Italian art troupe, “Balletto Del Sud”, will perform at the Hanoi Opera House on June 2 and at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House on June 5.

Hundreds of black and white photos portraying Hanoi's streets and residents from 1898-1906 are being displayed at an exhibition, which opened at the French Culture Centre (L'Espace) on May 16.

A French photographer will show her nearly 120 photos of relic sites relating to the life of late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh in France at a month-long exhibition in Hanoi from May 18, according to the management board of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

Eighty paintings by 30 Vietnamese artists will be on show for the first time in Rome, Italy next month. The Exhibition of Vietnamese Modern Paintings will begin a series of activities to be organised during the Vietnam Cultural Month in Rome.