A Japanese festival is scheduled to be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City from August 20-25, according to the Ministry of Culture and Information.

Under the framework of a UNESCO-assisted project to preserve nha nhac Hue’s Royal Court music, the first training course for 20 musicians opened in central Thua Thien Hue province on February 10.

The 30-member Chinese art troupe Hei Longjiang plans to visit Hanoi and northern provinces of Vietnam from February 14-21 to celebrate Chinese Cultural Week.

A series of rare and precious birds which have been absent for dozens of years have returned to Ca Mau Cape National Park in the southernmost province of Ca Mau.

The annual Lim Festival of folk songs opened on February 9, or the 12th day of the first lunar month, in Tien Du district in the northern province of Bac Ninh.

The northeastern province of Quang Ninh has taken effective measures to protect and develop the value of Ha Long Bay, a wonder of nature, which has been recognised as the world natural and geographical heritage site by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Didier Corlou, the French Chef at Hotel Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, has introduced to readers his fourth culinary book titled “A la verticale des epices” (Enjoying spices). The book, which was published in the French language, presents over 30 new dishes using spices available in Vietnam’s mountainous areas, such as cassiatora linn and forest pepper.

Nine international art troupes will take part in art performances at Hue Festival 2006 scheduled to be held from June 3-11.

Statues of 14 Kings of the Tran dynasty were inaugurated at the historic site of Tran temple-Thap Pagoda in Nam Dinh city on February 7.

The Yen Tu Pagoda Festival officially kicked off at 8am on February 7 (the 10th day of the first lunar month) at Yen Tu Pagoda in Uong Bi town, Quang Ninh province and will last until April 4 (the 10th day of the third lunar month).

Two Vietnamese documentary films have won two out of 30 excellence award works at the 28th Tokyo Video Festival (TVF) 2006.

The relic complex of the ancient capital of Hue has been well preserved, said deputy director of the Hue Centre for Relic Conservation Phan Tien Dzung.

Hue Festival 2006 is scheduled for June this year, with the theme “700 years of Thuan Hoa-Phu Xuan-Thua Thien Hue, cultural heritage with integration and development”. A highlight of this year’s Festival will be the revitalisation of Nam Giao rite, an important spiritual ceremony during feudal times.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan: The programme not only raises patriotism but also creates a driving force to strengthen tourism development and nature preservation and promote national cultural identities and international exchanges.

A large number of pilgrims went to Huong (Perfume) Pagoda in My Duc district, northern Ha Tay province, for the biggest and longest annual festival on February 3, the sixth day of the lunar New Year.This year, the festival is expected to attract around 380,000 visitors, up by 40,000 against last year’s figure.

People from every corner of the country held an incense-offering ceremony in commemoration of national hero Quang Trung- Nguyen Hue who commanded troops to drive away 290,000 foreign invaders, bringing about the great 1789 Spring Victory.

“I celebrated Tet in the war, which left me with too many memories. Tet should be an opportunity for people to reunite with their families, but in the war, it was the opposite,” says Poet Anh Ngoc.

Trinh Bach’s simple, modest and passionate feelings for national heritage leave strong impressions on anyone who meets the American-Vietnamese artisan, who has spent a decade restoring ancient royal objects. He is responsible for many restored royal objects, which were on the brink of destruction.

A festival was held by the Nagoya International Centre in Japan’s Aichi province from January 27-29 to introduce Japanese people to Vietnam’s cultural traditions.

Central Highlands gong culture has recently won UNESCO recognition as masterpieces of the oral and intangible heritage of humankind. This has provided a great source of pride for Central Highlanders. However, it has also created heavy tasks for local people to uphold and preserve the value of their traditional culture.

The Ha Nhi ethnic group live mostly in the northern mountainous provinces of Dien Bien, Lai Chau and Lao Cai. Ha Nhi is one of a few ethnic groups in Vietnam which celebrates both the Kinh's traditional Lunar New Year Festival and their own festivals, which are scattered throughout the year.

Before Tet, peach trees had flooded the city from outlying districts. Early on the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month, talented musicians and beautiful singers in colourful dresses traveled by foot or by boat to Nha Tro Communal House to celebrate the death anniversary of the ancestor of Hat A Dao (Chamber Music and Singing).

Artist Le Thai Son has devoted all his life to preserving and developing Vietnam’s traditional musical instruments. He makes different kinds of bamboo flutes including the sao doc, sao ngang and tieu (flutes and recorders) from Ta Oi ethnic minority groups; the sao Meo (flute of the H’Mong) and the t’rung (bamboo xylophone) from Tay Nguyen.

The Ba Pho band is popular among Vietnamese and foreign music lovers. Some people call it “a high-quality music band”.

A picture gallery on Thang Long-Hanoi and artifacts produced in different stages of Vietnamese history opened at the Thang Long Royal Citadel on January 25.

The Ministry of Education and Training on Wednesday gathered opinions contributed by officials from various ministries to a project to teach Vietnamese language to Vietnamese people living in foreign countries.

The Ministry of Culture and Information has decided to organise a film week in the Central Highlands in March when the regional Ethnic Group Unity Festival is held in coincidence with a grand ceremony to receive the UNESCO certificate recognizing the Gongs as masterpieces of humankind’s oral and intangible heritage.

The 26th Spring Flower Festival opened in HCM City’s Tao Dan Park on January 24, drawing the participation of 800 Vietnamese and foreign artisans who are displaying more than 4,000 objects for sale and competition.

A painting exhibition was held in Paris on January 22 by the Association of Vietnamese People in France, to introduce the images and special characteristics of Vietnam, its land and people to the French public, and the warm atmosphere of the country’s traditional Lunar New Year Festival.