An online video conference on education between Vietnam and the US was held on December 29 with the participation of representatives from Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and California (the US).

Nearly 100 young artists, including popular singers, dancers and fashion models, performed in the Duyen Dang Vietnam (15th Charming Vietnam Gala), which began in the Hoa Binh Theatre in Ho Chi Minh City on December 29.

Film "Mua Len Trau" (Buffalo Boy), directed by American-Vietnamese Nguyen Vo Nghiem Minh, has won the most outstanding prize of the year 2005 and a gold cup from the Vietnamese Entrepreneurs' Cultural Centre's.

Vietnamese people will have a chance to read a Vietnamese version of the memoir ''Felon for Peace'' by Jerry Elmer, a Vietnam War protestor, announced the World Publishing House at a press briefing in Hanoi on December 28.

Fifteen outstanding overseas Vietnamese have been selected to win the Vietnam Glory Prize 2005.

The People’s Committee of Central Highlands Dac Nong province has invested VND700 million (US$44,000) in improving the Mnong ethnic minority’s script and compiling a Mnong-Vietnamese dictionary.

An annual meeting of the ASEAN Women’s Club, presided over by Vietnam for the 2004-2005 term was held in New Delhi, India on December 27.

The project to include intangible cultural heritage in junior high school curricula has helped increase young generations'' awareness of national asset conservation, said experts.

The Vietnam and Israeli governments signed a Culture-Information agreement in Hanoi on December 27.

The European Union mission in Vietnam and Nhi Dong (Teenagers) newspaper held a ceremony in Hanoi on December 27 to hand over prizes to winners of a painting contest entitled “The European Union in children’s eyes”.

The Ministry of Culture and Information has submitted to the Prime Minister a document nominating Con Moong Cave in Thanh Hoa province as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage site.

A large-scale ancient brickyard dating back to the 19th century has been found in Hanoi''s neighbouring Bac Giang province.

The festive atmosphere of Christmas is buzzing at every corner of Hanoi. Christmas trees are decorated with sparkling ornaments, and snow princesses and Santa Clauses in red costumes are on display in most shops on Luong Van Can and Hang Ma streets. Hanoians and foreigners are making elaborate preparations for the event.

Four Japanese artists have helped the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra to prepare a special symphony performance to welcome the coming New Year. Four Japanese artists have helped the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra to prepare a special symphony performance to welcome the coming New Year.

A 70-cm marble sculpture, in the shape of a lotus bud, was discovered in the western part of Cha Citadel in Dong Lam hamlet, An Nhon district in southern Binh Dinh province.

A list of Vietnam’s 10 outstanding cultural events for 2005 was announced by the Ministry of Culture and Information (MoCI) on Thursday.

Archaeologists have discovered nine ancient tombs dated between 2,300 and 2,500 years ago and many artifacts belonging to the Dong Son culture 2,300 years ago, including axes, spearheads, jewelry and ceramic vases, in a village in Viet Tri City, northern Phu Tho province.

Millions of colourful flowers of various kinds will charm visitors at the Da Lat Flower Festival, scheduled to be held in Da Lat City of the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong from December 10-18.

Jan Olov Agrell, Minister for Development Co-operation and Deputy Chief of the Swedish Embassy in Vietnam, was honoured with the insignia "For the Cause of Culture and Information", in Hanoi on Tuesday. Since he started working in Vietnam in 1980, the diplomat has made marked contributions to Vietnam’s development and renovation, especially in the fields of culture and information.