Twenty-five outstanding entries to the annual press photo contest titled “Khoang Khac Vang” (Golden Moment) were honoured at an awards ceremony in Hanoi on January 14.

 A three-hour gala featuring cai luong (reformed opera) was held on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in Ho Chi Minh City on January 13.

 A stone wind instrument initially believed to date back about a thousand years ago was recently discovered on the Bui Hui grassland of Ba To district, the central province of Quang Ngai.

 A theater performance titled “HISTOIRES”, which is a breathtaking play inspired by oral lore and a beautiful travel through different eras and places, will take place at the Youth Theatre in Hanoi on January 12, starting at 8 p.m.

These days, H’Mong ethnic people in the mountainous areas of Bac Yen district, northern province of Son La are celebrating traditional New Year festival. 

 Equitization plans for nearly 100 State-owned enterprises (SOEs) must be approved before January 15 this year, the Government has required.

 The Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam will hold the JF Garage Concert No.19 in Hanoi on January 13 to introduce Japan’s traditional instruments Shakuhachi and Shamisen.

 The Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HOSE) on January 5 announced the top 10 securities companies with the largest brokerage share and fund certificates in the fourth quarter of 2018.

 Miss Ocean Vietnam 2017 Le Au Ngan Anh is preparing to sue the Department of Performing Arts for not granting her a licence to take part in the Miss Intercontinental 2018.

 Top 10 culture and tourism events of 2018

 Some children in the northern province of Sơn La lack birth certificates, putting them at a disadvantage at school.

The photo contest launched by Nhan Dan newspaper’s television channel drew 8,000 entries. An award ceremony was held in Hanoi on December 20. 

Artisan Lam Ngoc Vinh in Hoc Mon district, Ho Chi Minh City, creates mini bonsai trees which are truly works of art showing the artisan’s ingenuity, meticulousness and passion.

 Some 30 kilometres of beach in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue has suffered from serious erosion.

 Wakuwaku Japan channel was officially launched in Hanoi on December 12 as part of a cooperation programme between the Japanese channel and the pay-TV cable broadcaster VTVcab.

 The central province of Ha Tinh has submitted an urgent plan to protect the elephant for the 2019-2025 period to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on December 9.

Designer Do Trinh Hoai Nam has introduced an Ao dai collection as part of the Vietnam-the Republic of Korea friendly cultural exchange that took place in Busan on December 4.

 The Quintet of the Seinajoki City Orchestra will perform Finnish and Vietnamese music at free concerts in Hanoi on December 5 and 7.

 French festival ‘Baladeen France’ will take place close by the Ly Thai To Statue and pedestrian streets near to Hoan Kiem lake in Hanoi from between December 14 and 16.

 Three Russian universities have been awarded Vietnam’s Friendship Order in recognition of their contributions to the Southeast Asian nation’s education and training.