“Le hoi cau mua” (bumper-crop praying ceremony) of the San Chay ethnic minority group in Thai Nguyen was granted the status of national intangible cultural heritage on January 5.

 The northern province of Phu Tho will launch a short film in Vietnamese and English to introduce and popularise the Hung King Temple and traditional Vietnamese beliefs.

 Vietnamese filmmaker Linh Nga’s ‘Inside This Peace’ has won the prize for the Best Feature Documentary at the California Women’s Film Festival.

 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.

 Two large mural paintings, featuring lotus flower ponds, were inaugurated at Terminal 2 at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on January 3.

 Since its launch in 2016, Matca (literally translated as Fish Eye) - a website on the contemporary photography of the world and Vietnam at www.matca.vn - has established itself as an interesting address for photography lovers.

 Can Ty village in Quan Ba district, Ha Giang province, is famous for flax growing and weaving.

 An additional 22 artefacts have been recognised as national treasures under a recent decision by the Prime Minister, raising the total number of national treasures to 164.

 An exhibition, featuring photos on General Vo Nguyen Giap that were captured by veteran journalists Tran Dinh and Nguyen Dinh Toan, officially opened on January 2 in Hanoi.

 The export turnover in 2019 would increase 10% compared to 2018 to US$21.5 billion, accounting for 9% of Vietnam’s total export value.

 Hanoi will organize a number of cultural and artistic activities to celebrate the upcoming Lunar New Year (Tet) festival, which lasts from February 5-7.

 The Municipal Cultural Center under the Hanoi Department of Culture and Sports is holding an exhibition featuring Hanoi’s 12 flower seasons at the Kim Dong Cultural Center in Hoan Kiem District.

 "Café Saigon", a contemporary dance, will be held from 8pm on January 19 at the HCM City Opera House on 7 Lam Son Square in District 1.

 German lecturer Veronika Radulovic will hold a lecture on January 3 on the No War No Vietnam exhibition which took place at the center for contemporary art Galerie Nord in Berlin from August to October 2018.

 Dong Duong altar which dates back to the 9th-10th century has been recognised as a national treasure in Danang City.

 Events in Hanoi & HCMC on December 31-January 6 

 Let's takes a look back at major international cultural events hosted by Vietnam in 2018.

 Funerals customs vary between ethnic groups in Vietnam. For many ethnic minority groups, funeral activities include games, dancing, and dressing in special ritual costumes, which might be considered odd in other cultures.

 The Vietnam National Museum of Nature has launched the Open Museum of Nature and Culture at the reserve’s Pu Mat National Park.

 While other artists use brushes and paint, Nguyen Thu Huyen uses needles, thread and cloth to create her work.