The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 29 announced the top 10 culture, sports and tourism events in 2015, which were voted by 121 journalists representing media agencies across the country.

1. The special art performance programme marking the 70th anniversary of the National Day themed “Vietnam – Aspiration for Peace”, which honoured the cultural diversity and aspiration for peace of ethnic groups in Vietnam.

Bringing together 2,500 artists and artisans, the programme highlighted the country’s cultural achievements in different historic stages.

The programme also vividly portrayed the special cultural features of 54 ethnic groups in Vietnam and UNESCO-recognised intangible cultural heritage as well as the whole nation’s aspiration for peace and development.

2. The exhibition on 70 years of social-economic achievements, at the ever largest scale, which displayed the country’s most outstanding achievements in defence, security, politics, economy, education, culture and society.

The exhibition, organised by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Investment, attracted the participation of 27 ministries, agencies and 30 provinces and centrally-governed cities.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung presided over the event’s opening ceremony, while Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and many Party and State leaders were among tens of thousands of visitors to the event.

3. The Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh province was recognised by UNESCO as a world natural heritage for the second time. The park is also the only World Natural Heritage site in Vietnam to satisfy three criteria on bio-diversity.

The park was put on the list of World Natural Heritage sites for the first time in 2003 for its striking geological and geomorphological features.

4. UNESCO inscribed the Tug of War rituals and games, which are traditionally practiced in Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Philippines and Cambodia, in the list of humankind intangible cultural heritages.

It is the first time Vietnam has joined in building a multinational heritage dossier.

5. The State for the first time conferred the Emeritus Artisan title on artisans in the intangible cultural heritage field who are considered living humanity treasures.

The title is in recognition of the artisans’ contributions to the preservation of the country’s precious heritage.

6. “I saw yellow flower on green grass” became the first film produced in the public-private model to reap success in terms of artistic quality, social effect and economic efficiency.

With resounding box-office success and four important awards at the 19th Vietnam Film Festival – the best movie, the best director, the best camera and the best voted film by audience - the film is a rare phenomenon in Vietnam’s film industry when it received good feedback from both critics and the public.

7. The government issued resolutions on exempting visa on certain durations for citizens from six European countries – the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Belarus beginning from July 1, 2015. The decision helped remove difficulties for Vietnamese tourism in drawing tourists from important markets.

8. The US’s ABC News television station ran a live programme named Good Morning America from Son Doong and En caves in central Quang Binh province with a length of 90 minutes, attracting a huge number of audiences.

Only one week later, the images of the two caves in the programme appeared in advertising clips for blockbuster Peter Pan that attracted more than 10 million views.

9. Vietnam’s sports reaped great success at the 28th Southeast Asian Games with a total of 186 medals of all types. It is noteworthy that 64 out of 73 gold medals came from Olympic sports.

10. Anh Vien was voted one of the five best swimmers in Asia and given the nickname “Steel Girl” by international media.

The 19 year-old girl won 8 gold medals, one silver and one bronze and broke eight SEA Games records at the 28th SEA Games in Singapore.

With 15 gold medals, six silvers and three bronzes, 2015 has been Vien’s most successful year. She also earned the right to compete in the Summer Olympics 2016 in Brazil.

VNA