Culture

The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City has issued a plan to organise activities celebrating the 2026 New Year across the city.

In 2025, marking the 260th birth anniversary of the great poet Nguyen Du (1765–2025), The Tale of Kieu continues to be honoured as a precious heritage through a cultural current that remains vibrant in contemporary life.

The first impression, as linguistics master Sam Cong Danh and information technology master Nguyen Viet Khoi introduced it on the computer screen, was of vertically arranged characters with graceful, flowing curves, reminiscent of wisps of evening smoke rising from the stilt houses of the Thai Do people in western Nghe An province.

As part of external relations and cultural–academic exchange activities between Viet Nam and Arab countries, the Su That (Truth) National Political Publishing House has reissued the book “Dien Bien Phu” by General Vo Nguyen Giap, published by Light Books, in Vietnamese while simultaneously releasing an Arabic edition.

The inscription of the Dong Ho folk painting craft on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding marks an important milestone for Viet Nam in its efforts to preserve and promote traditional forms of heritage currently facing numerous challenges.

Viet Nam has delivered a message of peace and cultural preservation at the International Indigenous Peoples’ Conference for Peace and Development held in Caracas, Venezuela, from December 8-9.

The Dong Ho folk painting craft was included in UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) in Need of Urgent Safeguarding at the 20th session of the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of ICH on December 9 in New Delhi, India, according to the Department of Cultural Heritage under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Following administrative restructuring, Da Nang City has, for the first time, organised an exhibition of 19 national treasures, offering the public a panoramic view of the national treasures currently preserved within the city.

“To Quoc Trong Tim: The Concert Film” has been officially released widely, creating a strong public appeal. This musical film conquers audiences not only through its artistic quality but also through its ability to convey sacred emotions about the Fatherland, arousing deep pride and love for the country.

The Ao dai and traditional attire are making a strong return in contemporary life, gradually becoming new cultural tourism elements. From festivals and parades to tours exploring craft villages and museums, this trend enriches tourism products, evokes cultural pride, and contributes to the sustainable development of cultural industries.

Literature and the arts have always held a special position in the nation’s development, serving as a solid spiritual foundation for the cause of building and safeguarding the Fatherland.

Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh has signed Decision No. 2640/QD-TTg, issuing the plan to implement the Politburo’s Conclusion No. 84-KL/TW (dated June 21, 2024) on continuing the implementation of Resolution No. 23-NQ/TW (dated June 16, 2008) of the 10th-tenure Politburo on “continuing to build and develop literature and arts in the new period.”

Within the framework of the Viet Nam Happy Fest 2025, on the afternoon of December 7, at the Hoan Kiem Lake walking street in Ha Noi, a Vietnamese costume parade with the theme “Hundred Flowers of Joy” took place, attracting about 800 participants, recreating many traditional cultural features rich in Vietnamese identity.

The Tinh Hoa Viet 2025 Award, an nationwide award that honours contributors to the development of Vietnamese culture, has released its music video (MV) Viet Nam Tinh Hoa on Youtube, conveying the message that preserving Vietnamese cultural identity relies on the creative community joining hands.

In a year marked by significant milestones for both nations, the Viet Nam Film Week in Laos has served as a meaningful cultural bridge, according to Do Quoc Viet, Deputy Director of the Department of Cinema under the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The singing competition “Voices of Overseas Vietnamese – Affection for the Homeland” commenced on December 6 at the VT Namnueng Community Centre in Udon Thani Province, Thailand.

Winners of the ‘Happy Viet Nam’ Photography and Video Award 2025 were honoured at a ceremony held on December 6 at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square in Ha Noi by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ha Noi People's Committee.

In recent times, the fact that several major Indian film projects have simultaneously chosen locations such as Quang Tri, Ninh Binh, Da Nang, and Cao Bang has opened up significant opportunities to promote the image of Viet Nam and its people.

The opening ceremony of the Viet Nam Film Week – The Journey of Light took place on at Le Grand Rex, the largest cinema in Europe and a cultural icon of Paris, on the evening of December 5.

Formed through thousands of years of accumulated natural energy, agarwood is believed to have the ability to open the mind and connect people with one another, and to the spiritual world. In fact, agarwood has shaped a unique cultural identity for local people.