Culture

The 2nd Sa Dec Flower and Ornamental Plant Festival in Dong Thap Province officially opened on the evening of December 27, 2025.

From the age of six, Nguyen Thi Them accompanied her mother to singing sessions, so quan ho singing has become an indispensable part of the life of this artisan who was born in Bac Ninh Province in 1959. She is regarded as a nucleus in preserving and safeguarding many ancient and complex quan ho melodies and has successfully passed them on to successive younger generations.

Amid the currents of integration, craft villages in Viet Nam are increasingly taking the initiative to bring their products to wider markets, engaging in exchanges and cooperation with global craft traditions through exhibitions, trade fairs and festivals. This trend is opening up new development space for trade and tourism, while also posing fresh demands for preserving and enriching the values of Viet Nam’s traditional crafts.

Traditional games allow children to experience collective activities that enrich their inner lives. They are not merely a source of joy; they also safeguard folk wisdom, community values, and the Vietnamese spirit embedded in every movement and melody. Introducing traditional games into schools is a way to teach culture, foster patriotism, compassion, and creativity among the younger generation.

Through a long process of formation and development, five-tone music has not only reflected the beliefs, vibrant daily life, and rich spiritual world of the Khmer ethnic minority, but has also expressed a unique identity in the diverse and colourful cultural picture of Viet Nam.

In the newly upgraded and renovated water pavilion, the lively sound of puppet drums welcomes visitors. “Hearing the sound of the puppet drums, even boiling rice can be forgotten” evokes the special appeal of this folk-art form. However, behind that lively sound, the artisans of Nguyen Xa water puppetry village are concerned about preserving their craft.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has emphasised that the culture, sports, and tourism sector must embrace innovative mindset and decisive action to achieve tangible results, creating a vibrant space for development in the new era and positioning culture as both intrinsic strength of the nation and spiritual foundation of its people.

Various activities are taking place at the 21st Hoi An–Japan Cultural Exchange, which opened in Hoi An ancient town, Da Nang city, on December 26.

The Ha Noi Department of Culture and Sports kicked off a digital exhibition titled “Radiant Ha Noi – Light and Heritage” on December 26 as a cultural highlight among a series of activities welcoming the New Year 2026.

The event aims to encourage patriotic emulation, inspire patriotism and solidarity, and promote reform, creativity, and labour productivity improvement to help realise socio-economic tasks and the Resolution of the coming 14th National Party Congress.

An arts programme themed ‘Continuing the epic saga in the new era’ was held at Quan Ngua Sports Palace in Ha Noi on December 26 to welcome the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress.

The digital exhibition employs digital projection, lighting, interactive elements and multimedia technologies to vividly and evocatively narrate stories of Ha Noi's history, memories and cultural life, while marking an experimental advance in preserving and spreading the capital’s cultural heritage.

An exhibition showcasing the history of national congresses of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) officially opened in Ha Noi on December 26.

The Pho Hien Special National Relic Site (Hung Yen Province) is a space where distinctive cultural, architectural, and historical values converge, featuring 17 representative monuments. The policy of planning and harnessing this ancient heritage urban area has helped position Pho Hien as a cultural and tourism destination rich in the identity of the Red River Delta.

Ba Vi Commune of Ha Noi held an incense-offering ceremony to mark the death anniversary of Tan Vien Mountain Saint at Ha Temple, Phu Loi Hamlet, on December 25 (the sixth day of the 11th lunar month).

Amid the vast border forests at the upper reaches of the Da River, the Ha Nhi community in Lai Chau Province has steadfastly preserved and passed down the distinctive cultural values of its people. From folk songs and traditional xoe dances to the epic Xa Nha Ca, these heritage assets are being safeguarded and shared more widely, becoming a foundation for sustainable development in the border region.

An exhibition entitled “Vietnamese cultural heritage – vitality from tradition to modernity” opened on December 25 in Ho Chi Minh.

Ponagar Tower is a remarkable architectural complex where the worship of the Mother Goddess Thien Y A Na blends with Cham rituals, creating an intangible cultural heritage that deserves preservation.

On December 23, in Ha Noi, the Faculty of Communication and External Culture of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, in coordination with photographer Nguyen A, organised a seminar and photo exhibition in Ha Noi under the theme “80 Years – A Confident Viet Nam”.

On the afternoon of December 23, in Ho Chi Minh City, 28 members of the Viet Nam Culinary Culture Association (VCCA) were officially conferred the prestigious title of “Viet Nam Culinary Culture Artisan”, affirming their mission to keep the flame of the “Vietnamese kitchen hearth” alive.