An annual worshipping ceremony dedicated to dead sailors was organised on Ly Son Island, in the central province of Quang Ngai on April 28. The ceremony aims to pay tribute to naval men who died while serving to protect the Truong Sa (Spratly) and Hoang Sa (Paracel) archipelagos during the reign of Nguyen lords and kings.

More than 500, 000 visitors flocked to the Halong Tourism Festival 2010, which was held from April 29-May 2 in the World Heritage site of Halong Bay. On this occasion, hotels and hostels in Halong City run at full capacity.

The tourism and fisheries potential of Southeast Asia's largest lagoon, Tam Giang, was highlighted at a festival organised by Quang Dien District in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue on May 1 and 2, 2010.

A flower festival will be held in the relic site of the Thang Long Royal Citadel in Hanoi to usher in the capital city’s 1, 000th birthday from May 1 to October 30. At a press briefing on April 28 in Hanoi, the organising board said that the festival is part of the “Space of Arts” programme developed by the XQ Vietnam Company and the Co Loa-Hanoi Citadel Relics Management Board.

There were a fair number of votes for Ha Long Bay in several countries like Japan, France, Mexico and South Korea.

The Super Yosakoi festival, one of the biggest Yosakoi festivals in Japan, drew 98 dancing teams with almost 6, 000 dancers, including foreign groups from Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and Ghana.

Female photographers from the Hai Au Photography Club based in HCM City have organised an exhibition entitled Ha Noi – Visual Angles featuring 100 black-and-white photos.

A firework display and an open-air concert brightened the capital city of Hanoi where President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam 65 years ago on September 2.

“Vietnam Days” will be held in Bruxelles, the capital of Belgium, on September 2-3 to mark the 65th anniversary of Vietnam National Day and promote cultural cooperation programme between Vietnam and Wallonie-Bruxelles.

Nghinh Ong Quan Thanh Festival (Whale Worship Festival) had a jubilant start on August 30 at Ong Pagoda in the coastal city of Phan Thiet.