The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism officially announced 10 outstanding culture, sports and tourism activities in 2009 in the central city of Danang on December 27.

1. The 12th National Assembly approved and the State President issued an order to promulgate three laws: the amended Laws on Cultural Heritages, Intellectual Property and Cinematography.

The Prime Minister approved a cultural development strategy by 2020 and issued a decision on the ranking of Special National Relic (first phase) for ten historical and cultural relics.

The Ministry launched a set of administrative procedures on state management with 179 procedures.

2. “Quan Ho Bac Ninh” singing (Bac Ninh folk love duets) was recognised by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Mankind, while Ca Tru (ceremonial songs) was put in the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding.

The UNESCO decided to attend the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi scheduled for October 2010.

3. Diplomatic cultural activities in the “Year of Cultural Diplomacy” included the Vietnamese Week in Russia, UK, Laos, South Africa, Venezuela and Brazil; Vietnam’s cultural and artistic activities in China, Spain, Sweden and Italy; the “Meet Vietnam” Programme in San Francisco, US; the Republic of Korea Cultural Week and the Cambodia Cultural Week in Vietnam.

The Vietnam National Orchestra was set up and performed in Laos while the New York Philharmonic (NYP), one of the oldest and most world-renowned symphony orchestras in the US, played in Vietnam.

4. A series of cultural and artistic activities were held to mark the nation’s big events, including the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the traditional day of Truong Son troops; 55 years of the Dien Bien Phu Victory; an exhibition marking 40 years of the culture, sports and tourism sector’s implementation of President Ho Chi Minh’s testament; and the Quang Nam Culture and Tourism Week towards the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

5. Activities to honour traditional culture in the integration process and world cultural exchange included a ceremony to make public the Prime Minister’s decision on marking April 19 as the Cultural Day for Vietnamese Ethnic Groups and other activities in the framework of the Cultural Day in 2009; the International Gong Festival 2009 in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai; the Mrs World Pageant 2009 contest in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau; the First Vietnam Rice Festival 2009 in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang; and the Mekong-Japan Culture and Tourism Days in the Mekong Delta province of Can Tho.

6. Vietnamese film, “Don’t Burn”, bagged the Fukuoka Audience Award at the Fukuoka International Film Festival in Japan. Vietnam won four first prizes out of seven awards at the international music competition held in Jakarta, Indonesia.

7. The third Asian Indoor Games (AIG3) in Vietnam: Vietnam ranked second among 43 countries and territories participating in the Games. The opening ceremony of the AIG3 made good impression to international and domestic sports fans.

8. Vietnam pocketed 215 medals with 83 golds, 75 silvers and 57 bronzes, ranking second in the 25 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games). The woman’s football team took the gold medal while the men’s football team brought home a silver medal.

9. The ASEAN Tourism Forum 2009 (ATF 2009), “Impressive Vietnam” tourism programme.

10. HalongBay enters the final round of a campaign voting for the world’s seven new natural wonders. ThuaThien-HueProvince’s Lang Co Bay has been recognised as the world’s beautiful bay