The “Vietnamese culinary and cultural weeks in Indonesia” programme kicked off at Kempinsky hotel in Jakarta on May 17.

Over 500 objects and documents related to the Truong Son-Ho Chi Minh Trail are on display in an exhibition to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh’s 123rd birthday and 54 years since the opening of the legendary trail.

On May 16, in Hanoi, Party Central Committee Commission of Popularization and Education held a ceremony to present awards for the first phase of the campaign on creating and popularizing literature, art works and press publications on “Studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example”.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has approved a plan on producing video programmes designed to serve people in mountainous and remote areas in 2013.

(CPV) – The best of Japanese contemporary art, in an installation exhibition titled “Yayoi kusama: Obsessions” held by the Japan Foundation Centre for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam, will take place from May 25 to July 28 in Hanoi.

On May 15, Ho Chi Minh Museum in the central province of Thua Thien - Hue held a ceremony to receive over 200 documents, photos and objects about President Ho Chi Minh presented by domestic groups and individuals.

The Vietnam – Japan Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh city has coordinated with the Women's Cultural House to organize an exhibition about life and people in Vietnam and Japan.

(CPV) – The 8^th European Food Festival will take place at the National Library, 31 Trang Thi street, Hoan Kiem district in Hanoi on May 18.

Hanoi city People’s Committee has agreed for Hoan Kiem district to upgrade three relics in the ancient quarter in order to restore the historical and religious values of the relics, as well as create cultural activity spaces for the local community.

Ho Chi Minh city People’s Committee has approved a plan on activities to mark the 123^rd anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh’s birth.

(CPV) – The 3^rd European Literature Days will take place from May 17-18 at the Goethe Institute, the French Cultural Centre (L’Espace) and the new Casa d’ Italia in Vietnam.

On May 13, the New Energy Newspaper coordinated with the Hanoi Young Calligraphers Club to organize an exhibition entitled “Calligraphic paintings of Uncle Ho’s poems” in Hanoi.

(CPV) - The US Embassy Hanoi and CAMA Vietnam held a music festival titled “Artwork is work: ASEAN music festival” at the Hanoi-based American Club.

Piano concerts by Canadian pianist and composer Alain Lefèvre will be held at the Ho Chi Minh City Opera House on May 13 and at Hanoi Opera House on May 15.

Contemporary paintings of Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK) are on display at Han Hyang-lim Ceramics Museum in the RoK’s city of Paju.

The Cuban Book Institute held a ceremony in Havana on May 11 to introduce the late Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh’s “Nhat Ky Trong Tu” (Prison Diary) published in Spanish by the Coleccion Sur de Ediones Union publishing house.

As many as 263 photos featuring the beauty of Vietnam’s land and people are being showcased at the 26th National Art Photography Exhibition in the northern city of Hai Phong.

An international seminar on “Vietnamese linguistics in the context of doi moi (renewal) and integration” was held in Hanoi on May 11.

(CPV) - Elixir - a famous Australian folk and jazz-inspired band - will tour Hanoi and Da Nang city from May 16 - 19, announced the Australian Embassy in Hanoi on May 11.

According to the Performing Arts Organisation Centre under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, a 35-member art troupe from China’s Henan province will perform in Vietnam from May 8 - 18.