The Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism announced Dec 24 the list of top ten outstanding events of the sector over the past year, as followed:
1. Plentiful Year of Cultural and Foreign Affairs Promotion Activities Abroad
Vietnam has promoted successfully lots of cultural and foreign affairs events outbound including Vietnam Cultural Days in Russia from September 14-20, Vietnam Cultural and Tourism Week in Holland from May 21 to June 2, Vietnam Week in Japan from August 16-22, Vietnam Cultural Week in Cambodia from November 28 to December 4, Vietnam Day in Spain from September 2-5 and Hanoi Days in Moscow from July 16-23.
2. Foundation of Cultural Day for Vietnamese Ethnic Groups
Prime Minister has decided to take April 19 every year as the Cultural Day for Ethnic Groups in order to raise people awareness of patriotism and national pride so as to consolidate the great national unity bloc. Over the past year, the country has also organized a series of festivals of culture, sport and tourism such as the festival of Cultural Exchange among Areas and Regions Nationwide towards the celebration of 1000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi on October 6; the Festival of Culture, Sport and Tourism of North-eastern Ethnic Minority Groups from December 12-14; the 4th Southern Khmer people Culture, Sports and Tourism Festival in Can Tho on December 4-9.
3. Successfully Hosting of Miss Universe 2008
Miss Universe 2008, one of the planet’s five biggest beauty contests took place from June 20 to July 14 throughout the country’s five big cities with the participation of 81 beauty queens of nations and territories worldwide.
4. Successful Organization of Cultural Festivals of Intl Stature
Festivals include the Hue Festival 2008, Tay Son-Binh Dinh Festival, the Danang International Fireworks Festival and the Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival.
5. The fifth United Nations Day of Vesak and the 700th Death Anniversary of King Tran Nhan Tong
On the occasion of the fifth United Nations Day of Vesak held first in Vietnam and the Great Ceremony to mark the 700th Death Anniversary of King Tran Nhan Tong, a series of cultural activities were held across the country.
6. Vietnamese Authors Win Intl Big Awards
The film “When the Tenth Month Comes” of Director Dang Nhat Minh was selected as one of the 18 best Asian movies of all times and the photo collection “Traditional Culture of Central Highlands Ethnic Minority” won the 29th World Trophy of the Black and White Artistic Photo Competition.
Success in Sports
7. The event that Vietnam sport delegation ranked 71 among 200 delegations at the Beijing Olympic 2008 with one silver in weightlifting is considered the seventh notable one in the year.
8. The eighth event is also a sport one in which Vietnam hosted the World Junior Chess and won four gold medals, five silver medals and three bronze medals, ranking second among 80 countries and territories.
9. Following is also another sport events: Vietnam won the Merkeka Championship in Malaysia; Vietnam National Men’s Football Team entered the final of the ASEAN Football Championship Suzuki Cup 2008 and Vietnamese athletes conquered the Everest Mount.
10. A tourism event is a campaign to call on people to vote for Ha Long Bay, Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park and Fanxipang as New World Wonder and activities under the Mekong – Can Tho National Tourism Year.
Besides naming ten outstanding events, the ministry's official also pointed out five shortcomings of the sectors, including ridiculous dance of FPT Arena Center’s students at the 20th founding anniversary; violations at the Miss Vietnam contest 2008 as well as shortcomings in managing and organizing the beauty contests; existing domestic violence; football violence and environmental pollution at alarming level. (News, Vietnam Economic Times)
Vietnamese
