The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 27 announced the ten most outstanding cultural, sports and tourism activities in 2009 in Danang.

The press conference announcing the top ten events of the culture, sports and tourism sector in 2009.

Speaking at a press conference in Danang, To Van Dong, Chief of the Ministry’s office, said that this year the ministry gave priority to activities held for the first time and showed high effectiveness.

These events were selected based on suggestions of local departments of culture, sports and tourism and then voted on by journalists. Dong explained that “Activities that won more than 70 percent of the votes from journalists were chosen as the outstanding activities in 2009. They are numbered from one to ten, but their values are equal.”

Top ten activities of culture, sports and tourism in 2009:

1. The 12^th National Assembly approved 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 honoring ten historical and cultural relics as national relics.

2. “Quan Ho Bac Ninh” singing (Bac Ninh folk love duets) was recognised by the United Nations 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.

UNESCO also decided to attend the 1,000^th 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, the 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, USA; the Republic of Korea’s Cultural Week and Cambodia’s Cultural Week in Vietnam.

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

4. A series of cultural and artistic activities were held to mark the nation’s big events, including the 50^th anniversary of the opening of the Ho Chi Minh Trail and the day of Truong Son troops; 55 years of the Dien Bien Phu Victory; and Quang Nam’s Cultural and Tourism Week towards the 1,000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

5. Special commemorative days like April 19 became the Cultural Day for Vietnamese Ethnic Groups; 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 Mekong-Japan Cultural and Tourism Days in the Mekong Delta province of Can Tho.

6. The movie “Dung Dot” (Don’t Burn) won 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 in Vietnam: Vietnam ranked second among 43 countries and territories participating in the games.

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

9. ASEAN 2009 Tourism Forum and the tourism stimulus programme called “Vietnam Impression.”

10. Hạ Long Bay entered the final round of a campaign to be one of the world’s seven new natural wonders. Thua Thien-Hue city province’s Lang Co Bay has been recognised as one of the world’s most beautiful bays.

Hai Chau