With the first month of the lunar calendar considered an auspicious time to begin new ventures, many TV-serial makers have been shooting their first scenes in recent days.

A major film on the history of Hanoi will start shooting on March 15 and will be shown on the 1,000th anniversary of the capital city, said the film director Luu Trong Ninh.  

“The Little Sweep”, a famous opera by world famous British composer, Benjamin Britten, will be performed at the Hanoi Opera House on February 3-4.

Meritorious artist Thanh Loc has won the Mai Vang (Golden Apricot) Award for Achievement in Theatrical Directing at an awards ceremony in HCM City, his 11th victory in the 15 years the awards have been presented.

For many music observers in Vietnam the scene looked gloomy. Here VietNamNet takes a look back at a troubled 12 months and the rare bright spots.

Chinese writer Tao Ding has allowed the Vietnamese company, V.Art, to turn his well-known book “Sorry, I’m only a horse” into a stage drama.

The Vietnam Musicians Association held the 2009 Music Award Ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on January 15, giving out five first prizes to artists in different categories.

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung cut the ribbon to open a photo exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Vietnam-China diplomatic ties in Hanoi on January 14.

Canadian hip-hop artist K’Naan, whose single has been chosen as the 2010 FIFA World Cup anthem, will perform in Ho Chi Minh City this month.

An exhibition of 140 outstanding paintings by Vietnamese children aged between 6 and 14 is being held in Paris from January 5-31.