PANO – The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 29th announced the 10 major cultural, sport and tourism events of the year, voted by 121 journalists from media agencies nationwide.

They are:

1. The special art performance program marking the 70th anniversary of the National Day themed “Vietnam – Aspiration for Peace”;

The special art performance program marking the 70th anniversary of the National Day

2. The largest-ever exhibition on 70 years of social-economic achievements;

3. The recognition of Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park in Quang Binh as the world natural heritage for the second time by UNESCO;

4. UNESCO inscribed the Tug of War rituals and games, the traditional practices observed in Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines and Cambodia, in the list of human intangible cultural heritage.

5. The State’s first conferment of the Emeritus Artisan title on artisans in the intangible cultural heritage sector, considering them living treasures of humanity.

6. “Yellow flowers on the green grass” became the first film co-produced by the public and private sectors to reap success in terms of artistic quality, social effect and economic efficiency.

7. The Government of Vietnam issued resolutions on exempting visa for citizens from six European countries namely the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain and Belarus, making breakthroughs for development of Vietnamese tourism.

8. The ABC News Television Station of the US staged a live Good Morning America program from Son Doong and En caves in the central province of Quang Binh with a length of 90 minutes.

9. Vietnam’s sports reaped great success at the SEA Games 28 when 87% of the sports events brought gold medals.

10. Anh Vien was elected one of the five best swimmers in Asia and nicknamed “Steel Girl” by international media.

Translated by Chung Anh