Vietnam has demonstrated its rich cultural value this year as 2 of its relics had received UNESCO recognition as world cultural heritage and intangible heritage in urgent need for protection. This year also marks many successes by Vietnamese artists in world competitions.

UNESCO recognized the Ho Dynasty Citadel in the central province of Thanh Hoa as a World Cultural Heritage Site in an official announcement made at the 35th Session of the World Heritage Committee in Paris in June. The citadel includes palaces, bamboo screen hedges and a moat built with huge stone slabs, still in good state despite weathering 600 years of existence.The Citadel also has altars, marble-paved roads connecting different palaces, ancient villages and mountainous river scenery that have been relatively well preserved.Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Doan Van Phu: “The citadel and its UNESCO recognition will help us build up this tourism brand to international standard. It will boost the provincial social economic development. This requires a careful zoning to protect the environment around the relic and the participation of local community”

This year, Ha Long Bay was honored as one of the new 7 wonders of the world. Earlier, the UNESCO recognized Ha Long Bay as world natural heritage twice. Deputy Director of Quang Ninh provincial Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, Trinh Dang Thanh: “We will add more value to our tourism product so as to attract more visitors. This could be done through the improvement of our tourism staff capacity and the promotion of local cuisine and community tourism.”

This year, UNESCO approved Vietnam's xoan folk singing as a world intangible cultural heritage that needs urgent protection. The northern province of Phu Tho has carried out numerous activities to protect the art and promote its value to the outside world. Former Deputy Director of the Cultural Heritage Department, Le Thi Minh Ly: “The heritage in need of urgent need requires more effort and investment in the protection. The UNESCO recognition emphasized Vietnamese success in the drafting of dossier for recognition and research work and cultural activists.”

This year, the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra performed in the US Vietnamese works including folk songs “Trong Com” and “Ly Hoai Nam,” as well as “Adagio for String” by American composer Samuel Barber and “Symphony No.8” by Antonin Dvorak. Deputy Director of Performing Art Department, Ngo Hoang Quan: “This marks an honor integration of Vietnamese artists by both European and Vietnamese music culture. It represents Vietnamese artists’ capacity to introduce their talent and Vietnamese cultural identities to the world”.

This year, The Sol Art Choir won the gold medal at the Seventh International Johannes Brahms Choir Festival held in Germany.  Vietnamese artists have left deep cultural impression and bring the country’s image to the world in wherever places they perform.