(VOVworld)- Many cultural events made 2014 an impressive year for the Vietnamese. Today, we’ll review Vietnam’s major cultural events last year.

Trang An relic complex

In 2014, 2 Vietnamese heritages were recognized by UNESCO as world heritage sites: Trang An Relic Complex was recognized as a world cultural and natural heritage site and Vi Giam folk singing was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity.  Being recognized as the first natural and cultural heritage site in Southeast Asia has made Trang An a popular destination for tourists. Meanwhile, Vi Giam folk singing which embodies the cultural identity of Nghe An and Ha Tinh province, has been hailed as a unique art genre by the world. UNESCO’s recognition of these two heritages reflects a growing appreciation of Vietnamese culture and challenges Vietnam to preserve and promote its heritages. Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Dang Thi Bich Lien said: “It’s a great honor for Vietnam to have the Trang An relic complex recognized by UNESCO as a cultural and natural heritage. It’s one of just 30 cultural and natural heritages out of 1,000 heritages, the 10^th of its kind in Asia-Pacific, and the only one in Vietnam. Trang An is one of very few natural and cultural heritages that still pristine. It’s one of the most scenic spots in Southeast Asia”.

A mobile communications festival featuring Vietnamese borders, sea and islands and the Vietnam-Hanoi Sea and Island Culture and Tourism Week took place this year. These activities introduced the beauty of cultural relics, festivals and scenic spots, featured local community life and promoted Vietnam’s marine tourism potential. They also enhanced Vietnamese people’s love for and pride in the homeland and affirmed Vietnam’s maritime sovereignty. Vuong Duy Bien is Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism: “The Vietnam Sea and Island Culture and Tourism Week introduced promoted and honored special cultural and tourism values of Vietnam’s sea and islands to Vietnamese people and international friends. It also attempted to raise Vietnamese people’s awareness, national pride and responsibility for the management, preservation and promotion of these values thus contributing to ensuring Vietnam’s sustainable growth and national sovereignty over the sea and islands”.

Vi Giam folk singing

Festivals featuring culture and traditions of different ethnic groups were held this year. The first Culture Festival of the Thai Ethnic Minority Group and the Muong Lo Culture and Tourism Week held in Lai Chau and Yen Bai province introduced the culture and sports of local ethnic minority people in the northern region and their tourism potential.

During the year, a number of documents and policies on culture were issued \. A Party resolution highlighted the importance of culture in national development and international integration by placing culture in par with economics, politics and social issues. In 2014, the Prime Minister decided decreed April 21^st to be Vietnam Book Day in order to promote reading in the community and honor books, book authors, book publishers and book collectors”.