(VOVworld)- A performance of Xam, the music of blind street performers in northern Vietnam in the early 20th century, took place at the Hanoi Opera House last week. The show “Xam and Life” introduced a Hanoi audience to the charm of the Xam genre.

(VOVworld)- A recent concert featuring folk tunes of Vietnam's three regions in Hanoi attracted artists and singers from across the country. The concert introduced the uniqueness and charm of traditional Vietnamese music.Phuong Thuy reports.

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

VOVworld)- In the context of international integration, cultural exchanges and tourism development, preserving and promoting traditional festivals of ethnic minority groups is of great importance. Much effort has been made to promote ethnic cultures to attract more tourists.

(VOVworld)- The two-volume book “Thang Long-Hanoi History” received the Golden prize for “Interesting book” and Silver Prize for “Beautiful Book” at the Vietnamese Book Competition in 2013. With love for Hanoi, People’s Teacher Professor Phan Huy Le and his associates compiled the book to picture Hanoi’s glorious history.

(VOVworld)- Vietnam’s ritual of worshiping the Mother Goddess flourished in the 15th century under the Le dynasty. Since then it has been closely associated with Vietnamese people’s spiritual life. Worshiping the Mother Goddess and national heroes, the ritual embraces Vietnamese identity.

(VOVworld)- Going into a trance is believed to be a way of communicating with genies through a spirit medium. Through this ritual, genies are believed to be summoned to grant blessings to worshipers of the Mother Goddess. The ritual combines religious belief and folk performance art.

(VOVworld)- Vi-Giam folk singing of Nghe An and Ha Tinh province has been officially recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Local authorities and people of the two provinces have made an effort to preserve and promote the genre. Maintaining regular activities of Vi Giam clubs in villages has been a way to promote Vi Giam singing.

(VOVworld)- Vi-giam singing is a type of traditional folk music practiced in the central provinces of Nghe An and Ha Tinh. Vi Giam folk tunes embrace the daily life of local people connecting people’s soul. The music genre has been handed through generations. It has recently been officially recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity becoming Vietnam’s 9th internationally recognized heritage.

(VOVworld)- Ninh Thuan province has Vietnam’s largest population of Cham ethnic minority people. The Cham culture is reflected in their writing, clothing, architecture, sculpture, ceramics and brocade weaving. In recent years, Ninh Thuan province has paid special attention to preserving and promoting Cham culture, especially Cham towers and temples.