(VOVWORLD) - “The Magic Stick” has debuted in Hanoi as the first-ever combination of circus and “cai luong”, a form of Vietnam’s folk opera using a signature melancholic song structure nostalgic for the past.

(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam is undeniably a country full of history and art; it’s also a country that’s changing at a hectic pace. But there are some young artists who are devoting their talent to keeping Vietnam’s history and folk art alive. Some typical examples are Dang Thanh Huyen, author of an illustrated book of Vietnamese history, and art students who are creating traditional woodcut paintings.

(VOVWORLD) - Sop Cop, a mountainous district in Son La province, is one of the poorest districts in Vietnam. Two thirds of its people, who are between the ages of 15 and 60, are illiterate, which is a sign of poverty and undevelopment. The local government points out that anti-illiteracy is one of the key solutions and is making illiteracy eradication efforts. Several literacy classes have opened, drawing the participation of many people from all age groups. VOV reports:

(VOVWORLD) - The joyful melody of the Tinh musical instrument from Vietnam’s northeastern region often accompanies a unique cultural tradition of the Tay and Nung ethnic people of Lang Son province: the lion-cat dance, performed by dancers wearing cat masks.

(VOVWORLD) - “I was over the moon to get this hospital checkout. I’ve been here with my babies for a year. This hospital is like our second home so we’re a bit sad to say farewell to the doctors and nurses that have been in close connection with us. But it’s time for us to return to our real home. They have taught me how to take care of my daughters and help them rehabilitate,” said Tran Thi Thuy, the twins’ mother, who couldn’t stop her tears at having her babies looking so normal after a year-long battle against deformity. The two girls have been separated successfully and now have a new life. We now take a trip back in time for their heart-wrenching story.

(VOVWORLD) - Each of Vietnam’s ethnic minority groups have particular customs to celebrate New Year Holiday (Tet). Each Tet custom shows the unique cultural characteristics of each group. Nowadays, although life has changed, the cultural identity and customs of the Dao people in Khe Ma village, Tan Huong commune, Yen Binh district, Yen Bai province are still preserved.

(VOVWORLD) - The Voice of Vietnam national radio station started broadcasting from Hanoi on September 7th, just 5 days after the establishment of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The English program was among the first foreign language programs broadcast overseas on that day. Since then, September 7 has always been a great occasion to recall VOV’s history and development.

(VOVWORLD) - 100 kilometers from Ho Chi Minh City, Ta Thiet military base relic site in Binh Phuoc province once served as the headquarters for the Liberation Army of South Vietnam. The base was a strategic logistics reserve and the venue for the establishment of the Ho Chi Minh Campaign Command, which led the Vietnamese people to victories and national reunification in April, 1975. The Ta Thiet relic is now incorporated with eco-tourism stretching 3,200 hectares of forest and covering victory monuments, temples, traditional cottages for military officials, an underground meeting room where the Ho Chi Minh Campaign Command was assigned, and guest houses with100-bed capacity.

(VOVWORLD) - Traditional folk games have played an important role in Vietnamese culture. They still have been an almost magical attractions for Vietnamese children, and are played in every corner of the nation.

(VOVWORLD) - Thanh Hoa province in north-central Vietnam is famous for many tourist attractions. Mia village in Tho Xuan districtis famous for banh gai or thorn leaf cake.