CULTURE AND SPORT

Various fun-filled activities and workshops were put on at the EU Christmas market, the first of its kind held in Ho Chi Minh City on December 23.

The Open Air #2 X-mas Festival scheduled to take place in Hanoi on December 23 and 24 was cancelled at the last minute after some artists announced they would not perform.

The Vietnamese men’s national football team wrapped up the year 2023 with the first place in Southeast Asia, 15th in Asia and 94th in the world in FIFA's latest rankings.

Local representative Do Thi Lan Anh is among the Top 12 finalists in the Best National Costume sub-contest at the Miss Earth 2023 pageant, which is currently underway in Da Lat.

The World Chess Federation has listed the winners from throughout the history of the world blitz chess championship, including local chess player Le Quang Liem who won a title back in 2013.

A VND300 billion (USD12.39 million) stadium in the Central Highlands province’s Da Lat City will be put into operation late this month.

The “VNSO Christmas Charity Concert 2023” will be held on December 26 at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Hanoi in order to raise funds for disadvantaged children, according to the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra.

The Vietnamese youth chess team secured three individual gold medals in the Blitz chess category at the ongoing Asian Youth Chess Championships 2023 which was held in Al Ain in the UAE.

The Open Air 2 K-pop festival is scheduled at My Dinh National Stadium from December 23-25.

Famous pop rock band Maroon 5 of the United States touched down at Phu Quoc International Airport on December 14 to prepare for their debut performance in Vietnam on December 16.

The annual BridgeFest Music Festival was held on Nguyễn Huệ Street in HCM City on Saturday night, attracting thousands of people.

The Hue International Music Week 2023 officially opened on December 8 in Ngo Mon Square of the Hue Citadel in the central province of Thua Thien Hue.

Vietnamese and international artists are gearing up for the BridgeFest 2023 music festival which is scheduled to take place at Nguyen Hue pedestrian street in Ho Chi Minh City on December 9.

Vietnamese artist Nguyen Quoc Truong Thinh has been nominated in the best leading male performance-digital category at the Asian Television Awards 2023.

Internationally-acclaimed pop star Rori of Belgium will wow local audiences with two performances in Hue and Hanoi this December as part of her busy Asia this year.

An out-door exhibition entitled “Tay Nguyen – Gia Lai Paradise” displaying antique artifacts of local ethnic people opened in Pleiku city in the Central Highlands province of Gia Lai on December 5.

Some 2,000 runners will participate in Son Tra Run Challenge 2023 which will take place on Son Tra peninsula, Da Nang city on December 23-24.

The Hue International Music Week 2023 titled “Four Seasons Melody” will take place from December 8 to 12 at Ngo Mon Gate (Noon Gate) in the ancient capital of Hue, according to organisers of the Hue Festival 2023.

More than 100 beauties from across the world are arriving in Vietnam for the Miss Earth 2023 pageant which will be held in HCM City this December.