Top 15 Most Noteworthy Cultural and Artistic Events of 2021

A major cultural event in 2021 was the official release of the Code of Conduct aimed at 'reforming' artists.

On December 13, 2021, Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Nguyen Van Hung, signed the Code of Conduct for those working in the field of performing arts. This code was introduced as a measure to 'correct' the behaviors of individuals in the performing arts sector who had exhibited misconduct.

The Code is structured into three chapters and eleven articles: Chapter I outlines the purpose, scope, subjects, and definitions; Chapter II sets out the rules of conduct; and Chapter III details the implementation of the code. It applies to all individuals involved in the performing arts, whether freelancers or employed by artistic organizations. The code governs all professional conduct, including behavior in journalism, media, social media, and other community activities.

On December 15, 2021, at precisely 5:11 PM in France, UNESCO officially recognized Thai Xoe Dance as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

During the 16th meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held from December 13-18, 2021 in France, Vietnam's Thai Xoe Dance was added to UNESCO's list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition not only celebrates the unique cultural expression of the Thai people in Northern Vietnam but also elevates it to the global stage, where it will be protected and promoted by the international community.

The inclusion of Thai Xoe Dance in UNESCO's prestigious list affirms the rich cultural identity of the Vietnamese people, emphasizes community cohesion, and advocates for the respect of cultural diversity. It encourages dialogue among individuals, communities, and nations, fostering tolerance, love, and humanitarian values in line with the objectives of the 2003 Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The 2021 'Vietnam Ethnic Culture Day' brought together 17 ethnic communities from 15 provinces and cities across the country. This event marked a special celebration of Vietnam’s Ethnic Culture Day (April 19) and commemorated the 46th anniversary of the reunification of the country (April 30, 1975 - April 30, 2021).

The event featured a variety of exciting and meaningful programs that promoted national unity and showcased the rich cultural heritage of Vietnam’s ethnic groups. Around 270 participants from 17 ethnic communities representing groups such as Tay, Nung, Mong, Kho Mu, Thai, Bahnar, Xedang, Raglai, E De, and Khmer attended the event.

A key highlight of the celebration was the cultural program 'Vietnam Ethnic Culture Day 2021,' along with performances that highlighted UNESCO-listed intangible cultural heritage practices from Vietnam. These included the Then ritual of the Tay, Nung, and Thai peoples; Xoan singing from Phu Tho; Bac Ninh’s Quan Ho folk songs; Ca Tru; Nghe Tinh folk songs; Hue Royal Court Music; Bai Choi art from Central Vietnam; Central Highlands’ Gong Culture; and Southern Vietnam’s Don Ca Tai Tu music.

On November 23, during a morning session in Paris, UNESCO passed a resolution to honor two Vietnamese cultural icons: poet Nguyễn Đình Chiểu and female writer Hồ Xuân Hương.

The recognition of Nguyễn Đình Chiểu and Hồ Xuân Hương was approved by the 41st General Conference of UNESCO as part of the 'Cultural Figures and Historical Events for the 2022–2023 biennium.' The celebration will commemorate the 200th anniversary of Nguyễn Đình Chiểu's birth and the 250th anniversary of Hồ Xuân Hương’s birth and the 200th anniversary of her death, along with 58 other notable anniversaries.

Nguyễn Đình Chiểu is one of Vietnam's most revered writers and poets, known for overcoming life’s challenges and dedicating himself to the lifelong pursuit of education, a value upheld by UNESCO. Besides his literary contributions, he also practiced traditional medicine to help the sick. His works are deeply humanistic, promoting patriotism and praising individuals who selflessly work for the common good. His most famous work, the epic poem 'Lục Vân Tiên,' written in Nom script, is rich with moral lessons and national traditions.

Hồ Xuân Hương, often called the 'Queen of Nom Poetry,' is one of Vietnam’s greatest poets. Her works are known for their vitality, optimism, and bold approach to traditional poetry. With a creative and straightforward style, her poetry offers deep meanings and timeless relevance. She is also celebrated for addressing gender equality and advocating for women's liberation in Vietnam through her poems.

The Vietnam Pavilion and its events during the Vietnam National Day and ASEAN Day at the World Expo 2020 Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), left a lasting impression on international visitors. Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (VHTT&DL), these events showcased Vietnam's rich cultural heritage and its modern achievements.

Marking Vietnam's 7th participation in the World Expo, under the theme 'Connecting the Past, Propelling the Future,' the Vietnam Pavilion used a blend of traditional exhibition language and cutting-edge technology to highlight both the nation’s cultural legacy and innovative accomplishments. The event helped promote Vietnam's image, tourism, and foster new opportunities for collaboration and investment between Vietnam, the Middle East, and the world.

The 22nd Vietnam Film Festival, held in Thua Thien Hue province, was successfully organized with flexibility, adapting to the new normal while ensuring safety protocols against COVID-19. The event also maintained the prestigious standards of a major film festival, celebrating outstanding cinematic works and artists.

This festival not only showcased the beauty of Vietnam, particularly the poetic region of Hue, but also promoted the collaboration between filmmakers and localities across the country. The goal was to further develop the film industry in tandem with tourism and cultural heritage promotion. The event concluded with 18 awards for the best films and 26 individual accolades, including the coveted Golden Lotus Award for Best Film, which went to 'Dreamy Eyes' ('Mắt Biếc').

In 2021, despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the publishing industry worked hard to maintain a steady number of book releases and sales, reaching approximately 92% of pre-pandemic levels.

To ensure the reading culture did not decline, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (VHTT&DL), along with numerous organizations and institutions, hosted various competitions and awards, even amidst the pandemic. These included the National Book Awards, and competitions such as the Ambassador of Reading Culture, Online Book Introductions, Writing Book Descriptions, and Moments with Books. Notably, the General Political Department of the Vietnam People’s Army launched the first-ever nationwide Ambassador of Reading Culture competition, receiving a remarkable 89,149 submissions.

The term 'sao kê' became a trending topic in 2021, sparking significant public interest around the transparency of charity donations by Vietnamese celebrities. Figures like Hoài Linh, Thủy Tiên, Trấn Thành, and others found themselves involved in the controversy. Trấn Thành, in particular, made headlines by revealing a 1,000-page statement to clarify his charity funds after rumors claimed he had over 120 billion VND in his account. He publicly denied the accusations, saying, 'Those claiming I have over 120 billion VND in my account have defamed me. You owe us an apology.'

Other celebrities, including MC Đại Nghĩa, Hồ Ngọc Hà's mother, former supermodel Trang Trần, and Thúy Diễm and Lương Thế Thành, also addressed the controversy surrounding their charity donations. Singer Đàm Vĩnh Hưng strongly refuted accusations of embezzling 96 billion VND intended for charity.

Amidst the growing pressure of the 'sao kê' controversy, Thủy Tiên and her husband Công Vinh presented over 1,800 pages of bank statements to verify the 177 billion VND raised for flood relief in central Vietnam in late 2020. This action came after months of scrutiny over the transparency of their charitable funds.

Additionally, comedian Hoài Linh addressed the situation surrounding the over 14 billion VND raised for central Vietnam flood victims, which had not been distributed for six months after the 2020 floods.

The controversy began when BH Media claimed the copyright for "Giấc mơ trưa," a song by composer Giáng Son, sparking public outrage. The situation escalated when the company further enraged the public by claiming ownership of the Vietnamese national anthem, "Tiến quân ca," composed by Văn Cao, who had donated it to the people and the nation.

But the scandal didn’t stop there. Many artists began speaking out after BH Media claimed copyright over several popular songs. Notably, NSND Thu Hiền accused the company of impersonating her by creating a YouTube channel under her name to profit from it. The company also took down her music without permission, falsely claiming ownership.

As if the situation wasn’t tense enough, BH Media continued to face backlash when the national anthem was muted during a Vietnam vs. Laos match in the 2020 AFF Suzuki Cup. The broadcast station, Next Sports, explained that the anthem was muted due to copyright issues, with a message on the screen reading: "For copyright reasons, we had to mute the national anthem. The audio will resume after the flag ceremony. We apologize for the inconvenience."

Nguyễn Thúc Thùy Tiên from Vietnam triumphed over 59 other contestants to clinch the title of Miss Grand International 2021 at the grand finale on December 4th in Thailand.

After an exciting and intense competition lasting over three hours, Thùy Tiên was overwhelmed with joy when her name was called as the winner. She earned a well-deserved victory, receiving warm applause from both the Thai audience and international viewers. Thùy Tiên was crowned by the outgoing queen, Miss Grand International 2020, Apena Appiah.

The Miss Grand International final took place at the Show DC Hall in Bangkok, Thailand, on the evening of December 4th, after three weeks of pre-pageant events. The night was praised for its professionalism, with a dazzling stage and captivating performances by the 60 contestants. The judges selected the Top 20, Top 10, and Top 5 before announcing the queen and four runners-up.

At just 14 years old, Vũ Huyền Diệu, a student and protégé of model Minh Tú, was crowned Miss Eco Teen International on December 20th (local time).

The grand finale saw 30 contestants from various countries and territories, with Huyền Diệu making it to the top 5 alongside representatives from the Philippines, the United States, Belgium, and Egypt after competing in the national costume and evening wear rounds.

In November 2021, Huyền Diệu participated in the domestic Miss Eco Teen Vietnam competition, judged by notable figures including artist Trịnh Kim Chi, designer Việt Hùng, and model Minh Tú. The competition was part of the Vietnam Environment Miss pageant, aligned with the government's initiative to plant one billion trees during 2021-2025, carrying the theme "For a Greener Vietnam." Following her victory, Huyền Diệu received professional training in catwalk techniques from Minh Tú for the international stage.

Born in 2008, Vũ Huyền Diệu has a Vietnamese mother and a Singaporean father. Standing at 1.68 meters tall, she is currently a student at an international school in Ho Chi Minh City. From a young age, she was encouraged by her family to pursue the arts, studying singing and piano. She won a silver medal in piano solo at the 2015 Asian Music Festival in Singapore, and another silver in the Piano Duel competition with her brother Quang Dũng in 2016. In 2019, she competed in Little Miss Universe in Georgia, where she won the title of Elegant Little Miss.

After a long journey through SupermodelMe – Asia's Top Model, Quỳnh Anh, representing Vietnam, made the nation proud by winning the title of SupermodelMe Season 6 Champion!

The SupermodelMe Season 6 finale drew massive attention as Quỳnh Anh from Vietnam reached the top 3 of the competition. After a fierce battle against contestants from 7 other Asian countries—Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China, and Indonesia—Quỳnh Anh emerged victorious. This marked the first time a Vietnamese contestant made history by winning the SupermodelMe competition!

Her peers praised Quỳnh Anh for maintaining composure and confidence, always understanding her best angles. Judges also highlighted her distinctive presence, noting her strong personality and poise throughout the competition.

Winning SupermodelMe is a well-deserved reward for the hard work and dedication the 22-year-old has put into her modeling career, both in Vietnam and abroad!

The National Culture Conference was held on November 24 in Hanoi, as part of the implementation of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress. According to Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, Nguyễn Văn Hùng, the event was held on a large scale. In addition to the main session at the Diên Hồng Hall, which saw nearly 600 delegates—including Party and State leaders, government officials, and prominent artists—the conference was also connected online with hundreds of locations across the country.

The National Culture Conference aimed to assess the implementation of Party policies, resolutions, and directives regarding cultural and artistic work in recent years. It also focused on the achievements in shaping Vietnamese culture and people over the past 35 years of national renewal.

The conference concluded by agreeing on key tasks for cultural and artistic development from 2021 to 2026, with a vision extending to 2045, in alignment with the implementation of the 13th Party Congress Resolution.

The Hanoi 2021 Tourism and Culinary Culture Festival, held under the slogan "Vietnamese People Traveling Vietnam", aims to provide the public with access to promotional programs, supporting the recovery of the tourism industry as the Covid-19 situation improves. The event took place from April 16 to 18, 2021, around Hoan Kiem Lake, featuring 200 booths and attracting hundreds of tourism businesses, as well as major airlines such as Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air, Bamboo Airways, and Vietravel Airlines. In addition, 12 provinces and cities, including Khánh Hòa, Bình Định, Da Nang, Thừa Thiên Huế, Quảng Bình, Hà Giang, Lai Châu, Điện Biên, Hòa Bình, Thái Nguyên, Tuyên Quang, and Phú Thọ, participated.

The festival was unique in that it focused less on displaying products and more on offering upgraded tourism products with various promotional deals. To encourage people to visit destinations nationwide, airlines offered a large number of discounted tickets during the festival. Vietnam Airlines, for example, made available 200,000 tickets for travel to any domestic destination at just 99,000 VND, while Bamboo Airways offered 100,000 tickets priced between 36,000 VND and 49,000 VND (excluding taxes and fees). Furthermore, customers purchasing premium class tickets or combining their travel with accommodation received discount codes ranging from 20% to 50%.

In addition, travel agencies brought over 1,000 new tourism packages, offering discounts ranging from 15% to 35%, as well as attractive vouchers and gifts. Vietsense Travel, for instance, offered two tours to explore Hanoi and the northern provinces with a 25% discount, while Hanoitourist offered a 40% discount on thousands of tours departing until the end of the year.

During the second session of the 15th National Assembly, Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng, acting on behalf of the Prime Minister, presented the proposal for the amended Cinema Law to the National Assembly.

The proposal for the amended Cinema Law aligns with four main policies, which have been approved by the Government. These policies aim to: create favorable conditions to encourage individuals and organizations to participate in film production; support and promote the distribution and screening of Vietnamese films; attract and encourage participation in the promotion and advertisement of Vietnamese cinema both domestically and internationally; and modernize management and apply advanced technologies in line with the technological advancements of the digital era.

The draft of the amended Cinema Law consists of eight chapters and 50 articles. It retains, amends, and adds 32 articles, as well as introduces 18 new provisions compared to the current law.