This event was a hallmark of 2010. the preparations took three years. hundreds of activities were held from January until November.

During the great anniversary (October 1-10), the city was splendidly decorated with flowers, lamps, banners, etc. Dozens of exhibitions, music shows, fashion shows, firework shows, etc. and the largest-ever parade were organized. The capital city welcomed nearly 1 million visitors at the time. The ten-day great ceremony was the unforgettable event the city’s 1000-year history.

Importantly, the Thang Long Royal Citadel was recognized by the UNESCO as a world cultural heritage.

2. The first Vietnam International Film Festival

For the first time Vietnam held an official international film festival, which honored the best films, actors and directors of Asian productions in 2010.

The festival attracted 67 films from 20 Asian countries and territories, which were screened at three cinema complexes in Hanoi.

Many Asian stars and famous directors joined the event, including Hong Kong Star Daniel Wu, Australian director Philip Noyce, Venice Film Festival Director Marco Muller, etc. 

Vietnamese actress Nhat Kim Anh won the Best Actress Award for her role in “Long Thanh Cam Gia Ca” (The Fate of a Songstress in Thang Long).

3. Senior singer Y Moan passed away 

People’s Artist and pop singer Y Moan died in early October at the age of 53 after a long fight with stomach cancer.

Born in 1957, Y Moan was discovered in 1976 after reunification. He left his home in the mountains of the Central Highlands and headed for Hanoi when he was recruited for the Song and Dance Troupe. He studied at the then Hanoi Conservatory of Music from 1979 until 1986.

He is noted for singing songs about the Central Highlands written by Nguyen Cuong, Tran Tien, Linh Nga Nie K’dam and Ama No, making sure the land became well-known to millions of people both within and outside the country.

The Central Highlands singer who dedicated his life to panegyrizing his homeland was conferred the title of People’s Artist this year. It is the highest honor given by the State to artists.

4. Restoration of cultural relics 

Many important relics were restored in 2010, including ChuQuyenTemple, Mac Dynasty citadel, O Quan Chuong gate, Son Tay ancient citadel, etc.

Hundreds of billions dong were invested in these projects. Some were successful (Chu Quyen temple) but some drew public criticism (Mac Dynasty citadel). Some projects have not been finished yet (O Quan Chuong, Son Tay citadel).

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has just issued the rules on the procedure of preservation of relics.

5. Vietnam Idol and Morning Star Rendez-vous

The two singing contests have attracted large numbers of audiences, from the youth to the elderly, especially Vietnam Idol.

Vietnam Idol 2010 finished on December 25. Tran Nguyen Uyen Linh, 22, a graduate from the Institute for International Relations, was the winner, taking a $20,000 prize.

Uyen Linh has won the support of the audience’s majority, the jury and experts. She is considered as a new talent and a phenomenon in the music circle of this year. 

The Morning Star Rendez-vous will close on January 1, 2011, with four remaining contestants: Minh Chuyen, Dinh Manh Ninh, Luong Viet Quang and My Nhu.

6. Avatar 3D 

This Hollywood blockbuster earned more than $1 million from local cinemas, a record figure, and triggered a “fever” for 3D movies in Vietnam in 2010.

7. Fake charity auction 

In a charity auction for flood victims in central Vietnam in HCM City on November 11, which had the participation of the Miss Earth 2010 pageants and many businessmen, four items were auctioned, including a bronze drum, a 10kg raw ruby, a gemstone painting and the set of four fossil wood artworks featuring four sacred creatures (dragon, unicorn, turtle and phoenix). All of the items were auctioned at very high prices.

However, it turned out that the three auction winners for the bronze drum, the ruby and the gemstone paintings were faked (These people joined the auction though). The Bao Long Ceramics Company, which won the auction for the four fossil wood artworks at VND47.9 billion (over $2.3 million) refused to pay for the items. The firm also didn’t fulfill its commitment to donate VND1 billion to flood victims.

At the same time, it was rumored that the original prices of the four fossil wood artworks are only VND20 million ($1000) while they were auctioned at over $2.3 million.

8. MTV Exit Concert Tour  

The concerts, sponsored by the MTV EXIT (End Exploitation and Trafficking) campaign, aim to raise awareness ofand prevent human trafficking and exploitation.

MTV EXIT, produced by the MTV Europe Foundation in partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Australian Government’s Agency for International Development (AUSAID), has held 15 concerts across Asia over the past two years, including Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Nepal, Taiwan, the Philippines and Vietnam (March 2010) to raise the awareness of and prevent human trafficking and exploitation.

The tour took place in Hanoi on March 27, with the participation of Korea’s famous band, Super Junior, and Australian star, Kate Miller-Heidke as well as Vietnamese singers Ha Anh Tuan, Phuong Vy, Anh Khoa, Hoang Hai, Luu Huong Giang and hip-hop dance troupe Big Toe.

In Ha Long, the show was held at Hoang Gia stage, with singers Ha Anh Tuan, Anh Khoa, Hoang Hai, Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Hoang Nghiep, Hoang Yen and the Big Toe.

In Can Tho on April 10, the tour continued at Outdoor Sports Centre, with Ha Anh Tuan, Anh Khoa, May Trang group, Nam Cuong, Yen Trang, Yen Nhi and Thien Minh.

The American band, The Click Five, recipients of the Knockout Award at the MTV Asia Awards, joined the final show at Military Zone 7 Stadium in HCMCity on April 17, with Vietnamese singers Ha Anh Tuan, Anh Khoa, Phuong Vy, Luu Huong Giang and May Trang group.

All concerts were aired on VTV and YanTV.

MTV Exit Live in Vietnam was produced in partnership with USAID, AUSAID, Phibious, Campaign Solutions, An Thuan Media and XPRC.

MTV Exist was the largest music tour in Vietnam in 2010, which lured dozens of thousands of young audiences to each show.

9. Dai Lam Linh music 

The first appearance of the trio Dai (composer Ngoc Dai) – Lam (singer Thanh Lam) – Linh (singer Linh Dung) at Vietnamese Song live show which was aired live on national VTV3 channel in June surprised the audience with their extraordinary music, which is called contemporary experimental music. Until now, this group’s music remains a big controversy.

10. The show by violinist Sarah Chang 

As one of the most famous violinists in the world, the Korean-American violinist’s performance at the Hanoi Opera House on January 22 attracted special attention of classic music fans and the common audience. On this occasion, she attended an online interview with VietNamNet’s readers.

Born in Philadelphia to Korean parents, Sarah Chang began her violin studies at age 4. She has performed with most major orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Berlin Philharmonic and the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

Chang was honored as a Young Global Leader for 2008 by the World Economic Forum for her professional accomplishments, commitment to social causes and potential to shape the future of the world. In 2006, she was named by Newsweek Magazine as one of the Twenty Top Women on Leadership.