The 140-part Thang Long – Ngan Nam Thuong Nho (Nostalgia for 1,000 year-old Thang Long-Ha Noi), which began shooting last year is one of HCMC’s projects to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of the nation’s capital.

Each 10-minute episode describes historic events in Hanoi since the day King Ly Thai To moved the capital from Hoa Lu in what is now Ninh Binh Province to Thang Long (now Hanoi) in 1010.

“The affection felt by the southern Vietnamese toward Hanoi, even though many of them have never been there, is also dealt with in the documentary,” film director Do Ben said.

Produced by HCMC Television Film Studio, Nostalgia for 1,000-year-old Thang Long-Ha Noi will be screened at 22.40pm on HTV 7, and at 23.30pm on HTV 9 every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

In the capital city of Hanoi, the eighth annual Vietnamese Poetry Day will open on February 28. It will begin with a special procession of the sacred flame taken from the Thuong Temple, which is dedicated to the Hung Kings - the founders of Vietnam - and the Edict on the Transfer of the Capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh) to Dai La (present-day Hanoi), written by King Ly Thai To.

According to the organisers, poems – both classical and contemporary - will be recited in the main courtyard of Van Mieu (Temple of Literature) which is Vietnam’s first university.

In honour of the event, Van Mieu will have its entrance decorated as a “forest of poems” with each tree carrying a poem representing a city or a province. A display will also be reserved for an exhibition of poetry written on porcelain products made by artisans in the famed Bat Trang pottery village.

In the lead up, on February 26 and 27, the Vietnam Writers’ Association, which initiated National Poetry Day, will honour translated poems at the Russian Cultural Centre, and commemorate dead poets.

In response to National Poetry Day, localities nationwide will organise activities to honour poetry which has been an integral part of Vietnamese culture for thousands of years.

At a press conference in Hanoi on January 21, Vice Chairman of Thua Thien-Hue provincial People’s Committee and Head of the festival’s Organising Board Ngo Hoa, affirmed that the festival, themed “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development”, is not only a large event with hundreds of special cultural and tourism programmes but also a meeting place for representatives of ancient capital cities and cities with world cultural heritage sites and traditions.

Notably, the programmes during this year’s festival will be imbued with the cultural character of countries from five continents, including France, the US, Japan, Australia and Central Africa.

Vietnam will showcase its own unique culture to international friends, including the performance art of the Hue court music.

An ao dai (traditional long dress) show and royal court festivals will also be held during the 9-day festival.

The Hue Festival 2010 will be expanded beyond venues used during previous years to surrounding areas, towns and new urban areas in the province.

Starting in 2000, the biennial Hue Festival has so far reaped considerable successes. In 2008, the festival attracted nearly 2,000 domestic and foreign artists and 180,000 visitors, including 30,000 international tourists.

It will introduce several abiding images of the Netherlands including 12 typical houses, windmills, tulips and other objects.

Visitors will also have the opportunity to enjoy music from Holland, the country’s traditional cuisine and games.

Around 15 well-known artists from Holland will show their special skills in making wooden shoes and other handicraft and fine-art products, including the art of glass blowing by well-known artist Frans Limpens.

Some of the best paintings produced by artists and visitors at the event will be auctioned, and all the proceeds donated to the “Dance4Life” fund, a fund for developing HIV and AIDS prevention projects.

The event marks the 37th anniversary of bilateral relations Viet Nam and the Netherlands.