On December 27th , the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism announced a new logo and slogan for Vietnam’s tourism.

Accordingly, on the basis of researching and analysis, strategic experts proposed to use the phrase “Vietnam – Timeless Charm” for the new slogan and a five-petal lotus will be used for the new logo.

According to VNAT’s explanation, the lotus was chosen for the new logo because it symbolises noble meaning and the beauty of Vietnamese people, soul and country. The five-petal lotus with five colours symbolise the charm of Vietnam’s tourism. Under the Orient’s philosophy, the number five represents the growth and vehement vitality. The colours of lotus petals suggest the imagination about tourist products, interesting experiences, and emotions of tourists when they visit Vietnam. The new slogan and logo will be officially used for the national tourism promotion programme for the 2012-2015 period.

On December 27th, in Hanoi, the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism also announced ten outstanding cultural, sport and tourism activities in 2011. Accordingly, the ten chosen activities are:

1. UNESCO recognised the Ho Dynasty Citadel in the central province of Thanh Hoa as a World Cultural Heritage site.

2. UNESCO recognised Xoan singing, a vocal art of villages in the ancestral land of Phu Tho as Intangible Cultural Heritages in need of Urgent Protection.

3. The performance of the traditional costumes of Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority groups for the first time

4. The 100th anniversary of the Hanoi Opera House.

5. The first Thai Nguyen International Tea Festival.

6. Vietnamese sports delegation ranked third at 26th SEA Games.

7. Phan Thi Ha Thanh won Vietnam’s first world-class bronze medal at the 43rd Artistic Gymnastics World Championships in Japan and will officially join the Olympics in London 2012.

8. Swimmer Hoang Quy Phuoc won two gold medals at 26th SEA Games, broke SEA Games record for men’s 100m butterfly category and will compete in the Olympics in London 2012.

9. Halong Bay was listed among world’s new seven natural wonders.

10. Vietnam travel agency welcomed the six-millionth international visitor.