"Hanoi 12 days and nights" film's director passes away

People’s Artist Bui Dinh Hac - director of the movie “Hanoi 12 days and nights” which is one of the best Vietnam war films about the struggles and courageous fight against American bombers during the historic air campaign Operation Linebacker II over Hanoi in December 1972 , passed away on July 1 in Hanoi at the age of 90, his family announced on July 2.
"Hanoi 12 days and nights" film's director passes away ảnh 1People’s Artist Bui Dinh Hac (Photo: Courtesy of his family)

Hanoi (VNA) – People’s Artist Bui Dinh Hac - director ofthe movie “Hanoi 12 days and nights” which is one of the best Vietnam war films aboutthe struggles and courageous fight against American bombers during the historicair campaign Operation Linebacker II over Hanoi in December 1972 , passed away on July1 in Hanoi at the age of 90, his family announced on July 2.

Hac was born in 1934 in the northern province of Phu Tho. Hestarted working in the film industry in 1953 in the Viet Bac (Northern Vietnam) Base during the resistance war against the French colonials. He belonged to the first generation who laid the first bricks for the VietnameseRevolutionary Cinema. After graduating from Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema,he continued to study in Russia.

His first work was the documentary film "Water to Bac HungHai" (1959) that was made when he was only 25 years old. The film won theGold Award at the 1959 Moscow Film Festival, making it the first Vietnamese movie to be awarded a gold award at an international festival.

"Hanoi 12 days and nights" film's director passes away ảnh 2File photo

In his 50-year career, Hac made both documentaries and featurefilms. He produced famous films including “Nguyen Van Troi lives forever"(1964), "Nguyen Van Troi" (1966), "The way to the motherland" (1971), "Saigon in May 1975" (1975), "A song forUncle Ho" (1978), "Nguyen Ai Quoc came to Lenin" (1979),"Road to the Fatherland" (1980), and "Ho Chi Minh – A portrait"(1989).

From 2002 to 2005, his film "Hanoi 12 Days and Nights"produced in 2002 participated in a series of major international film festivals.

Hac received internationaland domestic film awards. In 1984, he was conferred the title of People'sArtist by the State and in 2007, he was awarded the Ho Chi Minh Prize forLiterature and Art for his seven unique cinematographic works.

He used to hold important positions, including Director of theCentral Documentary Film Studio, Director of the Cinema Department, and DeputyGeneral Secretary of the Vietnam Cinema Association./.

VNA

See more

The Duong Long tower complex is a special national relic built by the Cham people in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. (Photo: nhandan.vn)

Restoration breathes new life into Southeast Asia's tallest Cham tower

After more than 800 years, the towers have suffered damage from weather, time and plant growth. In late 2025, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism launched a restoration project worth more than 90 billion VND (3.4 million USD). Scheduled to last 10 months, the project now sees 40% of its workload completed.

A space for performing traditional Vietnamese music at the Temple of Literature. (Photo: VNA)

Art breathes new life into Vietnam's heritage spaces

In Hanoi, many historical and cultural landmarks have successfully enhanced their value through creative artistic activities. The Thang Long Imperial Citadel regularly hosts historical re-enactments, exhibitions and cultural experiences, while popular night tours at Hoa Lo Prison relic site demonstrate the effectiveness of storytelling through the combination of sound, light and performance.

An art performance at the Vietnam-Japan Festival 2026 in Da Nang city. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam-Japan Festival 2026 opens in Da Nang

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People's Committee and head of the festival's organising committee Nguyen Thi Anh Thi said that after many editions, the festival has become one of the city's signature external affairs events, helping reinforce the increasingly close partnership between Da Nang and Japanese localities and partners.

Visitors participate in a live demonstration of pho roll preparation at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Pho takes Vietnam’s flavours, identity on Europe journey

More than a food showcase, the programme combines live cooking demonstrations, cultural talks, chef-to-chef exchanges, and business networking to strengthen the global profile of Vietnamese cuisine and promote deeper international connections through gastronomy.

The opening ceremony of The Grand Esports 2026 on July 9 (Photo courtesy of the Sports Authority of Vietnam)

The Grand Esports 2026 opens in Hanoi

The Grand Esports 2026 officially opened in Hanoi on July 9, demonstrating that esports has entered a new stage of development and is increasingly recognised as an important part of Vietnam's national sports strategy, cultural industries and digital economy.

The poem inscribed on the roof ridge of Ngo Mon Gate is part of the Poetry on Hue Royal Architecture collection, which was recognised by UNESCO as documentary heritage under the Memory of the World Programme for Asia and the Pacific. (Photo: qdnd.vn)

Workforce vital to documentary heritage

The combination of a transparent legal framework, a comprehensive digitisation strategy and an internationally qualified workforce will provide a solid foundation for preserving, utilising and disseminating the value of Vietnam’s documentary heritage, enabling the nation’s collective memory to be passed on sustainably to future generations.

Members of the Vovinam club in Paris. (Photo: VNA)

Paris Vovinam club promotes Vietnamese culture in France

The club currently has nearly 50 members aged from seven to over 70, with regular training sessions held on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, alongside extended weekend classes for both children and adults. The classes are led by a father-and-daughter team, assisted by between two and six instructors depending on the session.

Viewers watch Thang Long Capital show featuring 3D mapping and digital experiential spaces. (Photo: VNA)

Digital technologies unlock new value from Vietnam’s cultural heritage

Vietnam possesses a wealth of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, with tens of thousands of historical and cultural sites nationwide. Experts believe that, supported by digital technologies, these resources can become a major driver of culture, tourism, education and creative industries.

Children experience traditional craft (Photo: VNA)

Promoting souvenir industry to spread national image

Experts said that with market-oriented development, improved functionality, stronger storytelling and greater involvement from designers, businesses and market-connecting organisations, souvenirs could become a bridge linking Vietnam with the world while contributing to the growth of cultural industries and the creative economy.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Slovakia Pham Truong Giang presents a certificate of merit from the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to the executive board of the Vietnamese People Association in Slovakia in recognition of its efforts to unite and support the overseas Vietnamese community. (Photo: published by VNA)

Vietnam Day 2026 promotes Vietnamese culture in Slovakia

Jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy and community in Slovakia, the annual event showcased Vietnam's rich cultural heritage while promoting people-to-people exchanges and strengthening friendship between the two countries.

Vietnamese players will compete at the Esports Grand Championship 2026 this July. (Photo: Sports Authority of Vietnam)

Vietnam to host Esports Grand Championship for first time

The international tournament, endorsed by the Southeast Asian Esports Federation and recognised under Olympic-standard achievement criteria, will take place from July 9 to 12 at the My Dinh Athletics Palace in Hanoi as part of The Grand Esports 2026 series.