Vietnamese businesses need to pay more attention to designing and creating unique handicraft products in order to boost exports to the Japanese market and increase their competitiveness over rivals from China , India and Myanmar , say Japanese experts.

A photography exhibition entitled “Vietnamese Soul” opened in London on September 1 on Vietnam and its people to mark the country’s 65th National Day.

Ikebana, the Japanese art of flower arrangement, will be on show at the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Culture House on September 12-13 and at the Vietnam Women’s Museum in Hanoi September 16-19.

Nghinh Ong Quan Thanh Festival (Whale Worship Festival) had a jubilant start on August 30 at Ong Pagoda in the coastal city of Phan Thiet.

Female photographers from the Hai Au Photography Club based in HCM City have organised an exhibition entitled Ha Noi – Visual Angles featuring 100 black-and-white photos.

Six Senses Con Dao, the first luxury resort on the famous Con Dao Island in the southern province of Ba Ria – Vung Tau will welcome its first guests in December.

Over 70 teams from 30 foreign countries and territories will join more than 30 local teams to compete at Vietnam’s traditional martial art festival, scheduled to take place in Binh Dinh province in early August.

Tourism Australia has launched a Vietnamese language official website for customers at www.australia.com , the Australian embassy said on July 6.

The central coast city of Danang will contribute US$50,000 to Vietnam Airlines to organize road shows in Tokyo and Osaka, Japan this September to bring the country’s tourism products and services to Japanese travelers.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnamese Embassy in Japan jointly held the Vietnam Culture – Tourism Festival 2010 in Japan on June 23.