WeChoice Awards 2025 honor inspiring Vietnamese figures, films and community projects

The WeChoice Awards 2025 on Monday announced 21 nominees for its inspirational figure category, spotlighting individuals whose stories capture resilience, compassion and cultural pride under the theme “Continuing the story of Vietnam”.

Living in the city, many Vietnamese now rely on supermarkets for Tet staples such as cakes and candied fruits. Despite the convenience and variety, from affordable products to premium regional specialties, some still yearn for the rustic, handmade flavors of their rural childhoods.

Pleiku Ward held a cultural performance on January 25 to celebrate the Communist Party of Vietnam and welcome the Year of the Horse 2026, drawing a large turnout of officials, Party members and local residents.

Authorities in Vietnam’s Gia Lai Province have transferred two newly unearthed Champa bas-reliefs from the Duong Long Tower complex to the provincial museum for preservation, officials said on January 22.

On the evening of January 21, a full rehearsal for the special art program “Under the Glorious Flag of the Party” took place at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi.

As the Lunar New Year 2026 approaches, artists in Vietnam’s Central Highlands province of Gia Lai are turning to the horse, the zodiac animal of the coming Year of the Horse, as a central motif for new sculptures and paintings that reflect personal hopes, family bonds and artistic renewal.

 Dr. Võ Minh Hải, Deputy Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at Quy Nhon University and a long-time researcher of Han-Nom studies, has spent more than two decades working with ancient scripts and documents.

The song "Thưa Đảng," composed and performed by singer Anh Tú during the "Forever faithful to the Communist Party" art program, has received a flood of praise for its meaningful lyrics, which inspire pride and patriotism.

Gia Lai Province will stage low-altitude fireworks displays at two central squares during the 2026 Lunar New Year (The Year of Horse), following approval by provincial authorities, according to an official document.

A photographer from Gia Lai Province has won a consolation prize at the fourth Chư Yang Sin Literature and Arts Awards, held on December 29 at the Đắk Lắk Provincial Culture and Tourism Center.

The Quang Trung Museum on January 3 held a solemn memorial ceremony to honour the Tây Sơn Tam Kiệt—Nguyễn Nhạc, Nguyễn Huệ and Nguyễn Lữ—at the Tây Sơn Tam Kiệt Temple in Tây Sơn Commune.

Two artists from Gia Lai province have won consolation prizes at national-level fine arts awards in 2025, the local Fine Arts Association said on January 5.

On the evening of December 29, the Binh Dinh Bai Choi Opera Troupe staged a dress rehearsal of the Bai Choi opera “Ngọc sáng khúc gia trang”, drawing a large audience to a carefully crafted historical production that revisits Vietnam’s early struggle for autonomy through traditional theater.

Authorities in Vietnam’s Gia Lai Province on Monday launched the Krài Village Gong Club, a new community initiative aimed at preserving traditional Jrai cultural practices, including gong playing and xoang dancing.

Thousands of residents and visitors gathered on Dec. 31 as Gia Lai staged its Countdown to New Year 2026 celebrations simultaneously at Nguyễn Tất Thành Square in Quy Nhơn Ward and Đại Đoàn Kết Square in Pleiku Ward, marking the arrival of the new year with music, culture and fireworks.

On the evening of December 31, at the Pleiku Ward Children's House (Gia Lai province), the free music event "Pleimer Town – End Year Countdown 2025" took place, drawing more than 2,000 attendees who immersed themselves in a vibrant night of music to welcome the New Year 2026.

The Gia Lai Literature Sub-Association on December 27 convened its first congress for the 2025-2030 term, electing a new leadership and outlining priorities to support writers and literary activities in the province.

Gia Lai will usher in 2026 with a large-scale countdown event held simultaneously in Quy Nhon and Pleiku on the night of December 31, organisers said. The programme aims to deliver an emotionally charged artistic experience marking the transition to the new year.

Nearly 50 grassroots trade unions across Gia Lai province have joined a dance video contest aimed at celebrating Central Highlands culture and marking the first Gia Lai Provincial Trade Union Congress for the 2025–2030 term.

Gia Lai province secured two awards at the fifth “Living Beautifully” contest, themed The Miracle of Compassion, at a closing ceremony hosted by Thanh Niên Newspaper in Ho Chi Minh City.

Authorities in Ơp village, Pleiku ward, Gia Lai province, on Friday reenacted the traditional engagement ceremony of the Jrai ethnic group in an effort to preserve local cultural heritage while promoting community-based tourism.

Authorities in Gia Lai province are moving to grant provincial-level heritage status to the An Phu Champa Relic, a nearly 1,000-year-old Buddhist temple complex dating back to the 9th-10th centuries.

Gia Lai province aims to transform its cultural and sports assets into key drivers of sustainable economic growth, Provincial Vice Chairwoman  Nguyễn Thị Thanh Lịch said at a working session with affiliated public service units under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism on December 16.

"Suối nguồn Pleiku" is a commemorative volume compiled by the Liaison Committee of Former Students of Pleiku High Schools before 1975, featuring moving essays about old friends and former schools.