The Ministry of Science and Technology held a press conference on February 15 to launch the first-ever International Agricultural Festival of the Mekong Delta, which will run March 9-13 in the city of Can Tho.

Ho Chi Minh City will host the festival with the theme “Book- Knowledge – Integration and Development” next March.

Twelve art troupes will attend the 5th Southern Khmer Ethnic Minority Cultural Festival from December 1-5.

More than 400,000 domestic and international visitors attended the four day Vietnam Rice Festival 2011, a figure beyond expectations, said an official.