The 2012 Vietnam’s Next Top Model competition has drawn a lot of attention from thousands of potential contestants nationwide who want to become professional models.  

The skyscraper running competition to be held at the Kaengnam Landmark Tower in Hanoi on September 30 has been added to the 2012 Vertical World Circuit (VWC).

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) Junior Championships – Hue 2012 will take place in central Thue Thien - Hue province from August 18-26.

Indonesia has registered to take part in the 2012 U21 Thanh Nien (Youth) Newspaper Football Tournament, which will be held in the Central Highland province of Gia Lai from October 11-21.

A photo of H’Mong minority children playing with their balloons on a foggy day in Moc Chau in northern mountainous Son La province taken by Vietnamese photographer Vo Van Kiet has been awarded at the 2012 National Geographic Photo Contest.

An exhibition called “Vietnam now” by the country’s most six outstanding artists will be held at The Rotunda, Exchange Square, Hong Kong from August 24 to September 9.

A contest called “Children painting for traffic safety” was launched in Hanoi on August 17 to mark the National Traffic Safety Year 2012.

The Vietnamese men's team has won a silver medal at the second Mind Sports Games' Chinese chess competition in France.

The Prime Minister has recently approved a master plan on preservation and restoration of Co Loa Citadel in Hanoi, aiming at developing the site into a historical, ecological and humane park.

A semi-professional Muay Thai Tournament will be held at Nguyen Du Gymnasium on September 16.

Entering the final stage of the 2012 Miss Vietnam forty beauties wearing swimsuit posed for photographs on the Danang beach on August 16.  

The Vietnam Records Book Centre (VietKings) on August 16 announced Vietnam’s top 14 culinary delights for the first time.

An album by People’s Artist pianist Dang Thai Son has made its debut in Vietnam. 

Japan will continue assisting Vietnam to restore late painter Nguyen Phan Chanh’s silk paintings owned by his family.

Bui Cong Duy and five other artists from the Vietnam National Academy of Music (VNAM) will join the Hafnia Chamber Orchestra at the 2012 Danish-East Meets West music project on August 21-22.

Three sponsors have signed an agreement to provide financial sources for the first Vietnam International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, scheduled to take place in the southern province of Binh Thuan from August 29 to September 3.

"Lay Chong Nguoi Ta" (In the name of love), will participate in the 37th Toronto International Film Festival.

Local composer Quoc Trung’s project named “Nguon Coi” (The Roots), aims to provide a good opportunity for Vietnamese artists to exchange and cooperate with famous artists in the world.

French piano soloist Guigla Katsarava will perform at the Hanoi Opera House during the “Rachmaninov Night” on August 17-18.

Current World No 1 tennis player Victoria Azarenka will join the Heineken Star tennis tournament due to open in Ho Chi Minh City on September 20, according to a domestic source of information.

Traditional friendship, fighting solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Laos are reflected through 300 photos, documents and artefacts on display in Hanoi on August 15.

The contemporary dance programme “Europe meets Vietnam” will be staged for its second time in Hanoi, at the Youth Theatre on September 28-29.

The National Junior Wushu Championships opened in Ho Chi Minh City on August 15.

After missing success in the Miss Sports stage, Hoang My has quickly regained her confidence to prepare for the Miss World Beauty with a Purpose stage and final night of the Miss World 2012 pageant.

A buffalo-horn bugle made by the Vietnamese village patriarch of the K’Ho ethnic group has been auctioned at a price of CNY100,000 (VND328 million) at the Miss World pageant being held in China.

Forty finalists from the northern-central-southern regions gathered in the city of Danang on August 15 to compete in the final round of the Miss Vietnam 2012 pageant.

The final round of the National U15 football championships, the Hyundai Vinashin 2012 Cup, commenced at Thong Nhat stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on August 15 with a match between PVF and Long An.

Vietnam Idol 2012, a TV series to seek musical talent, will make its debut at 8pm on August 18.

Vietnamese movie lovers in major cities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Haiphong, Hue and Danang will have a chance to enjoy famous films during a UK film festival 2012 from Aug. 29 – Sept. 11.

More than 86 percent of ethnic people of working age are untrained. This is one of the main obstacles barring the development of mountainous areas.