More than 150 foreign and Vietnamese scientists and managers discussed ways to preserve and promote the values of Halong Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh on July 24.

Top Vietnamese badminton player Nguyen Tien Minh has been seeded No.10 at the London 2012 Olympics.

Lionel Messi’s former trainer, Arseni, and two of his colleagues Xavier and Oscar from Barcelona FC have arrived in Vietnam for the Qatar Aspire Academy’s ‘2012 Football Dreams’programme.

An art exchange program was held in Hanoi on July 22 to honour war veterans who have overcome daily hardship to lead stable lives and contribute to society.

Images of the signing of the historic Paris Peace Accords in 1973 will be recreated on a large mosaic mural in the convention hall of the Paris suburb of Choisy le Roi.

Toi Linh Tu (the Highest Celestial) Temple in the Hue Citadel, built in the early 20th century, has been restored with German assistance and is again open to visitors.

A group of Cai Luong (renovated opera) artists from Ho Chi Minh City performed for the overseas Vietnamese (OVs) community and foreign friends in Great Britain.

The national flag of Vietnam was hoisted at the Olympic Park in London on July 21, marking the start of Vietnamese athletes’ competitions at the Summer Games.

Vietnamese girls on July 21 lost 2-3 to their rivals from the Republic of Korea to come in fourth place in the VTV-Eximbank International Volleyball Cup 2012.

A fireworks display will light up the sky of Quy Nhon city on August 1 to welcome foreign delegates to the 4th Int’l Vovinam festival.

A series of Vietnamese-made cartoons entitled “Say Hi to Pencil” has been aired on Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV) at 6.20pm on Mondays and Thursdays every week since July 2.

The third ‘Cookin’ Nanta’ show from the Republic of Korean (RoK) is taking place in Hanoi from July 20-22 and Ho Chi Minh City from July 27-29.

A series entitled ‘The Chronicle of Laos‘, exploring the scenery, people, culture and history of the neighbouring country, is being aired from Monday through Friday on Vietnam Television (VTV).

Ethnic Cham Bani people living in the central province of Binh Thuan are celebrating their new year with the traditional Ramuwan festival, which started on July 18. 

The defending champion of the Vietnam National Football Tournament (V-League) will qualify for the playoff round of the AFC Champion League, the football competition for top clubs in Asia as from 2013.

Vietnamese circus artists have won a cup, a gold medal and a silver medal at the third international circus festival recently held in Russia.

The Vietnam Cultural Heritage Association and Vietnam Heritage Magazine launched a photography contest on Vietnamese heritage in HCM City on July 18.

The Vietnamese sports delegation has left the country for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

Two foreign teams from Shanghai (China) and the Royal Thai Air Force of Thailand have joined four Vietnamese teams at the International Men’s Open Volleyball Tournament – Arirang Cup 2012 – which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on July 20.

The VietJet Aviation Joint Stock Company (VietJetAir) will provide free air tickets to 20 members of the Vietnamese delegation attending the upcoming London 2012 Paralympics from August 29-September 3.

Nearly 100 young local and foreign artists are showcasing their works at the Chase Hanoi 2012 art exhibition from July 18-20.

The Vietnamese representative for the Miss World beauty pageant, Vu Hoang My, has arrived in Ordos City, China.

Many owners of Vietnamese restaurants in London are now waiting for the “harvest”, or the large influx of tourists to London on the occasion of the Olympic Games.

Le Huynh Chau and Hoang Dieu Linh, two Vietnamese Taekwondo hopefuls at the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in London, are expected to meet real challenges as they are not seeded in the sport.

A new set of stamps featuring the close friendship between Vietnam and Laos was issued in Hanoi and Vientiane on July 18 as part of a programme to celebrate Friendship Year between the two nations.

PRO HANOI – STREET FESTIVAL will take place in Dong Da Park on July 21.

The Malaysian and Singaporean football teams have invited Vietnam to join their friendly matches in preparation for the upcoming 2012 AFF Suzuki Cup.

Vietnam Culture and Tourism Days started at the Lao National Culture Palace in Vientiane on July 17 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 35th anniversary of the signing of the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Treaty.  

As many as 48 domestic and foreign billiards players will join the 9-Ball Pool Open in Hanoi from July 18-21.

Eleven Vietnamese athletes will leave this week to train at the University of Limerick Sports Arena in preparation for the upcoming London Paralympic Games.