More than 50 pilots and aerial experts from 12-14 countries will join the first Vietnam International Hot Air Balloon Fiesta (VIHABF 2012) in the south central province of Binh Thuan from August 29-September 3.  

The Goethe Institutes in Southeast Asia countries have launched a competition for young filmmakers to raise public awareness of the importance of water in life.

Vietnamese athlete Nguyen Tien Minh, the world No. 11, will be seeded in the badminton event at the upcoming London 2012 Olympics. 

The Hoang De Citadel in the central coastal province of Binh Dinh will be restored to retain its historic and cultural values, the provincial cultural authority has announced. 

Japanese artists will demonstrate a traditional sword performance at the Japanese Bridge in the annual Hoi An-Japan Cultural Festival next month. 

International grandmaster Le Quang Liem clinched the first win on July 16 after suffering two consecutive defeats at the ACP Golden Classic, an international chess tournament in the Netherlands.

Vovinam, Vietnam’s traditional martial art, will be included in the list of sports for competition at the 27th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) to be held in Myanmar in 2013.

Artwork by the late Vietnamese painter Bui Xuan Phai is to go up for auction in Singapore on July 28.

Vietnamese gymnasts and track and field athletes are busy preparing for the upcoming London 2012 Olympics.  

The Vietnam Summer Festival was held in London on July 14 to introduce Vietnam’s unique culture to the British people and foreign visitors coming to the city for the upcoming Summer Olympics.  

The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has arranged a number of friendly matches for the national squad in preparation for the 2012 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup due to kick off late this year.

The Vietnamese team came out on top at the 2012 Asian Muay Thai Championships which ended in HCM City on July 13.

The renowned Berliner Symphoniker, led by conductor Lior Shambadal, makes its debut at the Hanoi Opera House on July 14-15, marking the first time a full-scale orchestra from the West will perform in Vietnam at the invitation of a non-State entity.

Profiles of 30 historical objects have been submitted to the Prime Minister by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for recognition as national treasures. 

The women’s bicycle race for An Giang Television Cup closed in Long Xuyen city on July 13.

A series of installation arts exhibitions are being held in the capital city to depict the lasting cultural value and economic vitality of traditional crafts in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

The Vietnamese team grabbed three gold medals in the final round of the 2012 Asian Muay Thai Championships which started in HCM City on the evening of July 12.

The 19th HCM City International Track and Field Championships-Vietnam Open 2012-ended at Thong Nhat Stadium in HCM City on July 12 with top athletes dominating as expected.

The film “Rock of Ages” starring Hollywood actor Tom Cruise will be shown in cinemas across Vietnam from July 13.

Over 7,800 athletes from 63 teams around the country have registered to compete in the 8th National Sports Festival, which will be held in Can Tho city from July 26 to August 12.

A solo exhibition of work by contemporary Colombian artist Luz Angela Lizarazo is being held at the San Art gallery in Ho Chi Minh City.

The 17th Vietnam Junior Airsoft Tournament 2012 opened at the National Shooting Range in Hanoi on July 12.

The National Junior Chess Championships opened in Ho Chi Minh City on July 12, attracting 600 players from 31 cities and provinces across the country.

The Vietnam Summer Camp 2012 officially opened at the Culture-Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Minorities in Hanoi on July 12.

128 weightlifters of 21 teams from across the country are competing at the National Junior Weightlifting Championships in the northern province of Thai Nguyen from July 12-14.  

Eight teams from across the country are competing at the U17 National Football Championships in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue from July 11-20.  

Nguyen Thanh Ngung won a gold medal after setting a new national record in the men’s 10000m walk at the 19th HCM City Open International Athletics Tournament 2012 on July11.

Vietnam has been in Group A with co-hosts Thailand for the upcoming ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup that will start in November.

A cannon dating back to the Nguyen Dynasty (the 19th century) has been discovered in Thac Ba Lake, in the northern mountainous province of Yen Bai. 

A company of 47 artists from the Lao National Art Troupe will visit Vietnam to perform during “Lao Culture Days in Vietnam” from July 16-20.