An art performance programme featuring Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia will be held in the central province of Quang Tri from July 22-26.

Traces of prehistoric man have been found near Ba Be Lake, in the northern province of Bac Can.

The Ha Tinh provincial Museum on July 21 found a set of three ancient jack-tree wooden bells preserved in Ha Linh pagoda in Tien Loc commune, Can Loc district.

An art performance was held in Hanoi on July 21 to mark the 64th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27).

The Official Korea Tourism Organisation has invited pop singer My Linh to act as Korean tourism ambassador to Vietnam in 2011.

As many as 127 Vietnamese children will take part in the final round of the first Vietnam Beyblade Championship at the Ho Chi Minh Youth Cultural House on July 23.

I had done my research before signing up for a four day, three night cycling tour in Lao Cai province with Lotussia Travel. My friends thought I was mad cycling around one of the most mountainous parts of northern Vietnam!

Next month, culture lovers will have the opportunity to join eight new modern projects funded by the Cultural Development and Exchange Fund (CDEF).

Vietnamese-French artist Nguyen Le has entertained Hanoi jazz lovers during his fourth return to the homeland.

The Danish government will continue to cooperate with Vietnam in realising phase 2 of the project “Dialogues between cultural managers and cultural policy makers”, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST). 

Construction of a 1,000 seat circus theatre began in Phnom Penh on July 18 as a gift from the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

A collection of photographs featuring Vietnamese landscape is on display as part of an exhibition entitled “Dialogue with Geological Heritage” which is open at the Hanoi Opera House until July 24.

Miss Russia 2011, Natalia Gantimurova, and two other Russian beauty contestants will arrive in Vietnam on July 26 to take part in charitable activities and pose for photographs in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi.

The photography exhibition “Chase Hanoi 2011” will be held at the Viet Art Center at 42 Yet Kieu Street in Hanoi from July 26-28.

The Irish famous boy band Westlife will have a one night show in Hanoi on October 1 to mark its 11th album Gravity.

The Nguyen Van Cu-Ninh Thuan bookstore opened on July 16 in Phan Rang City, Ninh Thuan province, displaying nearly a million copies of 70,000 titles on a variety of topics.

Two Vietnamese pianists have won second prize at the International Mozart Competition in Bangkok, Thailand.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has announced that the Cat Tien Biosphere Reserve was renamed the Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve.

A press conference to introduce the Esperanto version of The Diary of Dang Thuy Tram was held by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam Esperanto Association (VEA) in Hanoi on July 14.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) in coordination with the Danish Embassy and the British Council held a seminar in Hanoi on July 13 to devise a development strategy for the cultural industries in Vietnam.

A special programme will take place in the Hanoi Opera House on the evening of July 21 and broadcast live on TV channels VTV2 and VTC5 to demonstrate gratitude toward revolutionary martyrs, war invalids and ‘heroic mothers’.

A delegation of overseas Vietnamese students and young people returned to their ancestral land during Vietnam Summer Camp 2011, reported the State Commission on Overseas Vietnamese.

With US$42,000 capitalisation in the initial period, the fund will help artists develop careers and strengthen international links.

Vietnam’s children chorus, Sol-Art, has won three prizes at the 8th International Johannes Brahms Choir Competition and Festival in Wernigerode, Germany.

The Vietnamese quintet Song Hong drew enthusiastic applause from the Thai audience in Bangkok on July 11.

The Vietnam Association of Photographic Artists (VAPA) has launched a photography competition for 15 northern mountainous provinces.

The song and dance festival for the south-central and central highland region has closed in Tuy Hoa city, Phu Yen province, leaving deep impressions on visitors.

Vietnam-Switzerland traditional cultural festival has opened in the Obwalden state of Switzerland recently.

A photo of Miss Vietnam 2010 Dang Thi Ngoc Han wearing a traditional long dress (ao dai) and a palm-leaf conical hat whilst standing beside the Pyramids has appeared on TV in Egypt.

The International Children’s Painting Competition 2011 will be held in Ho Chi Minh City from July 15 to November 26, announced the Global Art and Creative Centre.