Photos of historic Hanoi relics, including works from the 11th-20th centuries, are on display at the HCM City Fine Arts Museum. 

Vietnam’s Ambassador to Cuba Vu Chi Cong on July 20 presented a book on late President Ho Chi Minh, printed in Spanish, to the Jose Marti National Library to mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Cuba diplomatic ties.

Forty out of 130 southern candidates for the 2010 Miss Vietnam contest were short-listed on July 21 for the qualifying round.

A website on ethnic minority people at http://www.langvietonline.vn made its debut on July 19.

The New Hanoi Choir bagged a bronze medal at the 6th World Choir Games (WCG) in China, said Pham Hong Hai, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Opera and Ballet Theatre on July 19.

Since 2005, the ancient town of Hoi An in Quang Nam province has invested nearly VND67 billion in projects to restore and preserve its cultural and historical sites.

More than 100 photos of the capital’s ancient architecture are being showcased at an exhibition which opened in Ho Chi Minh City on July 18.

Conductor Seikyo Kim and violist Rina Matsuda, both well-known in Japan, are highly expected in Hanoi for their joint performances with the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra at the most deluxe Opera House on July 17-18.

The Vietnamese team won three medals at the 21st International Biology Olympiad, held in Changwon City, the Republic of Korea, said the Ministry of Education and Training on July 17.

Vietnam Television (VTV) will screen colour films made by Japanese cameramen in northern Vietnam during the US-resistance war.

Judges have selected 54 outstanding beauties for the semi-final round of the Miss World Vietnam 2010 beauty pageant, which will be held in Hanoi and HCM City from July 22-28.

From July 15, students and staff from 80 high schools across Hanoi began to study ASEAN and its Charter to improve their knowledge of the grouping.

At least 31 countries and 31 Vietnamese cities and provinces have registered to take part in the World Food Festival to be held in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau from July 21-25.

A Vietnamese art troupe will take part in a festival entitled “Non-border chorus” in Michigan, USA, from July 19-23, which will attract around 300 pupils from 40 countries and territories around the world.

Forty-two artworks by 11 contemporary Japanese artists are on display at an exhibition which opened on July 14 in Hue city, central Thua Thien-Hue province.

Young Vietnamese artist Hoang Duong Cam will join his Japanese colleague Takayuki Yamamoto in an exhibition of their joint works in Hanoi from July 23 to August 5.

The Japanese Government will provide grants worth 362 million JPY (over US$4 million) for Vietnam to train 28 graduates for master degrees in Japan in 2010.

Painter Truong Han Minh closed his water colour-painting exhibition on July 12 in Hanoi, donating half of the money collected to the Fund for the Poor.  

A national literature & arts seminar opens in Da Lat City, Lam Dong province on July 12, drawing the participation of nearly 200 leading artists, researchers, ideologists and critics of literature &arts throughout the country.

More than 30 foreign art troupes have registered to take part in the grand ceremony to celebrate the 1,000th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi.

Many representatives of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) working in France have participated in numerous activities held in Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines, in the southern outskirts of Paris to mark ASEAN Family Day.

On July 9, the Conservatoire of Music in Hanoi announced an International Council of Traditional Music (ITCM) which is scheduled to take place from July 19-30 in Vietnam with the participation of more than 30 countries from around the world.  

An amateur choir from Vietnam will participate in the sixth World Choir Games scheduled to take place in Shaoxing city in the Chinese province of Zhejiang from July 15-26.

More than 60 films from countries all over the world will participate in the first Vietnam International Film Festival to be held in Hanoi in October.

The World Heritage Committee will consider the request for the inscription of the Thang Long Royal Citadel on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage sites when it convents its 34th session in Brazil from July 25 to August 3.

Poland is to share the US$37,000 cost of preserving a stele engraved with King Tu Duc’s teachings that sits in front of the old national university in Hue City. 

Thirty beauties have been selected from a short list of thousands of applicants for the second Miss Vietnam Global contest after a month of preliminary rounds in central and southern Vietnam.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) will help the Hue Imperial Relics Preservation Centre (HIRPC) produce percussion instruments of Nha Nhac (Royal Court Music) as locals no longer know the techniques to make and play them. 

Twelve cellists from the Berlin Symphony Orchestra’s Berliner Philhamoniker troupe will play in Vietnam this weekend.

Vietnam’s Youth Theatre art troupe is on a performing visit to Beijing, China, at the invitation of the Chinese Children’s Art Theatre.