Brest Sea Festival 2008 opened in the port city of Brest, France on July 11 with the participation of representatives from 25 nations in the world including Vietnam.

Vietnam Airlines will be the official sponsoring airline for the 60th Miss World contest, which will take place in Vietnam in 2010.

The 2010 Miss World Beauty contest will take place in Nha Trang city, south- central Khanh Hoa province.

The final round of the Miss Universe Contest was held at the Crown Convention Centre in Nha Trang City’s Diamond Bay resort on July 8.

The Miss Universe Organisation has announced the five-member panel of judges who will choose this year’s winner on July 14 and the names of the jury board of the preliminary competition scheduled for July 8 night.

Luu Hong Quang, a young Vietnamese pianist, made an excellent performance at the Val Tidone International Music Competitions in Italy to win second prize in the piano category for candidates aged 18-19. No contestant won first prize in this category.

Miss Universe 2007 Riyo Mori will host the presentation show of this year’s beauty pageant at the Crown Convention Center in Vietnam’s coastal resort city of Nha Trang on July 8, according to the event’s organisation board.

The central province of Quang Nam has begun the second phase of a project to preserve the My Son World Cultural Relics with assistance from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

A Gala dinner to welcome the Miss Universe contestants was held at Vinpearl Resort in Nha Trang City on July 5.

Four young wind instrument musicians will perform a concert on July 9 at the Ho Chi Minh City Music Conservatory, accompanied by the city’s symphony orchestra (HBSO).

A documentary made by Japanese director Sakata Masako on Agent Orange victims in Vietnam hit the screen in Tokyo, Japan, from June 14-July 4.

Long Bien Bridge, famous for its unique architecture and long history, has provided a great inspiration for many Hanoi-loving artists in the past and at present.

Miss Universe contestants inquired into the living conditions of HIV-infected women and needy children during a charity tour in Nha Trang city on July 3.

Three Vietnamese artworks will be among the 34 entries in this year’s inaugural Asia Pacific Breweries (APB) Foundation Signature Art Prize – the most prestigious award in the region.

The US, India, Spain, Colombia and Mexico have made the top five in the best bikini contest. The winner is Miss Mexico Elisa Najera Gualito.

During the past two years, group X- Vietnam which is located in France has made significant contributions to strengthening co-operative relations between Vietnam and France and promoting Vietnam’s image in France.

Miss World 2007, Zhang Zi Lin, arrived in Hanoi on July 2 as part of her Vietnam tour starting on June 28 in Ho Chi Minh City. She was accompanied by the runner up in the World Beauty Contest for Vietnamese nationals, Teresa Sam.

The southcentral Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee held a cordial meeting with the Miss Universe contestants on July 1.

Twenty-five poor Vietnamese students who are on a visit to Japan attended an exchange at the Vietnamese Embassy in Tokyo on July 1.

Thousands of people and tourists in Nha Trang city have flocked to Tran Phu road on June 30 to welcome the contestants in the Miss Universe 2008 contest.

Mrs Vietnam, Nguyen Dieu Hoa, made the top five in the Mrs World Contest held in Kaliningrat, Russia from June 14-29.

The 80 Miss Universe contestants returned to the south-central coastal city of Nha Trang on June 29, after concluding their tour of Vietnam before the official contest gets underway.

The 14th meeting of Vietnam’s Guinness record holders in many fields was held at Hoa Binh Theatre in Ho Chi Minh City on June 28 by the Vietnam Guinness Books Centre (Vietkings).

Miss World 2007 Zhang Zi Lin arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on June 28, beginning her humanitarian and social activities in Vietnam as part of a Miss World’s duties.

Hanoi-based SOS Children’s Village on June 27 welcomed 81 beauties in the Miss Universe 2008 pageant as part of their activities in the capital city.

A week of Italian food is taking place at all Metro Cash & Carry wholesale centres in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang.

China has established a Vietnamese studies centre in the southern province of Yunnan to boost cooperation between the region and Vietnamese provinces.

The 81 contestants participating in the Miss Universe 2008 beauty pageant began their first visit to Hanoi on June 26.

Eighty-one beautiful girls from all around the world gathered on Cua Dai beach, Hoi An city on June 25. Looking like blossoming flowers they paraded their beauty and skills under the sun in a gentle sea breeze.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and five provinces in the Central Highlands will organise the first international festival titled the Space of Gong Culture of the Central Highlands in March 2009.