The 20 young women who had qualified for the Vietnam Miss Universe 2008 Pageant participated in the Miss Photo contest at Vinpearl Resort in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa on May 25.

Vietnam’s former beauty queen Nguyen Dieu Hoa will participate in the “Mrs World Pageant 2008” (MWP) held in Kaliningrad, Russia from June 14-29, accepting an invitation from David Z.Marmel, chairman of the organizing board.

Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV), Cat Tien Sa Events Company and the Hoan Vu Joint Stock Company (Unicorp) co-ordinated to organise the semi-final of the Miss Universe Vietnam 2008 in Nha Trang City ’s Vinpearl Land on May 24.

Doctor Do Gia Canh has conducted a lot of research over the years. He has thirty-four scientific studies published in national and international magazines and periodicals.

More than 300 actors and artisans have attended the cultural festival for ethnic minority groups in the central province of Quang Ngai, which opened in the Dung Quat Economic Zone on May 23.

As many as 45 photos capturing both traditional and modern corners of Hanoian life are on display in an exhibition entitled “Lost in Hanoi” which opened in Hanoi on May 22.

The Ho Chi Minh Television Film Studio is making a TV series on the Nguyen dynasty kings, who were known for their resistance against French colonialism.

Visitors to the fifth International Sculpture Camp, which is being held in Thuan An town, Phu Van district, central Thua Thien-Hue province have been impressed with the unique and friendly atmosphere.

The ancient town of Hoi An in central Quang Nam province will host the final round of the Vietnam Beauty Contest 2008 in August, said the contest’s organising board at a press conference in Ho Chi Minh City on May 21.

The International Solidarity Organisation (SODI) of Germany is organising a photo exhibition of the aid work, which has carried out over the past decade in central Quang Tri province.

Folklore artist Tran Kich has been conferred with the distinguished French title “Knight in the Order of Arts and Letters” for his contributions to preserving and promoting Hue royal court music, a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.

A number of photos depicting remarkable moments on the catwalk will be featured at a fashion photo exhibition, entitled “Paris and Milano”, to take place at the French Culture Centre L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien, Hanoi from May 21 to June 18.

The upcoming biannual Hue festival in central Thua Thien-Hue province will offer new and exciting performances of high professional and artistic quality, in an effort to live up to title of Vietnam’s ‘Festival City’.

A book on the Vietnam-Netherlands relations over the past four centuries was presented at a seminar at the Social Sciences and Humanities College based in Ho Chi Minh City on May 20.

Under the theme “On Duty/Off Duty”, the latest fashion collection of Australian designer Simmone Fairhead, who is living and working in Vietnam, is expected to provide both Vietnamese and foreign women with a varied selection of summer clothes.

For people in central Hue City, a vegetarian diet not only shows their sincerity towards Buddha but also illustrates a typical cultural feature in the ancient capital of Hue.

World popular flutist Andrea Griminelli and chamber musician Irene Veneziano will perform at the 12 th Hennessy Concert to take place at the Hanoi Opera House on May 30.

Vietnamese and Swiss folk songs were introduced at a performance by the OrchesTrio band and Vietnamese-born singer Camille Huyen in Zurich city, Switzerland on May 17.

A photographic exhibition on Japan’s natural world took place at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum in Hanoi from May 19-25.

The first National Magician Festival wrapped up in Hanoi on May 17, but no gold medal was awarded to participants after four days of competition.

A replica of Mot Cot (One-Pillar) Pagoda – a cultural relic and a tourist attraction in Hanoi - was inaugurated at the Thailand-Vietnam Friendship Park in the Thai province of Khonken on May 17.

The Information and Society magazine, under the Vietnam Post and Telecommunications Group, held a prize-giving ceremony for the Vietnam Blog Voting competition at the Hanoi University of Technology on May 16.

To meet the requirements for high standard human resources during international integration, Vietnamese students should have practical knowledge, administration skills and foreign language skills that can enable them to work with foreign partners.

A photo exhibition highlighting Japanese landscapes opened in Hanoi on May 16 to mark the 35th anniversary of Vietnam-Japan diplomatic ties.

A festival featuring the story of King Monkey will be held on June 1 by Long Phu Tourist Company on Hon Lao (Monkey Island), north of Nha Trang in south central Khanh Hoa province.

Canon Vietnam Co. Ltd. on May 16 signed a cooperative agreement with leaders of Lang Son, Yen Bai, Lai Chau and Ha Giang to implement a project entitled “Canon Friendship School Chain”.

Vietnamese photographer Duong Quoc Dinh has been awarded the highest prize in the seventh Giuliano Carrara international photo contest in Italy.

As many as 11 records in Vietnam’s Buddhism history were announced at the on-going 2008 United Nations Day of Vesak (UNDV) in Hanoi on May 15.

The Vietnam-Japan music festival will take place in Hanoi on May 24-25 and Ho Chi Minh City on May 26 to mark the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the countries.

An exhibition with the theme “Dao Phat va Tin nguong Viet” (Buddhism and Vietnamese faith) by painter Trinh Yen opened on May 15 to celebrate the UN Day of Vesak.