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.

Around 100 professional artists performed alongside 108 Buddhist monks and nuns at the first music gala celebrating the UN Day of Vesak on May 14.

To give the younger generations an opportunity to learn about President Ho Chi Minh, the youth union in Ho Chi Minh City on May 14 opened an exhibition of 50 photographs, letters and documentary films related to his life and revolutionary cause.

Nguyen Van Thinh and Ngo Tien Doan have been invited to attend the Manhunt International and Mister International contests, which will be held in the Republic of Korea in June and Taiwan in October, respectively.

An exhibition featuring Buddhism culture and art opened in Hanoi on May 13 as part of the celebrations of the United Nations Day of Vesak.

A collection of Buddhist artifacts is being displayed for the first time at the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum to celebrate the Fifth United Nations Day of Vesak.

Many Vietnamese films were screened at international film festivals in Singapore and the Republic of Korea during April and May. This has created an excellent a good opportunity for Vietnam to promote its half-a-century film industry.

A photo exhibition, entitled “Australia-Vietnam: Then and Now”, has opened at Can Tho University’s Resource Centre.

The Vietnamese Embassy in the US attended a cultural fair, one of the activities to mark the annual Asia-Pacific American Heritage Month, in Washington DC on May 10.

The “Student business start-ups” programme was launched at the Da Nang Economics University on May 11 by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee and the Business Forum Newspaper.

A European Fashion Gala, one of the events during the Europe Days 2008 in Vietnam, will be held at the National Museum of Fine Arts in Hanoi on May 21.

A former German journalist, who worked in Vietnam in the 1950s, has donated his personal collection of photos and films of the late President Ho Chi Minh to the Ho Chi Minh Museum in Hanoi.

A banquet marking Europe Day was held by the Delegation of the European Commission in Vietnam on May 8, the eve of the official day.

China’s Lungchou district in Guangxi province has spent roughly US$356,000 researching and collecting relics about Vietnam’s first President Ho Chi Minh.

The event aims to promote friendship relations and cultural exchanges between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK).

Artists from professional circus troupes such as the Vietnam Circus Federation, the Vietnam Circus School, the Hanoi Circus and other troupes around the country will participate in the country’s first national magic festival to be held in Hanoi from May 13-17.

Danish conductor Frans Rasmussen and Vietnamese artists from the Ho Chi Minh City Theatre Ballet and Symphony Orchestra (HBSO) will perform works by European composers on Friday evening.

The Khanh Hoa provincial People’s Committee has held a conference to review the preparatory work for the Miss Universe Vietnam beauty contest and the final round of the Miss Tourism Vienam 2008 in the central region.

Young fashionistas will get the chance to strut their stuff at the nation’s first ever Miss Fashion competition, to be held from August 15 to September 2.

A photo exhibition entitled “Australia-Vietnam: Now and Then” opened at the Can Tho University in the Mekong delta province of Can Tho on May 6.

The fifth provincial popular arts festival was held in northwestern Dien Bien province on May 6 to mark the 54th anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu victory (May 7).

Spanish conductor Carlos Cuesta will lead the Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra on May 9.

The 5th International Sculpture Camp entitled “Hue-Vietnam 2008 Impression” opened in Thuan An town, Phu Vang district, central Thua Thien-Hue province on May 3.

Oy Division, one of the few bands in Israel, will play traditional Jewish music in celebration of the 60th anniversary of Israel’s Independence and the 15th anniversary of Israel-Vietnam diplomatic relations.

Three latest collections of ao dai (traditional long dress) by Vietnamese designer Thuan Viet will be introduced at Osaka, Japan from May 2-6 as part of a programme to promote Vietnam’s tourism activities.

The Republic of Korea (RoK) film festival will be held in Hanoi from May 9-10 to promote friendship and cultural exchanges between Vietnam and the RoK.

Vietnam’s famous pianist, People’s Artist Dang Thai Son, gave a one-hour performance in Ho Chi Minh City on May 2.

More than 250 owners of Honda 67’s from across the nation converged on the central coastal city of Nha Trang on April 30 for their first road show in Vietnam.

A cultural week was launched by Vietnamese students in Vientiane on April 28 with the participation of Lao Education Minister Somkot Mangnorket and Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Huy Quang.

To mark the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Malaysia on March 30, Genting-Resort World Bhd Group has co-ordinated with the Vietnamese embassy in Malaysia to organise the “Charming Vietnam” cultural week from April 26 to May 2.