Vietnam Television (VTV) will ban artists who wear scanty clothes from appearing on its programmes, said an official.
Singer Thu Minh apologised the public for wearing a revealing outfit
Nguyen Ha Nam, manager of VTV's Board of Editors, said, “VTV is asking artists to wear more proper outfits and is willing to insist those who are wearing scanty clothing to change into other clothes or they will not be allowed to appear in its programmes.”
He made the statement at a press meeting on June 20 after the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sent an instruction urging television stations and press agencies not to invite artists who have been fined for wearing skimpy outfits to take part in any of its programmes.
Under the ministry’s ruling, artists on the ministry’s Performing Arts Department black list including models BB Pham, Ha Anh and Thai Ha and singer Thu Minh may not be allowed to appear on television.
Nam also added that VTV would also consider whether to allow artists thought to have been involved in scandals to participate in their programming. He, however, said that lip syncing on VTV music programmes still drew differing opinions, claiming that lip syncing was a must for some programmes due to technical factors such as sound, location and type of audience.
Scanty clothing ‘scandals’
Skimpy outfits worn by Vietnamese pop stars have become a hot issue for the press and regulators.
Singer Minh Hang was fined VND3.5 million for her scanty outfit at a charity music show in Quang Binh Province.
The organisers of "Night of Beauties", JITA International Advertising Services Co. Ltd, violated Government art performance regulations. The HCM City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also fined BB Pham VND11 million, model Thai Ha VND5 million (USD238), singer Thu Minh VND3.5 million (USD166.6) and oversea Vietnamese singer Linda Trang VND3.5 million for the same reason.
After seeking opinions from management agencies, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has decided to raise the fines for lip syncing singers or those wearing skimpy costumes to VND15-25 million (USD714-1,190). Individuals or organisations can be banned from performance for at least six months for a first offence. The ban will be increased to nine months for the second violation and a 1-2 year or permanent ban.
