CULTURE AND SPORT

Vietnamese International Master (IM), Pham Le Thao Nguyen, claimed fifth place overall in the rapid competition at the ongoing World Blitz & Rapid Championships 2017 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Swimmer Nguyễn Thị Ánh Viên grabbed her fourth Best Athlete of the Year award after winning a vote organised yesterday in Hanoi and HCM City.

Do Trinh Hoai Nam has become the first Vietnamese designer to be invited to the prestigious Paris Fashion Week - Haute Couture 2018 which is due to be held on January 23.

World renowned DJ Ummet Ozcan is set to enliven Hanoi with a concert at the Hanoi Opera House taking place on December 31.

Overseas Vietnamese have been encouraged to register for joining the annual “Xuan Que Huong” (Homeland Spring) programme scheduled to take place at the National Convention Centre in Hanoi on February 7, 2018.

The International Football Federation (FIFA) has recognised four Vietnamese referees as meeting its Elite 2018 level, after considering the proposals from the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF)’s Referee Committee.

The Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee has green-lighted the city’s bid to host the 2021 SEA Games.

Vietnam has officially surpassed the Philippines to become the no. 1 football team in Southeast Asia as the International Football Federation (FIFA) announced its year-end men’s world rankings.

Local and international artists will gather for a world-class lights show featuring traditional and contemporary music scheduled for New Year’s Eve 2018 on Nguyễn Huệ Pedestrian Street in downtown HCM City.

Hundreds of visitors have come to the colourfully-decorated house of Vietnamese pop star Dam Vinh Hung as he opened it for fans during Christmas.

Two lecturers from FIFA will directly guide the improvement of the professional skills for leading Vietnamese referees and assistant referees during a referencing course in Hanoi from December 20 to 25.

The HCM City Magic Club’s 44 magicians, most of whom work for traditional art theatres and circus troupes, will begin performing this week in the city.

Three Vietnamese who completed Manchester City FC's young leader training programme will continue to be trained at City Football Academy in the UK with 30 other people from all over the world.

Nearly 50 photos featuring the Literature Temple by night are on display at an exhibition being held at the temple in downtown Hanoi.

World cup winning former French football star, Christian Karembeu, will arrive in Vietnam to meet Vietnamese fans at the Hoa Lu Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City on December 23.

Noted water puppeteer Phan Thanh Liêm has just opened his second miniature theatre for water puppetry at his private home in Hanoi’s Long Biên District.

Defensive lapses made the Vietnam’s U23 team pay severely as they succumbed to a 1-2 loss against Uzbekistan U23, thereby missing out on Group B’s sole ticket to the final match of the Thai M-150 International Friendly Football Tournament 2017.

Vietnamese Grandmaster (GM), Lê Quang Liêm, won a bronze medal at the second International Mind Sports Association Elite Games, ongoing in Huai’an City, Jiangshu, China.

A festival will be organised in Hanoi with the aim of introducing Bulgarian wine to Asia. The special beverage holds a significant place in Bulgarian culture, habits and traditions.