CULTURE AND SPORT

South Korean singer Rain, known as the "King of K-Pop", on Thursday released his first album for four years as part of a long-awaited comeback after mandatory military service.

The past year found a number of well-known Vietnamese celebs embroiled in sex scandals as well. The following are the most memorable.

In spite of the careful and very public selection process for Miss Vietnam last year, in which there were several candidates, there were few international contestants brought home the crown.

What follows is the first in a series chronicling the triumphs and heartache of public life in Vietnam over the last year.

Tran Tuan An, an outstanding Vietnamese guitar student from North Park University, Chicago, USA, will perform a one-night show at the French Cultural Centre (L'Espace), Hanoi, next Saturday.

Former Manchester United (MU) striker Dwight Yorke took centre stage at a Gala Dinner in Hanoi on January 2 to welcome the FIFA World Cup Trophy to Vietnam.

Three female Vietnamese volleyball players are performing for two Thai clubs at its national volleyball tournament.

An exhibition, which opened in Hanoi on January 1, displays 103 photos of legendary General Vo Nguyen Giap to mark his 100-day death anniversary.

The Khanh Hoa Provincial People Committee and Hoan Vu Saigon Joint Stock Company reached a December 31 agreement designating Nha Trang City the host of Vietnam’s Miss Universe 2014.

China's top film director Zhang Yimou has said he violated the country's one-child policy because of the traditional belief that having multiple children would lead to greater prosperity, state media said.

The FIFA World Cup trophy arrived in Hanoi on December 31, beginning a Vietnam visit that will last until January 2, 2014.

Chess champion Tran Tuan Minh from Hanoi secured the third place at the U16 event of the 2013 World Championships, which concluded in Al Ain, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on December 29.

Seven-time Formula One champion Michael Schumacher was in critical condition after undergoing brain surgery following a weekend skiing accident that has stunned drivers, fans and athletes around the world.

A cycling tournament kicked off in HCM City on the morning of the December 29 as part of New Year celebrations.

Chief coach Do Dinh Khang has confirmed female weightlifter Nguyen Thi Kim Van was retrospectively awarded two gold and one bronze 2013 Asian Championship medals following a spate of positive drug tests from regional competitors.

More than 100 domestic and overseas Vietnamese artists, beauty queens and models will appear at the 26th Duyen Dang Viet Nam (Charming Vietnam) gala to be held at Hoa Binh Theatre in HCM City on January 10 and 11.

Valuable woodblocks used for rudimentary printing in the Nguyen dynasty (1802-1945) will be introduced to the public for the first time during the Da Lat Culture Tourism Week 2013 from December 27-31.

Vietnamese world No 10 ranked Nguyen Tien Minh will compete at the upcoming Victor Korean Open badminton tournament in Seoul.

The debate may be raging over whether the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar should be switched to the winter, but the local organisers are content with sticking to the original summer dates.