It will feature a number of cultural activities and performances by more than 20 international art troupes from various countries. This promises to be one of the most exciting events held as part of activities for the national holidays this year. Visitors will also have the chance to watch a special model aircraft show to celebrate Liberation Day (April 30). Da Nang International Fireworks Festival will last for two months, from April 30 to June 30, with fireworks displays by teams from Vietnam, Poland, France, the US, Italy, Hong Kong, Switzerland, and Portugal. A folk cultural programme will be held from April 28-29 at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology to serve up entertainment to people living in the capital during the Liberation Day (April 30) and May Day national holidays.

Mua Cave is located under the Mua Mountain in the Trang An Landscape Complex at Ninh Xuan Commune in the Hoa Lu District of Ninh Binh. The path to the top of Mua Cave features 500 stone steps. The name of the Dance Cave is associated with the ancient legend when Tran King moved the capital to Hoa Lu to build Thai Vi temple. Since then, it has been called “Mua Cave”. Nowadays, Mua Cave has become a popular destination for young people to visit during their holidays.

Dementia risk linked to some medicinesA study links the long-term use of some drugs with a higher risk of dementia. The study found no risk with other anticholinergic medicines used to treat common conditions such as hay fever, travel sickness and stomach cramps. It also analysed more than 27 million prescriptions - making it the biggest study of its kind into the long-term impact of anticholinergic drugs in relation to dementia. Not taking prescribed drugs could have serious consequences, Dr Maidment said. Dementia Research national director Prof Martin Rossor said: "It is important to be cautious about associations as they do not prove causation."

International photo exhibition runs in Da NangOutstanding entries selected from the 9th Vietnam International Artistic Photo Competition last year is on display at the Da Nang Museum in the central city of Da Nang. A visitor looks at photos on display at the exhibition (Photo: toquoc.vn)Running between April 24 and May 3, the exhibition is held to mark the country’s Reunification Day (April 30) and May Day (May 1). It features 246 photos by 185 photographers in the categories of open shots, landscapes, portraits and daily life. The exhibition in Da Nang is the third time the contest’s excellent entries have been introduced to the public. Located at 24 Tran Phu Street, the Da Nang Museum, which covers 3,000sq.m, is home to 2,500 objects, photos and documents on the culture of Da Nang and neighbouring central provinces.-VNA

Tourism business conditions to be relaxedThe Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will remove or simplify half of 118 business conditions in the sectors under its management but it said the deposit requirement for tour operators will stay. Providers of karaoke, bar, advertising, sport, lodging and electronic game services can take a sigh of relief as business conditions for them will be slashed. Operators of local tours must deposit VND100 million each, those of inbound tours VND250 million and those of outbound tours VND500 million. Those companies placing a VND500 million deposit can arrange tours in these three segments. The ministry will submit a draft Government decree amending decrees on business conditions to the Government prior to October.

Singapore Navy’s vessel visits Da NangThe Singapore Navy frigate RSS Intrepid arrived at Tien Sa port in the central city of Da Nang on April 26, starting a four-day courtesy visit to the city. The Singapore Navy frigate RSS IntrepidThe vessel, with 150 officers and crew members on board, is captained by Sen. Lieut. Col. Joseph Neo, Commanding Officer of the Singapore Navy Academy. During their time in Da Nang, the guests are scheduled to pay courtesy visits to the municipal People’s Committee, High Command of the Military Region 5 and High Command of the Naval Region 3. They will also participate in cultural and sport events with soldiers of the Naval Region 3 and visit landscapes in the city.

Assoc Prof Dr Tran Dac Phu, head of the Ministry of Health’s Preventive Medicine DepartmentWhy does the Ministry of Health plan to replace Quinvaxem vaccine with ComBe Five? ComBe Five has the same quality and ingredients as the Quinvaxem vaccine including cellular components of whooping cough. This component leads to cheaper costs for the ComBe Five vaccine compared to other five-in-one vaccines with acellular components of whooping cough. If not, the risk of outbreaks of diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B in future will be high. So parents with the means should be encouraged to take their children to vaccine centres to get more shots outside the programme in order to protect their children from diseases.

Fake cancer causes belief 'rife', research suggestsDrinking from plastic bottles and using microwave ovens are some of the fake causes of cancer people believe, research suggests. But increasing numbers are getting the risk factors wrong. Smoking, being overweight and overexposure to UV radiation are the biggest preventable causes of cancer. Cancer Research UK said about four in 10 cases of cancer could be prevented through lifestyle changes and it was important to have the right information to "separate the wheat from the chaff". Believing in fake causes of cancer did not mean people were more likely to have risky lifestyle habits, but those who were better informed about the proven causes of cancer were more likely not to smoke, the study found.

US farmers say chlorine-washed chicken should be part of a UK free trade dealChlorine-washed chicken and hormone-injected beef should be part of a UK/US free trade deal, a farming union said. Roger Johnson, president of America's National Farmers Union, said US food was "perfectly safe" and there had been a lot of "fear-mongering". Mr Johnson also told the BBC that a free trade deal would open up the huge US market to British products in a boost for UK farmers. American food standards have been criticised in the UK and the European Union prohibits many US products. With the UK due to leave the EU and the single market and the government planning to quit the customs union, the UK will able to sign free trade deals with other countries, including America.

Contest gives beauty artists chance to upgrade skillsVietNamNet Bridge – The International Beauty Artists Contest 2018 presented entrants with a chance to learn more about their profession, beauty trends around the world and the experiences of South Korean experts. This is the first time Vietnamese and Korean beauty centres and salons have joined hands to organise the event with aim to create chance to upgrade skills for Vietnamese beauty artists in the field of tinting and sculpting for eyebrows, eyelashes and lips. The contest attracted 120 beauty artists nationwide to join. They certainly should upgrade their professional skills and update new trends.”On the occasion, Thuy connected many directors of beauty salons and cosmetic surgery centres nationwide to establish an association for beauty artists. In the near future, we want to organise free workshops to train and bring them knowledge and experience to become more professional.”Nguyen Duc An (second left), 22, won the top prize at the International Beauty Artists contest.

Festivities for Reunification Day & May DayAn exhibition commemorating the 43rd anniversary of liberation and national reunification is open from April 24 to May 30 at the Thang Long Imperial Citadel in Hoang Dieu Street. With the theme “Ha Long Bay - Heritage - Wonder - Friendly Destination”, Carnaval Ha Long 2018 will start on April 26 with a parade of 12 flower floats, with the opening night being on April 28 at Ha Long Park in Bai Chay Street. It aims celebrate Reunification Day as well as promote Vietnamese and Hue culture and tourism and socioeconomic development in Thua Thien Hue province. The Hue International Cuisine Festival 2018 will be held from April 28 to May 2 at Thuong Bac Park. The city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will organize a cross-country run, an event held for 42 years to mark Reunification Day.

Kim Jong-un to meet Moon Jae-in at Korean border for summitKim Jong-un will on Friday become the first North Korean leader to cross into South Korean territory since the end of the Korean War in 1953. In newly announced details, South Korea said President Moon Jae-in would personally meet Mr Kim at the border at 09:30 local time (00:30 GMT). How the summit will unfoldMr Moon will meet Mr Kim and his delegation of nine officials at the border, Mr Im told reporters on Thursday. Official talks between Mr Moon and Mr Kim will begin at 10:30 local time (01:30 GMT) at the Peace House in Panmunjom. Ahead of the summit, North Korean media praised Mr Kim for his work in the talks.

Sapa Summer Festival to open soonA festival of Rhododendrons, a typical flower of Sapa, is being organized during April and until May 21 in preparation for the opening on April 28 of the Sapa Summer Festival and the official launch of the Lao Cai Tourist Information Portal. An official information channel on provincial tourism, the portal aims to introduce the unique culture of the ethnic minority people in Sapa to local and international tourists. During the Festival, Visitors can experience the Sapa Love Market, a cultural feature of Sapa involving dating by Mong people and love songs of the Red Dao people. The Cultural Tourism Festival of Tam Duong District will be organized for the first time, introducing the culture, people, tourism sites, food, arts, and folk games of Tam Duong district in the neighboring province of Lai Chau. Within the framework of the Festival, there is also a photo exhibition entitled “Soil and Sapa”, showing special photos of Sapa by professional and amateur photographers, a display of flowers and plants of Sapa, a cultural space exhibiting agricultural and embroidery products and food of five ethnic groups: Mong, Dao, Tay, Giay and Xa Pho, and an open tennis tournament.

Contemporary circus show to calm audienceVietNamNet Bridge – Famous French company Be Clown will bring fantastical experiences to audiences through the show Becalmed to be performed on May 5 in Hanoi. Famous French company Be Clown will bring fantastical experiences to audiences through the show Becalmed to be performed on May 5 in Hanoi. — Photo courtesy of L’EspaceThe contemporary circus show Becalmed is the result of Be Clown’s recent artist residency in Vu Linh Commune in the northern province of Yen Bai. Based on the techniques of contemporary circus, the show will take audiences to a surreal realm and give them some through performances by “the clowns”, live music, and the infamous circus practices. The show will take place at 8pm at cultural centre L’Espace, 24 Trang Tien Street, Hanoi.

Lifters snatch 11 golds at continental eventVietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese athletes have grabbed 11 gold medals from the Asian Weightlifting Federation Junior and Youth Championships in Urgench, Uzbekistan. Do Tu Tung wins three golds and sets one world youth record at the Asian championship. — Photo screenshotNgo Son Dinh won three golds in the junior boys’ 56kg categories. His results were 115kg in snatch, 143kg in clean and jerk and 258kg in total. Other titles went to Lai Gia Thanh (three golds) in the youth men’s 56kg pool and Do Tu Tung (three golds) in the junior boys’ 50kg.