VietNamNet Bridge - The 2009 carnival is scheduled to take place in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh province from April 25 to May 2, featuring floating stages and impressive fireworks displays.

The 2009 Vietnam Sea Festival will be held in Paris, France on April 28-29 to promote advertising programmes and attract foreign visitors to tourist sites in Vietnam.

Miss Universe 2008, the 57th Miss Universe beauty pageant, will be held at the Crown Convention Center (Diamond Bay Resort) in Nha Trang, Vietnam on July 14, 2008 where outgoing titleholder Riyo Mori will crown her successor. More than 80 contestants are expected to compete in the event which will be broadcast via NBC and Telemundo to TV outlets in more than 180 countries.

The Elephant Race Festival takes place in springtime, normally in the third lunar month. In preparation for the festive day, people take their elephants to places where they can eat their fill. Apart from grass their food also includes bananas, papayas, sugar canes, corns, sweet potatoes. The elephants are free from hard work to preserve their strength.

With the theme “Cultural Heritage with Integration and Development”, the Hue Festival 2008 promises to be a great, impressive, and attractive festival with hundreds of specific cultural and tourist programs aiming at enhancing unique cultural values of Vietnam and Hue Ancient Capital.

Many visitors have already discovered the magic of Sa Pa, the area attracted 170,844 tourists last year according to figures from the Sa Pa District Trade - Tourism Office, while 2007 has seen a total of 220,337 so far.