VietNamNet Bridge – Fourteen year-old Hoang Dinh Yen Chuong of HCM City won the title Apollo English Idol 2011 on Sunday night, earning a VND34-million trip to Singapore and a one-year scholarship for English study at the Apollo school in HCM City.

Chuong, an eighth grader from Thu Duc District, won over the judges and audience with her impressive strong voice and fluent English pronunciation in performing the hit Rolling in the Deep by the British singer/song writer Adele.

The other top nine finalists earned a full-year English-study scholarship.

Held annually by the Apollo English Education and Training School, the contest provides a platform for music lovers aged 13-25 from the country's four major cities, Ha Noi, Hai Phong, Da Nang and HCM City.

The 2011 event attracted 21,000 registrants, compared to 770 in 2010.

* Renowned architect Hoang Dao Cung passes away

Hoang Dao Cung, architect, and the youngest son of famed cultural researcher Hoang Dao Thuy, died last week at Nhan Dan Gia Dinh hospital in HCM City.

Born in 1944 in Ha Noi, he was a professor at the Ha Noi's Construction College and guess lecturer at Ha Noi and HCM City Architecture universities as well as the Hue Science College. He was also President of the Institute of Cultural Building Design.

He was most well-known for several weighty critiques of design and restoration projects throughout the country. Cung was also a published author, with several short stories to his name.

* Franco-German network films documentary on Hoan Kiem turtle

Arte, the Franco-German TV network, plans to make a documentary about the legendary turtle of Hoan Kiem Lake (Restored Sword), according to the Foreign Press Centre of the Foreign Ministry.

The 45-minute documentary is entitled The Turtle of Hoan Kiem or In Search of a Legend will be shown from April 23 to May 11. Professor Ha Dinh Duc, one of the most well-known experts on the subject, is featured in the film, along with ichthyologist Mai Dinh Yen.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News