The government has recently issued a decree, No. 79/2012/ NĐ-CP, regulating the organizing of art shows as well as beauty pageants in an effort to improve the local show business, which has dismayed local audiences with a numerous scandals.

According to the decree, the number of national-scale beauty pageants will not exceed two per year, while each province is allowed to hold only one beauty contest per year.

Art show organizers need to submit their shows to functional agencies for approval five days before the show date. After shows are approved, organizers will have no right to make any changes to their shows’ content, and will not be permitted to advertise anything that is different from the show’s content.

Shows which take place between 12am and 8am must be approved by local authorities.

Moreover, the new decree bans organizers from allowing performers to wear skimpy costume which are offensive and inappropriate to traditional Vietnamese culture and customs. Performers in music show are now also prohibited from lip-syncing on the stage.

The new decree will take effect from January 1, 2013 under the guide of the Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism.

In related news, local pop singer Thu Minh for was fined VND3.5 million (US$175) for wearing a skimpy costume at a music show in May, while singer Cao Thai received a VND4.5million (US$225) fine in July for his lip-sync performance.