A Government decree banning lip syncing and skimpy performing outfits at art and fashion shows as well as beauty contests will take effect from January 1 next year.

 Singer Angela Phuong Trinh’s skimpy clothes

According to the decree, organisers and performers will have to abide by the original programme that was licensed and make no changes.

Performers will be prohibited from wearing costumes or make-up deemed unsuitable to national moral and cultural values. Ads that falsely advertise performers or that are not in line with the licensed programme will also be banned.

Not only will singers not be able to replace their voices with recordings, but any instruments on stage must actually play as well.

Nationally-graded beauty contests will be held no more than twice annually, and regional ones will be limited to three times a year. Provinces will be permitted to hold just one beauty contest annually. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will be responsible for holding international beauty contests and their frequency will depend on the conditions of that year.