The 'Oriental Dawn No 3' arts show, which was scheduled to take place in Da Nang’s Trung Vuong Theatre on Wednesday evening, was cancelled shortly before it was due to start.

The event was part of this year’s cultural exchange programme between Viet Nam and countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).  It was expected to feature Russian artistes such as People's Artist Boris Grachevsky, supermodel Illarionova Olga, and actress Elena Bakurova, along with some famous Vietnamese artistes.

The TCMA company from Ho Chi Minh City, the show’s organiser, had to cancel the event because they had not been granted a performance licence from the Viet Nam Performing Arts Department and the municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

A fine of between 40 million and 50 million VND will be imposed on TCMA for not getting the licence, in accordance with the central government-issued Decree No 158 about administrative violations in the culture, sports, tourism and advertising sectors.