HCMC Circus heads North next week

To mark its first visit to the North in 15 years, the HCMC Circus will hold a series of performances in Hanoi and neighboring provinces from August 25 to September 2, reports VietnamPlus.

The troupe will bring audiences a party of circus acts which were honored at international circus festivals. Among them Thang bang tren day (balancing on a string) from Thu Hien who won two prizes at a festival for young circus talent in Spain, Du chong dau (swinging) by Hoang An and Thu Hiep who won silver at a recent Southeast Asian circus festival and Co gai voi nhung chiec vong (girl with wheels) by Bich Lien who picked up gongs recently in China and locally.

Especially, there is a magic performance that is expected to be a huge draw in the Northern tour. Kids will also be entertained by animals performing some fun games.

Sponsors sign up for first Vietnam Int’l balloon festival

Three sponsors have signed commitments to provide for Vietnam’s first ever international hot air balloon festival, scheduled to take place in the southern province of Binh Thuan from August 29 to September 3.

The sponsorship agreement was signed on August 15 at SeaHorse resort of Binh Thuan between the event’s organiser, the Chien Thang Service Ltd, and Vietnam Airlines, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) and the fully foreign invested life insurer Manulife.

The festival will cost an estimated 20 billion VND (nearly one million USD), said Chien Thang company’s vice general director Hoang Ngoc Nam.

Speaking at the ceremony, vice chairman of the People’s Committee of Binh Thuan Nguyen Thanh Tam said that the festival is expected to promote the country’s image in general and the local tourism sector in particular.

More than 50 pilots and international balloonists from 12 countries and territories will feature at the show, with around 30 colourful balloons taking to skies above Phan Thiet.

Currently, facilities supporting the festival are at the final stage of completion.

The higher the heels, the higher the discounts

If you love wearing high heels, don't miss tonight's Be Cointreauversial Party at Angelina Italian Restaurant and Lounge in the Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi. Attendees will receive discounts on cocktails directly proportional to the height of their stilettos.

A live DJ performance by Eks Viet will accompany the drinks, which will be mixed by bartender Ku Lit from HCM City.

Partygoers will also have the chance to participate in a drawing to win a VIP trip for two to see iconic burlesque dancer Dita Von Teese perform her world-famous show in Bangkok in October.

Contact Angelina's manager, Camilla Moehle, or any member of her team at (04) 38266919, ext 8214 for more information or reservations.

“Europe meets Vietnam” in contemporary dance

The contemporary dance programme “Europe meets Vietnam” will be staged for its second time in Hanoi, at the Youth Theatre on September 28-29.

Through the event, audiences will have the opportunity to learn more about new trends in European contemporary dance.

The debute show in 2011 left a good impression on Vietnamese audiences with choreographies successfully bridging European and Vietnamese culture.

The programme is organised by the Vietnam Opera and Ballet Theatre in conjunction with the Goethe Institute in Hanoi and the Wallonie-Bruxelles delegation to Vietnam.

Theatre-goers set for a cultural journey

If you want to know more about Vietnamese culture but don't have enough time to explore it all, then head to the Golden Bell Theatre in the Old Quarter to embark on a splendid musical journey through the country.

The only one of its kind, the theatre presents to audiences all the sights and sounds of Viet Nam through eight performances of various traditional folk styles – all in just an hour.

Be charmed by irresistible Cham dancing, chuckle at the bizarre couples in Ly Ngua O, and laugh and cry with various styles of cai luong (reformed opera) plays and the tragic love stories of quan ho (love duet) singing. The theatre will provide simultaneous interpretation and visual aids to make sure that foreign audiences understand and enjoy the show.

The show will take place at 72 Hang Bac Street on Saturday, August 18, from 8-9pm.

Art show, auction to benefit orphanages

An exhibition entitled There's a Rocket will be held on Saturday, August 18, at Artlink Centre to help raise funds for two orphanages, the SOS Village in Ha Noi and Thuy An Village in Ba Vi. The exhibition will feature about 80 works of art by orphans from the two villages expressing their dreams about a better life, including embroidery and gemstone paintings. Hand-made souvenirs by orphans and exhibition organisers will also be sold.

The artworks will be auctioned at 10pm. There's a Rocket was set up by Rocket, a volunteer organisation of domestic and international students. The exhibition and auction will take place at the 3D Centre Building, Duy Tan Street, Cau Giay District.

DJs to whip up disco fever at Yoko bar

A night of disco music will be presented by Italian DJ Rodion and German DJ Metro Tokyo at Yoko bar on August 22.

Rodion is dubbed the "new genius of Italian dance music" and the reinventors of Italo-disco. Metro Tokyo was founder of Beijing's first DJ collective Thee Three Discoteers and was the first to bring Europe's most acclaimed electronic artists to China.

The night will open at 9pm at 22A Nguyen Thi Dieu St in District 1. Entrance fee is VND50,000.

Retro night spotlights vintage fashion, music

A music and fashion show called Retro Night will be held at Quo Vadis coffee shop in District 1 on August 17.

The show will present a collection of vintage clothes and accessories for men and women from the Kujeans grand by designer Chuong Dang.

Artists Maeve, DJ Samurai, DJ Pedro, pianist Phuong Nguyen and band Like A Bauss will perform throughout the night.

The show will begin at 9pm at 5/7 Nguyen Sieu St in District 1. For reservations, call 0972361111.

English DJ Ramirez serves up electro music

English DJ and house producer D. Ramirez will have a performance in the city's Blanchy's Tash bar on Friday, August 17.

D. Ramirez is known as a champion of electro house music in the world of dance music. He was awarded Best Remix and Best Producer of DJ Magazine in 2007. His remix of Bodyrox's Yeah Yeah brought him a nomination of Ivor Novello Awards for songwriting and composing in 2006.

The performance will begin at 9pm at 95 Hai Ba Trung St in District 1. Tickets cost VND200,000.

Free bamboo-bicycle rides in District 7

Mekong Creations, a non-governmental organisation specialising in locally made household and gift items, will offer free rides on bamboo bicycles on August 19.

The event will take place from 10am to 4pm at S17 Sky Garden 1, Phu My Hung, in District 7.

VNN/VOV/VNS/SGT