Family day raises funds for needy kids

About 20,000 people are expected to celebrate Kermesse 2012 at the Sai Gon Zoo on Sunday, December 16.

Poussiere de Vie, an NGO that is organising the festival, said it is a Family Day for a Good Cause. The NGO has been helping street children and severely disadvantaged children gain English and IT skills for the past 10 years.

Kermesse is a Flemish word meaning "Fun Fair".

Kermesse 2012, held from 9am to 4pm, will feature live music, dance performances, magic shows, games for all ages, delicious food, an art exhibition of drawings by students and other fun events.

This year event, marking the Poussieres de Vie's 10th anniversary, will feature a Poussieres de Vie Education Corner, which is expected to increase awareness of the need to help less fortunate, particularly disadvantaged children.

Selections from a drawing competition in which school were asked to depict people helping others will be shown at the event.

All proceeds from the event will fund projects implemented by Poussieres de Vie.

"Last years' Kermesse attracted 14,000 people, making it HCM City's biggest charity event, and everyone we spoke to had a great day with their family and friends," said Poussieres de Vie co-founder Patrick Desir.

"We've held this for four consecutive years, and every year it has gotten bigger and better, thanks to the generous support of our sponsors and participants."

Entrance to the zoo costs VND12,000. Food tickets will be sold on site. Tickets to a lucky draw featuring more than VND100 million in prizes are available at Poussieres de Vie (5 Truong Quyen Street, District 3), and Exotissimo (41 Thao Dien Street, District 2).

Ha Noi venue promises to get people dancing

Zamina – a band that unites Africa and Asia through music and gets audiences dancing more than any other band in Ha Noi – will have their final show of 2012 on Saturday night, December 1, at Hanoi Rock City.

The night will explode into a ruckus of reggae-influenced and dancey r'n'b belters laid out by London DJ/promoter Spectrum.

The music show will start at 9pm at 27/52 To Ngoc Van Street, Tay Ho District. Ticket costs VND50,000 at door, with a 50 per cent discount for holders of Vietnamese student cards.

Artisan market offers unique Christmas gifts

A curated Christmas market featuring unique Christmas gifts will be held on Sunday, December 2, at The Hanoi Social Club.

During the event, which will take place at 6 Hoi Vu Street from 10am until 4pm, a selection of Ha Noi's established and up-and-coming designers will sell a variety of beautiful products including men and women's clothing, jewellery, cards and wrappings, handmade toys, children's products and ceramics.

Visitors can choose from the unique array of items or just come to sip on mulled wine, nibble on Christmas treats and browse the stalls. A photo booth with Santa will be set up.

Women's group to host Christmas luncheon

Hanoi International Women's Club (HIWC) will host a Christmas luncheon on Thursday, December 6, from 11am-4pm at Hilton Hanoi Opera Hotel, 1 Le Thanh Tong Street.

The lunch costs VND400,000 for HIWC members and VND550,000 for non-members. The price includes free flow of gluwein for an hour, three-course Christmas menu, soft drinks and water and free corkage. The event will also include dancing and games.

Registration for the luncheon closes at 9pm on Monday, December 3.

Dress code: red, green, or festive.

All HIWC entrepreneurial women are invited to sign up for vendor tables at event@hanoi-iwc.com.

For more information, email mkachelo@gmail.com.

French saxophonist to perform in HCM City

French saxophonist Sophie Alour will perform at a jazz concert to be held at the HCM City Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) on December 4.

During her Viet Nam tour, the musician will play with bassist Sylvain Romano, drummer Frederic Pasqua and Vietnamese jazz saxophonist Tran Manh Tuan.

The concert begins at 8pm at 31 Thai Van Lung Street in District 1. Tickets cost VND100,000, and 50,000 for students. They are available at the venue.

Mexican food festival offers evening of taste

The Mexico Food Festival will be held at Hotel Nikko Saigon from tomorrow to December 7 with support from the Embassy of Mexico in Viet Nam.

The festival will feature a wide selection of Mexican dishes and drinks. Traditional Mexican music performed by Warapo band and a variety of games for children will also be included.

The event is at 235 Nguyen Van Cu Street in District 1.

Choir to bring Christmas cabaret to Sofitel

The International Choir and Orchestra of HCM City will present a Christmas concert at the Hotel Sofitel Saigon Plaza on December 8.

The event, sponsored by the Australian Chamber of Commerce in celebration of Loreto Vietnam-Australia Programme's 15th anniversary, will feature well-known holiday songs and carols along with a three-course meal.

Tickets, which cost VND1,890,000, can be booked online at www.hcmcchoir.com. Proceeds from the concert will support the Loreto Vietnam-Australia Programme and Poussiers de Vie (Dust of Life).

The event will begin at 6.30pm at 17 Le Duan Boulevard in District 1.

European films to brighten HCM City

The French movie The Intouchables will be shown at the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF), beginning on Saturday.

The French children's film Little Nicholas and animation L'Apprenti Pere Noel (Santa's Apprentice) will be shown every Saturday at 3pm in December.

Vietnamese film Mua He Chieu Thang Dung (Vertical Ray of the Sun) will be screened on December 15 at 5.30pm.

IDECAF will also present German films Satte Farben vor Schwarz (Colours in the Dark) and Der Letzte Schoene Herbsttag (The Last Beautiful Autumn Day) on December 11 and 18, respectively, at 7.30pm.

Admission is VND15,000 at 31 Thai Van Lung Street in District 1.

VNN/VNS