Photo exhibition celebrates International Volunteer Day

An exhibition of 80 photos featuring Australian volunteers working in Viet Nam is on display at the Australian Embassy, N8 Dao Tan Street, Ha Noi.

The colour photos of unique moments were taken by the volunteers themselves, and provide insight into their lives and the lives of the people they work with and support.

About 80 volunteers are currently working in placements strongly aligned with the Australian Government's aid priorities in Viet Nam.

Volunteers have contributed to Viet Nam since the two countries established official diplomatic relations in 1973.

They are on short and long-term assignments to support non-government organisations, research institutions, universities, government organisations and private sectors.

The exhibition is being held by the Australian Embassy to celebrate United Nations' International Volunteer Day which fell on December 5.

The exhibition will run until Wednesday.

Designer to participate in US fashion event

Vietnamese fashion designer Le Thanh Phuong will produce 30 sets of ao dai (Vietnamese traditional long dress) for a fashion show in New York City on January 25-27, the president of the Institute for Vietnamese Culture and Education (IVCE), Tran Thang, told Viet Nam News in an email earlier this week.

Designer Le Thanh Phuong.

The show, which is forming part of the Asian Lunar New Year 2013 programme at the American Museum of Natural History, will present different Vietnamese traditional styles of ao dai, Thang added.

He said the IVCE is proud to be organising this event, along with a Dong Ho folk painting and calligraphy exhibition that is also part of the programme.

It is a dynamic time in New York City to showcase the beauty of Viet Nam to the greater public.

The institute, a non-profit organisation founded in New York in 2000, has been screening five short films from Viet Nam at colleges and universities in New York, Washington and California from October through December.

Christmas Cabaret dinner concert in town

A special Christmas Cabaret Dinner Concert by the International Choir and Orchestra of HCMC will take place at the Sofitel Saigon Plaza in District 1 on Friday and Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

The event which is supported by Australian Chamber of Commerce, Vietnam (AusCham) and in celebration of Loreto Vietnam-Australia Programs’ 15th anniversary will have the participation of Brian Riedlinger, artistic director and Ian Alexander, orchestra conductor. Attendees will enjoy some popular holiday songs and carols accompanied with a three-course meal with a free-flow of beer, wine and soft drinks.

Tickets are VND1.8 million and can be booked online at www.hcmcchoir.com. Proceeds will go to support Loreto Vietnam-Australia Program and Poussiers de Vie (Dust of Life).

There’s a silent auction with packages available from top resorts with spas and businesses throughout Vietnam giving participants a chance to satisfy their Christmas shopping list or treat themselves to something special.

There is a special Christmas Lighting Ceremony hosted by the Sofitel Saigon Plaza at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday. Guests will have a chance to admire the hotel’s crystal Christmas tree decorated with bamboo branches and thousands of lights whilst Christmas carols are sung in both English and French by the hotel choir.

Furthermore, guests will be treated with a special log cake and champagne with children receiving special gifts from Santa Claus. This event is exclusively for hotel’s internal guests only.

For more information access www.hcmcchoir.com or contact AusCham at level 2, Eximland Office Building, 179 E-F Cach Mang Thang Tam Street, District 3, HCMC, tel: 3832 9912.

Join in outdoor excursions with VietClimb

VietClimb Gym will host an outdoor climb in Huu Lung District, Lang Son Province on Saturday.

Beginners who just want to experience outdoor climbing in a beautiful place and advanced climbers who want to push their limits are all welcome to participate in this full day of challenges and fun.

The climbing group will gather at 8.15am at the climbing gym at No 40, Alley 76 An Duong Street to be driven by private shuttle bus to the climbing venue.

Attending fees cost VND500,000 for VietClimb members, and VND800,000 for non-members.

For more info, call 0914 548 903.

Experience a true Thai atmosphere

Enjoy a real Thai atmosphere with a variety of authentic food and drinks as well as special art performances during the Thailand Day celebration that will take place in the city on Saturday.

During the free admission event, held at the American Club, 21 Hai Ba Trung Street, from 3-9pm, visitors can sample Thai foods and see performances featuring music and dance from Thailand, including the Couple Puppet Troupe from Chiang Mai. Thai martial arts and the famous muay Thai shows will also be performed.

A raffle with big prizes will also take place. Tickets cost VND100,000 and all the proceeds will be donated to the Ba Vi centre for disabled children, orphans and the elderly.

Tay Ho flea market offers wealth of surprises

Founder of the Tay Ho Weekend Market - will host its annual flea market on Sunday, from 8.30am-3pm at No 4, Alley 67/12, To Ngoc Van Street, Tay Ho District.

Like any other flea market, Sunday's event will offer a wide range of used and new products.

Those who want to become vendors at the Tay Ho flea market should contact info@weekendmarket.org to sign up (Fee: VND150,000/table) or dial 0989589734.

Monthly opera performance features Christmas

The monthly programme An Evening of Opera at Luna d'Autunno will take place next Thursday.

The 25th programme, featuring the most famous Christmas songs, will be performed by singers and musicians from the Viet Nam National Opera and Ballet under the baton of English conductor Graham Sutcliffe.

The two-hour concert will start at 8.30pm at Luna d'Autunno Restaurant, 78 Tho Nhuom Street.

British business group hosts James Bond dinner

The British Business Group Vietnam (BBGV) will host a Christmas dinner party at the Caravelle Hotel tomorrow to celebrate 50 years of James Bond 007.

The event, Shaken, Not Stirred, will include a four-course dinner, music from Pho Fighter and a charity raffle.

Men are asked to wear costumes of any Bond character while women should wear like favourite Bond girl outfits.
The event will begin at 7pm. Tickets are VND2.2 million for BBGV members, and VND2.6 million for non-members. For reservations, call 38298430 or email at events@bbgv.org.

Fairytale film adaptations at Goethe Institute

Films of classic fairy tales will be held on Saturday at the Goethe-Institut in HCM City to celebrate Christmas.

Four German films, including Schneewittchen (Snow White), Der gestiefelte Kater (Puss in Boots), Rapunzel, and Das tapfere Schneiderlein (The Brave Little Tailor), will be screened in German with English subtitles.

The screenings are at 9am and 3pm at the Do Thanh Quarter in District 3. Admission is free.

Cellist to perform Tchaikovsky at Opera House

International cellist Filip Tomic and pianist Boris Kraljevic will perform at the Piotr Tchaikovsky concert beginning at 8pm at the HCM City Opera House on Sunday.

The concert, organised by the HCM City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera (HBSO), will feature the Fantasy Overture Romeo and Juliet, Variations on a Rococo Theme for cello and orchestra, and Piano Concerto No 1 in B Flat Minor.

The two musicians will perform with the HBSO orchestra under the baton of Meritorious Artist Tran Vuong Thach.

Tickets range from VND150,000 to 300,000, and 60,000 for students. They are available at the Opera House's box office at 7 Lam Son Square in District 1.

Hanoi commemorates 10th death anniversary of To Huu

Vietnam Writers Association on December 4 commemorated the 10th death anniversary of well-known poet To Huu in Hanoi.

To Huu was a revolutionary poet in Vietnam during the wars against the US and France and helped take the country towards the direction of socialism.

His real name was Nguyen Kim Thanh and he was born in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue in 1920. He passed away in 2002.

Some of his popular works are Tu Ay (Since Then), Viet Bac, Mau va Hoa (Blood and Flowers), Bam oi (Mother) and Ho Chi Minh.

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