Experiencing a traditional Tet atmosphere in Hanoi

Visitors are seen at the “Traditional Tet of the Vietnamese” exhibition at the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center 

As there are around four weeks left until the Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday 2018, which falls in mid-February this year, the Thang Long-Hanoi Heritage Conservation Center is rolling out a range of cultural activities depicting the traditional Tet atmosphere of the Vietnamese.

A cultural exhibition with its theme “Traditional Tet of the Vietnamese” is on at the center from now until February 24 (the 9th of the first lunar month), featuring folk paintings from Dong Ho Village in Bac Ninh Province, Hang Trong and Kim Hoang Villages in Hanoi.

In addition, the exhibition displays images of the traditional Tet holiday of the Vietnamese in the late 19th century and the early 20th century through Henri Oger’s wood carvings and a photo collection of Albert Kahn Museum from France.

Those from abroad will have a chance to gain an insight into Vietnamese traditions, customs and practices through folk games such as bamboo bridge-walking, tug of war, bag jumping and performances of tu linh, which means dragon, unicorn, turtle and phoenix.

Other traditional activities such as depicting the Ong Tao (Kitchen God) Day, a long-held Vietnamese ceremony to take God to the heaven on the 23rd of the 12th lunar month every year, and planting cay neu (Tet bamboo pole) for home decoration will be held at the center on February 7 (the 22nd of the 12th lunar month).

Water puppet shows are scheduled for February 18 to 20.

Rocketter Dou – Sounds of Saigon

The Rocketeer Duo will be playing a mix of pop jazz, RNB and blues covers from 8.45pmn until late on the 3rd floor of The Old Compass Café on January 26. – Photo rustycompass.com

Rocketeer Duo will be playing a mix of pop jazz, RNB and blues covers from 8:45pm until late on the third floor of The Old Compass Café at 63/11 Pasteur St., HCM City’s District 1 on January 26.

Entrance is free with the first drink minimum of VNĐ100,000 (US$ 4.5) per customer.

Australia Day community event in HCM City

The Australia Day community event in HCM City will be held on January 28 at the RMIT Saigon South Campus. – Photo rustycompass.com

The Australian General Consulate will be holding its second Australia Day community event in HCM City on January 28.

The event will be held from 1pm to 6pm at the RMIT Saigon South Campus in District 7.

It will include favorite activities and games such as Zorb Balls, tug of war and sack races, as well as musical performances by AIS, ISHCMC and RMIT students and local bands.

Tickets are VNĐ250,000 (US$12) each for adults, VNĐ150,000 (US$ 7) for children under 12 and family package VNĐ750,000 (US$32) for two adults and two children, including food and beverage vouchers.

Tickets are available at Caravelle Saigon, 19-23 Lam Son Square, District 1, and Mekong Merchant, 23 Thảo Điền, District 2.

Bookworm, partner host pre-Tết party

Bookworm and the Hanoi Cooking Centre will host a Tết celebration on Sunday.

On Sunday, Bookworm bookstore together with the Hanoi Cooking Centre will put on an afternoon of jazz music, traditional bánh chưng (sticky rice cake) making and tò he (toy figurine) sculpting as part of their annual celebrations in the run-up to Tết.

As it is all about the traditional festival, the event will feature a calligrapher and Tết horoscope print maker, as well as free mulled wine, Tết-themed sangria and Tết sweet treats.

A jazz band will play from 2pm to 4pm, followed by sticky rice making and tasting, hosted by a village elder.

Throughout the day of celebration, there will be 15 per cent discount on all books and stock at Bookworm, as well 10 per cent off all HCC cookbooks and cooking class.

Bookworm – the best little book cafe in southeast Asia, is at 44 Châu Long Street.

Sculpture workshop with British artist

British artist Claudia Capocci will host a workshop on scuplture on Saturday, explaining how to develop meditative relationships with material.

Claudia Capocci, an artist from Bristol, England, will host a workshop on sculpture on Saturday at Lạc Tạm Antique.

From 2pm to 3pm, attendees will learn how to develop meditative relationships with material.

“Before you learn about sculpture, you have to do some sculpture, you have to feel the materials and realise their potential,” according to a lecturer on sculpture at the Hornsey College of Art in London.  

Capocci first travelled to Việt Nam six years ago with her husband. Now, Capocci and her spouse have decided to return and settle down in Hà Nội. The artist wants to bring more art experiences into the community where she has received a lot of help since they first came back here.

Through this workshop, participants will be given two principal experiences –  sculpting meditatively and getting lost in their surroundings.

Chula debuts 1st Chulala Music Night

Chula Fashion House tomorrow will debut the 1st edition of Chulala Music Night – a monthly event hosted by Chula on the last Friday of every month.

Tomorrow night Chula Fashion House will debut its 1st edition of Chulala Music Night – a monthly event hosted by Chula on the last Friday of every month.

The night, which will start at 7pm, will present new music from Spain selected by Nacho Sevilla Priestley. In addition, the night will also present the documentary film Flamenco directed by Carlos Saura. The film is a look at the history and traditions of flamenco music and dance through the live performance of a wide variety of pieces.

The event is free of charge (just pay for drinks). Chula is at 43 Nhật Chiêu Street, Tây Hồ District.

VNS