Bingo Night to raise funds for children in poverty

Everyone is invited to join the Charity Bingo Night hosted by the QSI International School of Ha Noi on the night of February 28.

A night of exceptional prizes, family-friendly fun and fund-raising essential to QSI’s on-going charity work, the event takes place at the Quang Ba Trade Union Hotel, 98 To Ngoc Van Street.

Last year, the school raised money to buy more than 500 warm jackets for poor children in Lao Chai Commune in Sa Pa. This year, the event aims to help disadvantaged children living in other areas of Viet Nam, mainly focusing on education and health.

One set of five cards is VND150,000 and multiple cards may be played in each hand. Attendees are required to arrive at 6.30pm to get their tickets. The first game will start at 7pm sharp.

For more information, please email QSI International School at hanoi@qsi.org.

Experimental show features female composers

Sound Affect, a monthly experimental music show conducted by contemporary composer Vu Nhat Tan, will present two female artists on the night of February 28: Luong Hue Trinh and Nguyen Thuy Dung.

Since moving from jazz to electronic music in 2010, Trinh has attracted critical attention. In addition to performing at the Ha Noi Soundstuff Festival, she has worked on film soundtracks with composer Quoc Trung and co-composed music with electronic musician Son X. She has also been involved in projects with the Goethe Institute and the Ha Noi DocLab.

Dung performed with Malian musicians at a previous experimental show.

Trinh will join Dung, who will play the traditional 16-chord dan tranh (zither). Sound Affect will take place at CAMA ATK, 73A Mai Hac De Street from 9pm. Entry VND50,000 or free before 8pm.

Art Performance “Kine”

Thu 28 Feb 2013, 9 pm
Hanoi Rock City
27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho, Hanoi

Project “Kine” is an abstract musical-visual live and electronic collective of five members collaborating from various projects in New York and Hanoi.

The band will be accompanied by two dancers during this full length project performance.

Music of the eclectic participating artists can be found at the following links.

Soundcloud.com/cluttermusic
Pasmusic.weebly.com/
www.daoanhkhanh.com

Free entry.

HCMC – Exhibition “Space / Limit”

Opening: Thu 28 Feb, 6 pm
Exhibition: 28 Feb – 25 Apr 2013
Sàn Art
3 Me Linh Street, District Binh Thanh, HCMC

You are invited to the exhibition ’Space / Limit’, a solo exhibition by Phan Quang.

‘Space / Limit’ is an exhibition concerned with the social habits, expectations and desires of contemporary society. How does popular media, cultural myth and custom, or ideas of class affect the way we live our lives?

Electronic Music Night with VNTG in Feb

Thu 28 Feb 2013, 9 pm
ATK
73a Mai Hac De Str, Hanoi

Sound Affect, Vu Nhat Tan’s monthly experimental showcase continues, this time introducing Luong Hue Trinh and Nguyen Thuy Dung to Hanoi audiences.

Trinh has been attracting attention since moving from Jazz to electronic music in 2010. Since then she’s appeared twice at Hanoi Soundstuff Festival, worked on film soundtracks with Quoc Trung and co-composed with Hanoi’s original electronic son, Son X. She’s also provided sonic soundscapes for the Goethe Institute’s Riverscapes in Flux exhibition and Hanoi DocLab’s Hanoi City Symphony film screenings. Her compositions represent painstakingly arranged blends of Asian sounds and western technology.

Nguyen Thuy Dung was last seen at jamming with three musicians from Mali. The fact that her traditional Dan Tranh playing sounded so at home with African rhythms and melodies is testament to both her versatility and her open minded approach to making music. On Thursday 28, she’ll be improvising live to Tan and Trinh’s digital strains.

Live music from 9pm

Entry: 50 000 VND, free before 8pm
    
ATK
73 a Mai Hac De

Screening of “The Vessel”

Wed 27 Feb 2013, 7 pm
The Hanoi Bicycle Collective
44, lane 31 Xuan Dieu Str, Hanoi

Come to the next session of Cinexin Hanoi this week with the screening of “The Vessel”.

Rory and Mike are a gay couple who have decided they want to have a baby. With one vital “component” missing, they ask their close friend Kim to be the tummy mummy.

Over ten episodes and nine months we follow Kim as she helps the boys prepare to bring a child into the modern world. But with boyfriends, exes and conservative grandparents on the scene plus some fiery pregnancy hormones – will Kim regret her decision? Is she really ready to give up her body, career, love-life, tennis lessons and, of-course, the baby…?!

Filmed ‘Peep Show’ style from Kim’s point of view you get to see all of the action through the surrogate’s eyes. To make this look as natural as possible we decided to film every episode as a single continuous take – a real window into the lives of these three complicated characters. To further maintain this sense of reality we also decided to make all of the dialogue improvised around a scripted storyline.

Screening of “The Ghost of Piramida” and “An Island”

HANOI: Tue 26 Feb 2013, 8 pm
ATK

Fri 01 Mar 2013, 7.30 pm
The Hanoi Bicycle Collective

HCMC: Fri 01 Mar 2013, 8 pm
Ca phe thu Bay

Sun 03 Mar 2013, 8 pm
Decibel Lounge

Come to the screening of 2 films “The Ghost of Piramida” and “An Island” about Danish indie band Efterklang in Hanoi and HCMC. For more information about the films, see below:

AN ISLAND (2010)
Dir – Vincent Moon
50 mins
Languages: Danish with English subtitles

The Star (ca): “An Island is more than just a band documentary; it’s a love letter to family, roots, small-town life and the social/communal power of music to unify people … a mesmerizing 50 minutes … it’s universal and great viewing even if you’ve never heard of Efterklang”

Not long after the completion of 3rd album Magic Chairs in 2010, indie powerhouse EFTERKLANG and friends (amongst them Nils Frahm, Peter & Heather Broderick), together with French filmmaker VINCENT MOON took a sojourn to the island of Als off the Danish coast, with the simple aim of shooting a film. “A film with the same length as an album, and a film full of performances, experiments and collaborations”. Why Als? It’s the bandmembers’ hometown, which made AN ISLAND – the end product of 4 days spent playing music with local people and having fun (in the process utilizing balloons, a cleaning broom, a truck, four pianos being played at the same time and other weird stuff) – at its core a comforting trip down the memory lane. The locations had significant meanings. The people the band grew up with. “I remember I saw you at high school, walking everyday as if you were ten minutes late”.

At this point, you would be forgiven if in your head those letters are piecing themselves together: H, E, I,.. you tell me. But while most of the time Sigur Rós’ Heima feels just as otherworldly and widescreen as the magnificent Icelandic landscapes, An Island oozes with earthly images, colours and tones – grainy, honest and beautiful, due in no small part to Vincent Moon’s fascinating vision that saw him making a name with La Blogothèque’s Take Away Shows. Like in that series, here Moon came up with an abundance of clever experiments in filming and sound-making inspired by the spirit of Cinéma vérité.

Ultimately, the film tells more about the band than what a (proper) documentary or countless interviews could achieve. You get to know the most important fact about Efterklang: that they are one of the most smile-inducing bands in the world. Would you not smile when a bunch of 6/7-yeard-old joined a heartfelt performance of Me Me Me The Brick House (shot at the school the band used to go to) – the lyrics hinting at lost innocence and star-crossed lovers; or during that segment when the bandmembers were playing music with their parents in a barn belonging to the bass player’s family: him showing his father how to play the synthesizer, while above them, on a basketball backboard we could see his name and a smiling face – someone must have drawn those in their childhood.

THE GHOST OF PIRAMIDA (2012)
Dir – Andreas Koefoed
65 mins
Languages: Danish/English with English subtitles

One is in equal measures amazed and fascinated upon visiting Piramida, the Russian mining town on the Norwegian island of Svalbard, which remains deserted as if it was a fictional setting of the time after World War III. The human beings are gone, but the minimalist concrete apartment blocks remain and bear witness to the life that was. Here, the Danish band Efterklang goes ashore to collect the site’s melancholia and soul in the form of small soundbites, which form the framework for their latest album, ‘Piramida’.

Accompanied by their taciturn and not visibly impressed Russian guide, the group goes on a treasure hunt in the empty building, while the narrator, the Piramida-citizen Alexander, takes us back to a bygone era, when Piramida flourished and the immigrant Russian miners and their families lived in a Soviet parallel society far from the horrors of their homeland. In old-style Russian, the social pleasures of the community in this communist mini utopia are praised while Efterklang’s collected sounds take shape and beautifully accompany the enchanting tale about the place’s rise and fall. The story of this lost place is adventurous and melancholy, and leaves a deep impression long after the credits have stopped rolling. Enchanting.

All screenings = FREE ENTRY
    
ATK
73A Mai Hac De Str, Hanoi
    
The Hanoi Bicycle Collective
44, lane 31 Xuan Dieu Str, Hanoi
    
Ca phe thu Bay
1st Floor, Trung Nguyen Cafe, 19B Pham Ngoc Thach, HCMC
    
Decibel Lounge
79/2/5 Phan Ke Binh, HCMC

Punk Rock Night with Thee Oh Sees

Wed 27 Feb 2013, 9 pm
Madake
81 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho, Hanoi

You are invited to a music night with high energy San Francisco punk rockers, Thee Oh Sees. On their way back to the States after rapturously received shows in Australia, the American four piece are in need of one more skuzzy high.

If Thee Oh Sees’ live show can’t make you sweat out the jams, then nothing will. Think Can, The Cramps and Queens of the Stone Age, spazzed out psychedelic garage-rock, catchy vocals, a muscular rhythm section and a crowd going absolutely nuts.

With supporting acts from Hanoi-based musicians Daniel Henneberry (UK), David Payne (Australia) and Robert Pepper and Brett Sweiman from New York.

Tickets: VND 150,000 at door. Free before 8 pm.

HCMC – Jazz concert with Bojan Z

Wed 27 Feb 2013, 8 pm
IDECAF
31, Thai Van Lung, D1, HCMC

You are invited to a jazz concert with Bojan Z. Multiple prizes awarded jazz pianist Bojan Z was born in a music loving family in Belgrade in 1968. He started playing the piano at the age of 5. As a teenager, while continuing his lessons in music school, he played in bands and became a known musician on the Yugoslav jazz. He moved to Paris in 1988, and in a few years became a famous name in French jazz. He applied for the CIM, a school of reference for many young artists, where he quickly settled in and starts working with other musicians.

Ticket
Entrance: 100.000 VND (50% discount for students)
Tickets on sale at the IDECAF (Tel : 38 23 99 68)

World Music Sundays – Evan Thompson

Sun 24 Feb 2013, 2 pm
The Hanoi Bicycle Collective
44, lane 31 Xuan Dieu Str, Hanoi

Evan Thompson is a singer songwriter from Buffalo New York. His style ranges from Dylan-esc folk to fast pace blues. His lyrics typically reflect nonfictional experiences of travel, love, and longing for a good old fashioned good time. He has recorded 3 albums, one of which “pray for rain” is available on iTunes. His life’s passion and inspiration for much of his work has come from working with refugees.

Ticket price: 100 000 VND.

SNAKEBITE – The Red Room Rave

Fri 22 Feb 2013, 9 pm
Hanoi Rock City
27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho

For the first time ever HRC is throwing a Red Room-only minimal, deep house, tech house dance party with extended sets, tripped-out live visuals, a hypnotic light show and reconstructed space.

Ravers will be invited into the venue not via the main entrance but instead via our private entrance over the bridge where they will be plunged into a whirlpool of abstraction and minimalism through music and art.

This is not an ‘anyone can do it’ kind of DJ party but a quality-driven event that pays deep homage to experienced and pioneering artists who continue to challenge and shape the musical identity of the city. The DJs who are launching this event on Friday 22nd Feb have over 15 years experience behind the decks, playing everywhere from massive international festivals to prestigious fashion shows to secret, underground basement parties.

Restricted, too, is the number of performers on the night: Snakebite provides the artists with an opportunity to let their music breathe whilst taking their dancing crowd through a complete musical journey with 2 hour extended sets each. These sets will be recorded and posted online for the rest of the world to see that Hanoi has become a serious contender for electronic music.

Meet the artists for the very first Snakebite and get ready to dance!

◙ CYBERSNAKE ◙

Born and raised in eastern Germany, Cybersnake experienced the fall of the wall and therewith, gained freedom as a teenager. In 1992 he found himself – by fluke – in the legendary Berlin Club PLANET, which opened his love to electronic music. With his passion for vinyl he started rocking the turntables in the mid 90s. Still connected to the Berlin tech house scene, Cybersnake has become something of a prized asset in the region. His legendary tech-house and minimal sets earned him the call-up from CAMA to support Jeans Team at American Club, and he is always one of the first names on the list for multi-DJ events across the city. Cybersnake has recently returned from Australia where he played the huge Raibow Serpent Festival.

◙ DJ-Y ◙

DJ-Y made a massive splash in HN’s electronic pool last year as one half of VN Tribes. The duo brought class, substance and innovation to the dance floor with a project that blended hand held recorded roots samples from Vietnam’s rich ethic music traditions with classic house tunes. DJ-Ys roots go back to the 90s in Paris, where he fell in love with the ‘techno rave spun vinyls regularly in some of the top clubs: Rex, Queen, Batofar, Peniche Concorde, Wax Bar to name a few, as well as playing some of the brightest music cities in the world: London, Amsterdam, Ibiza and Barcelona. DJ-Y’s last appearance at HRC was for the 2nd year bday party, where he kelp the pulse of the room thumbing through the early morning hours.

Free entry

Exhibition “I think It’s a Marten”

Opening: Thu 21 Feb, 6 pm
Exhibition: 21 Feb – 13 Mar 2013
TwentyONEnorth
49 Lang Yen Phu, Hanoi

Parisian born artist Baptiste Gilloz will have his first Hanoi exhibition. The graduate of Cergy’s art school ENSAPC usually builds his shows as installations in which his paintings communicate in some way with one another across distinctive origins. Through the use of quotations and displaced language, Gilloz explores the limits of his freedom by looking for what is not obviously apparent on the surface.

While the show enigmatically titled “I think it’s a marten” may raise some eyebrows, question asking is what Gilloz’s work is all about.

AmCham hosts Networking Happy Hour event

Show-up and meet some new faces at the American Chamber of Commerce’s Networking Happy Hour, which will be held at Don’s Tay Ho Bistro next Wednesday.

With a VND200,000 entrance fee, guests will get two drink coupons for wine, margaritas, mojitos or martinis; or three drink coupons for beer/soft drinks. The fee also includes a variety of tasty snacks including nachos, quesadillas, pizza, spring rolls, veggie sticks, mini-meat pies and more.

Guests are welcome to bring friends, family and colleagues to a night of casual networking. No registration is required.

The event will take place at 16/27 Xuan Dieu Street, Tay Ho District, from 6.30-8.30pm.

Tour to discover Ha Noi’s most popular temple

Friends of Viet Nam Heritage (FVH), a group consisting of foreigners living in Ha Noi who work voluntarily to promote and preserve Vietnamese cultural and historical heritage, will host a tour to explore Phu Tay Ho (West Lake Temple).

Taking place on February 28, the two-hour tour will offer attendees a chance to learn about one of the most popular temples in Ha Noi. Built in the 16th century, the temple is dedicated to Princess Lieu Hanh – daughter of the Jade Emperor. During the visit, legends related to the princess and various statues of the temple, the worship of the three mother goddesses, and the hau dong (spirit medium) ceremony will be discussed.

The French-speaking tour is being held in co-operation with the Francophone Association. To register for the tour, contact Genevieve Prady at sautierprady@gmail.com. Tour tickets cost VND70,000.

IDECAF holds jazz concert, literature discussion

Jazz pianist Bojan Z from Serbia will present a solo concert at the Institute of Cultural Exchange with France (IDECAF) next Wednesday.

Bojan Z, a well-known jazz artist and composer in Europe, will perform compositions from his latest album Soul Shelter, released in 2012, as well as other songs.

Next Thursday, Prix FNAC and Prix Fermina-winning author Patrick Deville will host a discussion on his recent novel Plague and Cholera, a fictional work on bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin’s life and vaccine developing work.

The discussion, free and open to the public, will begin at 3pm at the IDECAF centre, 28 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1, while the concert will begin at 7pm. Tickets for the concert cost VND100,000 with students paying half price.

Young designers meet, showcase work

Vin Gallery in District 2 will present the second PechaKucha Night, an event for young designers to meet, showcase their works and exchange ideas, next Thursday.

The event, devised in Tokyo in 2003, will feature PechaKucha, a presentation format in which 20 images are shown for 20 seconds each.

PechaKucha Night has been held in more than 570 cities in the world. The first event in the HCM City was held last December and attracted 50 people.

The latest show will take place from 6.30pm to 7pm at 4 Le Van Mien Street in Thao Dien Ward. Admission is VND200,000.

Applesauce to perform acoustic music

American Vietnamese musician David Tran, also known as Applesauce, will perform a solo acoustic music concert tomorrow at the Decibel Lounge.

Tran’s American folk style music show will begin 8.30pm at 79/2/5, Phan Ke Binh Street in District 1. Admission is free.

Screening of “Samsara”

Wed 20 Feb 2013, 7 pm
The Hanoi Bicycle Collective
44, lane 31 Xuan Dieu Str, Hanoi

Come to the next session of Cinexin Hanoi this week with the screening of “Samsara”. Prepare yourself for an unparalleled sensory experience. Samsara reunites director Ron Fricke and producer Mark Magidson, whose award-winning films Baraka and Chronos were acclaimed for combining visual and musical artistry. Samsara is a Sanskrit word that means “the ever turning wheel of life” and is the point of departure for the filmmakers as they search for the elusive current of interconnection that runs through our lives. Filmed over a period of almost five years and in twenty-five countries, Samsara transports us to sacred grounds, disaster zones, industrial sites, and natural wonders. By dispensing with dialogue and descriptive text, Samsara subverts our expectations of a traditional documentary, instead encouraging our own inner interpretations inspired by images and music that infuses the ancient with the modern.

Free entry.

Spring Concert by Song Hong Group

Sun 24 Feb 2013, 8pm
Vietnamese Institute of Musicology
Me Tri, Ha Noi (near THE GARDEN commercial center)

You are invited to the Song Hong group’s new – year concert. Together with Song Hong group, there are also the participation of the famous German cello player: Edith Salzmann, two artists – Concert Mistress of the Viet Nam Symphony Orchestra: Le Hoang Lan and Dao Mai Anh.

Program:
J.Brahms: Sonata for Cello in F major no.2 Op.99
F.Mendelssohn: Octet in E flat major Op.20

A non – ticket program, cooperated with Vietnamese Red Cross to fund raise to support children with disabilities.

Korea – Vietnamese Special Exhibition

Opening: Thu 21 Feb, 5 pm
Exhibition: 21 – 26 Feb 2013
Viet Art Centre
42 Yet Kieu Str, Hanoi

Welcome to exhibition “Viet Nam – Korea, the circle of friends” with the participation of:

Kim Young Hee, Park Gyeong Hui, Kim Sung – Woo, Kim Soo Yeon, Kim Jong – II, Moon Kyung Hee, Park Sung Ja, Park Ja Eun, Bae Min Ok, Baek Aae Kyoung, Seo Kyung Ae, Seo Min Sik, Shin Kyeoung Wook, Sin Seon, Lee Mi-Jeong, Lee Hye Gyung, Lim Soo Young, Jeong Ae Sook, Jeong Tae Jeon, Hong Sung A, Dao Chau Hai, Vuong Tu Lam, Tran Luu My, Nguyen Tuan Cuong, Doan Hoang Lam, Vu Duc Trung, Đo Tuan Anh, Doan Xuan Tang, Ta Dinh Khiem, Ly Hung Anh, Hoang Hai Anh, Le Anh Quan, Ngo Hai Yen, and Vuong Van Thao.

A Night at the Opera – Verdi’s Rigoletto

Fri 22 Feb 2013, 7.30 pm
Hanoi Cinematheque
22A Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi

Come to the screening of a classic production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto. Rigoletto is an 1851 opera by Verdi based on a play by Victor Hugo. Its tragic story revolves around the licentious Duke of Mantua, his hunch-backed court jester Rigoletto, and Rigoletto’s beautiful daughter Gilda.

The opera will be screened in the original Italian with English subtitles.

For those with membership at the Cinematheque, make a reservation as usual by phoning the Cinematheque, daily between 14:00 – 21:00. A limited number of tickets are also available through the Opera Guild, send an email to info@hanoioperaguild.com. A donation of VND 50,000 is suggested.

Performance “Path Less Travelled”

Mon 25 Feb 2013, 8 pm
Commune
20A Ven Hồ st., Tay Ho, Hanoi

Through time, the local scene witnesses an increasing number of visits from foreign artists. Here’s beautifully another encounter with two Korean improvisationists: Nimkha and Hyo Jung Kim, or to be a bit more precise, two classically trained musicians turned more interesting as they found a different pathway leading to… the unpredictable.

Nimkha and Hyo Jung first performed together in 2011 at Dotolimpic: a festival for improvised and experimental music and continue to collaborate since then. The event marks the first time they perform in Vietnam and both wish their sounds and feelings experienced by the audiences in Vietnam.

Free entry.

Artist Talk with the German Choreographer Anna Konjetzky

Thu 21 Feb 2013, 7 pm
Goethe-Institut Hanoi
56-58 Nguyễn Thái Học
Ba Đình, Hà Nội

The Goethe-Institut initiates an artist talk on 21st of February with Anna Konjetzky. She presents excerpts from her experimental, minimalist dance pieces and comment on background of the contemporary dance scene in Germany.

In preparation for the European – Asian dance festival, Anna Konjetzky, one of the best-known young choreographers in Germany, together with ballet master Sahra Huby will give a one-week workshop in Hanoi at Vietnam National Opera and Ballet (VNOB) from 18th till 22nd of February. The piece “On the Edge” has been developed specifically for six Vietnamese dancers of VNOB and six German dancers and will be performed at the end of September as part of “Europe meets Asia in Contemporary Dance 2013″.

Anna Konjetzky was born in Munich in 1980 and studied at the international physical theater school “Lassaad” (J. Lecoq method) in Brussels, as well as contemporary dance, Butoh and Body Weather in Brussels and Berlin. Her work always creates a harmonious blend of dance, music and body images. She uses the body as an element of friction with the space. She addresses themes that move between transparency and solidity, brutality and poetry, intimacy and distance. The latter is for the choreographer also a question of the role of the spectator within a project and its space.

Exhibition “Hello 2013″

Opening: Sun 17 Feb, 4.30 pm
Exhibition: 17 – 27 Feb 2013
Art Talk Cafe
12 Quan Su street, Hanoi

Come to the painting exhibition “HELLO 2013!” of two Vietnamese painters: Phan Thu Trang and Hoang Tuan to welcome the new year.

Exhibition “Colors of Time”

Opening: Sun 17 Feb, 10 am
Exhibition: 17 – 23 Feb 2013
Vietnam Fine Arts Museum
66 Nguyen Thai Hoc Str, Hanoi

Come to “Colors of Time”, a photo exhibition by Vietnamese photographer Nguyen Quoc Dzung.

Vanity – A Celebration of Spring

Thu 14 Feb 2013, 8 pm
Studio Anh Khánh
Số 7/462 Ngọc Thụy
Long Biên, Hà Nội

Four Vietnamese artists celebrate spring with experimental music and performance art at Dao Anh Khanh’s studio.

Experimental music and performance art installation of Pham Hoai Anh – Vu Minh Nghia – Nguyen Do Minh Quan – Nguyen Duy Anh

Enjoying the Year of Snake

15 – 17 Feb 2013
Vietnam Museum of Ethnology
Nguyễn Văn Huyên Cầu Giấy, Hà Nội

The Vietnam Museum of Ethnology organizes a special program to celebrate Quy Ty New Year 2013 from February 15 to February 17, 2013 (from the 6th to the 8th of the lunar calendar). There are many traditional activities such as art performances, games, local speciality. This program not only provides the public with rich entertainment during the holidays, but also contributes to the preservation and spreading of cultural heritage of different areas and ethnic groups.

The program Celebration of Quy Ty New Year organized by the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology in cooperation with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Yen Bai Province offers some unique cultural features of ethnic groups in Yen Bai at the Museum for the first time: Hmong people cooking thang co (horse meat), playing khen (a musical instrument); Cao Lan people making chim gau pastry, Thai people cooking xoi ngu sac (five-colour sticky rice); Xa Pho people playing sao mui (nose flute); Dao people playing ken ong nua (bamboo horn); Kho Mu people performing thuong luong dance (water dragon dance)

According to the Kho Mu’s belief, thuong luong is the sacred animal, which can control rain; people perform a thuong luong dance in a ritual to pray for rain, a productive harvest and a good life. In addition, the Kho Mu group contributes to the program three games: climbing a pillar, passing through the strings, jumping over cross). Besides performing the bamboo horn, the Dao group also show audience how such the instrument is created. The audience also has an opportunity to listen and talk to Ms. Dang Thi Thanh – Xa Pho artist who plays flute with her nose.

Besides activities organized by artists from Yen Bai, a group from Hai Phong perform a four-sacred animal’s dance: dragon, unicorn, turtle and phoenix. The Minh Tam puppet artists perform stories typical of farmers and rural life.

The audience can participate in bamboo dance, scarf dance, conical hat dance with Thai people. Visitors will be shown the calligraphe and Dong Ho paintings by local artist. Lovers of Dong Ho paintings have chance to try their hands at printing their own favourite pictures under the supervision of artists from Bac Ninh. There are also traditional clothes of various ethnic groups such as Hmong, Dao, Thai, Phu La, etc available for the audience to try on and take pictures.

Visitors can participate over 20 games are organized including Kinh’s games such as clay craker, swing, tug of war, sack jumping and other games from other ethnic groups, for example stepping (Thai), spinning (Dao, Nung), Playing shuttlecock (Pa Then, Hmong). Children also can make animals from rice powder, colour pictures or colour animals made of clays with guidance from artisans.

In particular, at 07:00 pm, on 7th of Têt (16 Feb), visitors have the opportunity to enjoy firework performance by craftsmen from Hai Phong and other intersting activities. The fireworks display for New Year is believed to bring well being and material prosperity and drive away evil spirits..

Exhibition “Space Minimization”

Opening: Tue 19 Feb, 6 pm
Exhibition: 19 Feb – 18 Mar 2013
L’Espace
24 Trang Tien, Hanoi

You are invited to the exhibition “Space Minimization” of Vu Kim Thu who uses both Vietnamese paper – the “xuyen chi” paper and washi paper (a traditional Japanese paper) to create 3D maps.

These small sculptures are the contrast of the peaceful scenery of the mountains, rivers in the countryside where she has recently participated in the camp with the dynamic of Hanoi with automobiles and unrest movement.

Free entrance.

New Year Gala Concert
 
21 and 22 Feb 2013, 8 pm
Hanoi Opera House
1 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

Come to the  New Year Gala Concert with conductor Tetsuji Honna, guitar soloist MURAJI Kaori and Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra. For more information, see below:

PROGRAM

G.Rossini Overture “La Gazza Ladra”
G.Bizet L’arlesienne suite No.2
Joaquin Rodrigo ”Concierto de aranjuez” for Guitar and Orchestra
Interval
M. Ravel Bolero
Tickets

Ticket prices: 200000, 350000, 500000, 700000 VND. All Tickets available at Hanoi Opera House – 1 Trang Tien or can book over ticketvn@gmail.com
For free delivery Call: 0913489858, 0983067996, 35651806, 66617859.

Cabaret Night in February

Sat 23 Feb 2013, 8.30 – 9.30 pm
L’Espace
24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

Cabaret Night at L’Espace is the stage for new music talents. Come here to enjoy great drinks and listen to fabulous French, English and Vietnamese songs.

If you are a song-writer, singer or you can sing in French, Vietnamese or English, contact Cédric Drouard to participate in the Cabaret Music Night at L’Espace: cedminimum@hotmail.fr.

Free admission.

A Meeting with Patrick Deville

Mon 25 Feb 2013, 3 pm
L’Espace
24 Tràng Tiền, Hà Nội

You are invited to a meeting with the author of ” Pestis and cholera” on the occasion of 70th death anniversary of Alexandre Yersin. For more information, please find below:

Author Patrick Deville has published more than ten works, translated into a dozen languages. His novel titled Pestis and cholera  was awarded Fémina prize on 5.11.2012. This is a novel about the life of the bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin, a member of the Pasteur Institute, who discovered the plague bacillus bacteria in 1894. To honor him, the bacterium was named Yersinia pestis.

Language: French – Vietnamese translation

Free entrance. 

TET NYE at Hanoi Rock City

Fri 08 Feb 2013, 8 pm
Hanoi Rock City
27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho

Before the stampede of boiled chicken and the Hanoi massive NY exodus, get on this nu funk, electro, breaks, d’n'b and bassy wave.

A night that welcomes UK award-winning Brap.FM DJ Mishima behind the decks to be joined on the bill by three local lads & babes with the some of the dirtiest accents and sickest beats in the city.

Now, who was that who said there’s nothing to do at Tết? They obviously haven’t heard of dancing…

Mishima’s bio and sounds here.

FREE ENTRY.

Eclectic Electric and Don Tet Event

Eclectic Electric: Thu 07 Feb 2013, 8 pm
Don Tet: Fri 08 Feb 2013, 8 pm
ATK
73a Mai Hac De, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi

Come to 2 free music events this week. On Thursday, Eclectic Electric with Sebastien Gesell is notable for attracting a whole host of unannounced guest so don’t be surprised if some live musicians are on hand to back up the DJs. On Friday, joining us in Don Tet event behind the decks will be a small portion of the excellent musicians and DJs who’ve helped develop great music in Vietnam’s capital.

Free entry.

Screening of “Soul Power”

Wed 06 Feb 2013, 8.30 pm
ATK
73a Mai Hac De Str, Hanoi

Come to an unofficial screening of 2008 documentary Soul Power. Accompanying Muhammad Ali’s 1974 title fight in Zaire, billed as the Rumble in the Jungle, was a three-day music festival of American soul alongside African music, headlined by James Brown and filmed by the same crew that was in Zaire for the fight. “Soul Power” presents that festival from its precarious beginnings to the finale of a shirtless, sweating James Brown singing to an African audience, “Say It Loud — I’m Black and I’m Proud.”

Language: English Language with English subtitles.

Free entry.

Eclectic evening of electronica at CAMA ATK

The weekly Eclectic Electric evening at CAMA ATK will tonight feature Sebastien Gesell, a popular musician and DJ. He has performed at Ha Noi Rock City and with contemporary musician Tri Minh.

During his performance from 9pm at 73 Mai Hac De Street, Gesell will be accompanied by American percussionist Lamont. Free entry.

Sofitel set for spellbinding night at Summit

The Summit Lounge on the 20th floor of the Sofitel Plaza Hanoi will host a fireworks show to welcome in the Lunar New Year on Saturday evening.

Enjoy views of West Lake and Truc Bach Lake while immersed in the flavour of distinctive drinks.

Tickets cost VND450,000++ for adult (including 1 cocktail), and VND350,000++ for children (including 1 mocktail). To book, dial (04) 38238888, ext 5301 or email H3553-FB1@sofitel.com.

Discover museums with Friends of VN Heritage

Friends of Viet Nam Heritage, a group of foreigners living in Ha Noi and working voluntarily to promote and preserve Vietnamese cultural and historical heritage, will host a walk through the Viet Nam History Museum.

Taking place at 8.30am on February 23, the three-hour tour will shed light on how civilisations and developments both near and far have shaped Vietnamese history.

Along the way, visitors will take a look at the development of such crafts as bronze making, ceramics, and woodcarving.

After a short break in the atmospheric courtyard to learn about the important architecture of the museum and the contribution of French architects to the atmosphere of Ha Noi, visitors will go back inside and learn about the major events that have made Viet Nam the unique country it is today.

Lunch and discussion will take place in the museum cafe.

To register for the tour, contact Roman Szlam at FVH.CityWalks.English@gmail.com. Cost VND70,000.

Nguyen Hue Flower Street blooms

The annual Nguyen Hue Flower Street, with the theme this year of Trai Tim Viet Nam (Viet Nam’s Heart), celebrating the Year of Snake will be open from February 7 to 13 on Nguyen Hue Boulevard in District 1.

This year will highlight giant models of snake, hearts made of flowers representing 54 ethnic groups, and an area called Xuan Bien Dao (Spring on the Sea and Islands) with boats on a sea of flowers. There will be music and visual art shows every night.

Street book fair celebrates festive season

More than 20,000 book copies on Viet Nam’s 54 ethnic groups as well as seas and islands from major publishing houses and libraries will be on display at an open-air book fair on Mac Thi Buoi, Nguyen Hue and Ngo Duc Ke streets on February 7 and 13.

Themed Sach va 54 Dan Toc (Books and 54 Ethnic Groups), the fair will also present digital publications, electronic books, children’s books from the past to now, and books for the visually impaired. Traditional games and a mobile library will also be set up at the fair.

Eight firework displays set for New Year’s Eve

The city will stage eight firework displays to welcome the Year of the Snake on Lunar New Year’s Eve this Saturday.

The 15-minute firework displays will be set off near the Thu Thiem Tunnel in District 2, District 7’s administrative centre, Go Vap District’s cultural park, District 9’s culture and history park, Dam Sen Park in District 11, Can Gio Stadium, the Ben Duoc Martyrs Monument in Cu Chi District and the Nga Ba Giong Martyrs Monument in Hoc Mon District.

Exhibition “Spring Paintings”

Exhibition: 02 – 28 Feb 2013
Tu Do Gallery
53 Ho Tung Mau Str, Dist 1, HCMC

You are invited to the exhibition Spring Paintings by 5 artists: Nguyen Van Phuong, Van Chien, Tran Thi Thu Ha, Le Tuan Anh and Nguyen Xuan Anh.

Screening of “Bombay Beach”

Tue 05 Feb 2013, 7.30 pm
Snap Cafe
32 Trần Ngọc Diện, Thảo Điền Ward, Dist 2, HCMC

You are invited to the film screening BOMBAY BEACH (2011, 80 minutes) by director Alma Har’el.

Film synopsis: Winner of Best Documentary at Tribeca Film Festival. True to her roots as a photographer, video artist, and music video director, Alma Har’el crafts an adamantly atypical and artistically innovative film telling the story of of three protagonists: a bipolar seven-year-old, a lovelorn football star, and an octogenarian poet-prophet—creating a moving, distinctive, and slightly surreal documentary experience.

Films are in English or have English subtitles. Films do not have Vietnamese subtitles. Films are not suitable for children.

FREE ENTRY

Screening of Indian Film “Water”

Wed 06 Feb 2013, 8 pm
TADIOTO Art Space
12 Truong Han Sieu, Hanoi

Come to watch Asian film series with WATER, a 2005 film directed by Deepa Mehta and written by Anurag Kashyap. The film is set in India under British rule. Child marriage was common, while widows were expected to spend their lives in poverty.

Winner:
2006, Genie Award for Best Actress, Seema Biswas[6]
2006, Genie Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography, Giles Nuttgens
2006, Genie Award for Best Original Score, Mychael Danna
2006, Golden Kinnaree Award at Bangkok International Film Festival for Best Film[7]
2006, The Silver Mirror Award at Festival Films from the South in Oslo (Film fra sør) for Best Film.

Kevin Thomas writing in the Los Angeles Times:
“For all her impassioned commitment as a filmmaker, Mehta never preaches but instead tells a story of intertwining strands in a wholly compelling manner. “Water,” set in the British colonial India of 1938, is as beautiful as it is harrowing, its idyllic setting beside the sacred Ganges River contrasting with the widows’ oppressive existence as outcasts. The film seethes with anger over their plight yet never judges, and possesses a lyrical, poetical quality. Just like the Ganges, life goes on flowing, no matter what. Mehta sees her people in the round, entrapped and blinded by a cruel and outmoded custom dictated by ancient religious texts but sustained more often by a family’s desire to relieve itself of the economic burden of supporting widows. As a result, she is able to inject considerable humor in her stunningly perceptive and beautifully structured narrative. “Water” emerges as a film of extraordinary richness and complexity…”

Language: original language with English subtitles.

Free entrance.

A Night With Jeremy Scott

Tue 05 Feb 2013, 7 pm
The Hanoi Bicycle Collective
44, lane 31 Xuan Dieu, Hanoi

Mission Accomplished – I have cycled from London to Hanoi 27,000km through 20 countries

Mission ahead – to cycle at least another 23,000km before reaching New Zealand

Goal – to see the world and meet great people.

Charities – I am raising money for both the British Heart Foundation and New Zealand Heart Foundation. As a boy I had Open Heart Surgery myself so this is pretty personal.

Music Night “Come Together”

Sun 03 Feb 2013, 8.30 pm
Hanoi Rock City
27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho

“Come together” will be the theme of this awesome event on Sunday 03 Feb, 2013.

Tet is coming close, this is a wonderful time to “come together” for a cozy and beautiful night.

“Nowhere” is a band consists of youngsters who share their undying love for “The Beatles”, they’ll bring us back to the past with almost 30 songs, including : In my life, Let it be, Octopus’s Garden, Oh Darling, Ob la di Ob la da… ETC….

Entrance: 50,000 VND including one soft drink

Reggae Party at HRC

Sat 02 Feb 2013, 9 pm
Hanoi Rock City
27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho

Big groove-busting, belly-rumbling tropical reggae party heading into Hanoi this weekend!

Live dancehall MC’s, live band, DJs, selectors, hammocks, visuals, face painting make this a feast for the skankers of the city.

Headlined by none other than female dancehall MC, FERAL i$ KINKY from the UK joined by some of Hanoi’s favourite local reggae artists, DJs, visual whizz kids and Feral’s personal selector, Anthony Sellick, who will join Feral on stage for her live MC set.

Full line-up:

::: FERAL i$ KINKY

::: ZAMINA

::: ANTHONY SELLICK

::: POLO

::: DIRTY FINGRZ

::: ZiLO

This is our first proper reggae fest since the magnificent Blood Dunza from Hong Kong Heavy back in October last year, and the first live reggae act seen in Hanoi since iLLbilly HiTec headlined the HRC birthday in December.

Expect nothing less in terms quality and entertainment.

Tickets: 100 000 VND, free before 9 pm. One love, one groove.

Call for Participants: Noi Hanoi

Tue 05 Feb 2013, 8 pm
Hanoi Cooking Centre
44 Chau Long, Hanoi

The next installment of the Noi, Hanoi reading series will be held February 5th at the Hanoi Cooking Centre. This time organizers are looking for FOOD writings of all kinds. With the holidays revolving around food, and it being a vital form of exchange, identity, survival, funny things, sad things, and all of the things, FOOD is the focus for this month’s poetry/short story/spoken word event. As always, submissions in either Vietnamese, English, or both are encouraged. The event will be held at 8pm on February 5th at the Hanoi Cooking Centre at 44 Chau Long Street.

Please email noihanoisubmissions@gmail.com before February 3 if you are interested in participating.

Tet Event at Bookworm Too

Sun 03 Feb 2013, 10 am
Bookworm Too
Lane 1/28, Nghi Tam Village, Hanoi

BOOKWORM  TOO in NGHI TAM VILLAGE celebrates the YEAR of the SNAKE  from 10am on SUNDAY, FEB 3

FROM 2pm

Master calligrapher on site for traditional TET messages……

Lunar astrological animal prints by expert printmaker…

Traditional flute player……..

Plus a bit more……..

ALL DAY:

Free mulled wine and Tet tit bits

Piping hot soup and crusty bread @ 20 000VND

25% discount on all used books

15% discount on all new books

The Bookworm is the best little book cafe in southeast Asia and the coolest place to browse.

FVH Tet Excursion

Sun 03 Feb 2013, 8 am – 3 pm
Van Giang Village

Join us on this FVH excursion to Van Giang Village, a small village off the beaten track north of Bat Trang pottery village, where you will be able to experience authentic Kitchen God celebrations at a 300 year-old local house, and participate in the preparation – and eating – of food typical of the Tet season.

The trip will start with a visit to the village market to shop for food and to view the paper offerings which will be burned for the celebration and live fish for release into the river. A visit to the local temple will be followed by the preparation and eating of the lunch with the local family, who will share their celebrations of this day, including the burning of paper offerings and the release of a fish into the lake next to the house.
This is a unique opportunity to participate with a Vietnamese family in important celebrations leading up to Tet!

Place to meet: outside of the Sofitel Plaza Hotel on Yen Phu St, at the corner of Thanh Nien
Cost:    350,000 (includes transportation and lunch)
Limit:    16 people
Sign-up required: send an email to John at lefthanded2hanoi@yahoo.com

Brett Newski Farewell Indie Music Night

Sat 02 Feb 2013, 8 pm
DeciBel Lounge
79/2/5 Phan Ke Binh, D1, HCMC

Live original/acoustic music from Brett Newski & special guests.

“I am moving back to the USA in less than two weeks. This is my final show in Vietnam. Please come out and celebrate the finale party. Thanks for all your support over the past year. I’ll miss you guys.” -Brett

For more information visit the artist’s website.

Free entry

Art Exhibition Opening “Lands Funknown”

Fri 1 Feb 2013, 7 pm
DeciBel Lounge
79/2/5 Phan Ke Binh, D1, HCMC

Chad is 28 yr. old Artist / Graphic Designer who recently moved to Saigon a couple of months ago from Los Angeles, California. He is also a DJ / Beatmaker who has already performed around town on turntables, MPCs, and a keyboard under the name Foniks. He received a BFA in Studio Art in 2007 and has since been employing his skills for graphic design, illustration, production, and art direction.

For his first exhibition in Saigon, the artist has cast aside needs for concepts, theories, and conjectures. This isn’t about dense meaning hidden beneath confusing imagery or fluffy explanations for eye candy, it is an exhibition of new drawings that were made for an oft-forgotten emotion in the art world: FUN. Forms, patterns and characters co-exist in an unknown landscape filled with funky colors. All work will be for sale with prices that most people can afford. So come along, enjoy yourself and bring some friends to ‘Lands FunKnown’. ALSO, the artist will be performing live beats and DJing fresh selections with globetrotter Unconventional Science.

She Bangs The Drums

Fri 01 Feb 2013, 9 pm
Hanoi Rock City
27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho

Pinch, punch, first of the month. And it’s the month of love.

Bringing February’s pulse to the edge from the outburst is our 100% all female line-up, She Bangs The Drums.

This event series has class acts such as Gỗ Lim, Good Graeff, Zippy, DJ Pants, Nok La Fiesta, Michelle Stewart, Team Team Team and Jean Marie in its back catalogue.

The totally fresh billing this time around welcomes some of Hanoi’s multi-talented women who make their trade in the city through visual art, live music, fashion, performance and events. Let yourselves be lured into the voyage of sounds that musically make these creative veins tick. On the night these artists will be pulling out their records, pianos, microphones, DJ controllers and visual works to entertain.

LINE-UP

★ Phuong Dang ★

brilliant singer songwriter on vocals & electronic piano

★ Ha Truong ★

renowned fashion designer will drive the SBTD tempo with a DJ set that moves through edgy indie into d’n'b before breaking into an electronic/house zenith

★ Claire Driscoll ★

this visual artist will pull out a sweet 100% vinyl set featuring only records either by women or about women

★ Lethal L ★

bassy and dancey, London’s Lethal will throw together tunes with that Traktor S4 beast accompanied by hand picked and curated visuals.

Let these ladies break your heart.

Free entry.

Rockpassion’s 7th Birthday

Fri 01 Feb 2013, 7 pm
X-Factory
77 Hong Mai, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi

You are invited to the party to celebrate the 7th anniversary of Rock Passion “Route 7 – Road of Passion” with the performance of Mimetals, LifeS, Re-Cycle and Nu Voltage. X-factory is an ideal performance venue and it promises to be an exciting Route 7 event.

Coupon (in exchange of drinks):
Price: 79.000 VND (Advance tickets purchased at the venue/hotline); 89.000 VND (at the show)

Call hotline: 0934682795 (Ms. Tuong Anh)
     
Electronic Concert with Vu Nhat Tan and Hien Violino

Raga for the Cull

Friday 01 Feb, 9 pm
TwentyONEnorth
49 Lang Yen Phu, Hanoi

Hanoi’s first astral groove quartet lifts its collective gaze from its shoes and takes flight. Don’t miss the ride – Come dig it by the lake!

Henneberry (treated guitar, programming, keys), Badger (tablas), Arno (bass) & John (guitar)

Noi Hanoi with the Theme of “Food”

Tue 05 Feb 2013, 8 pm
Hanoi Cooking Centre
44 Chau Long Str, Hanoi

Food is many things: sustenance, culture, tradition, experimentation and–above all–an exploration of the senses. We can’t do without food, and many of our shared human experiences are through meals.

On Tuesday, February 5, the Noi Hanoi spoken word series will explore the theme of FOOD. Please join us at 8 pm at Hanoi Cooking Center on 44 Chau Long Street for an evening of poetry and prose about everything culinary. Readings will be in English and Vietnamese, and as always, you’re invited to read something during the open mic.

Special Electronic Music Night

Chula House
6 Nhat Chieu, Tay Ho, Hanoi

Electronic Music and the Violin is a Special Electronic Music Night will be performing by Trinh Minh Hien, a well-known Hanoi based violist aka Hien VIOLINO, she has a CV to intimidate other musicians that includes being an integral part of the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, playing in Japan and America and performing at Tri Minh’s Hanoi Sound Stuff music festival.

Joining Hien Violino will be Vu Nhat Tan with an arsenal of electronic sounds at his disposal. The multi-talented musician is equally adept whether playing experimental, improvised, noise, electronic or dance and has an internationally recognised reputation.

This is a part of a series electronic/improvising music project and performances by Vu Nhat Tan and Hien Violino that prepared for months and will be shown to the audiences this year of 2013. The show is a dialog between the violins (acoustic and electric) and electronic music that is mix by experimental, improvised and also with nice melodies and relaxing sounds..

The duo also played at ATK on Thursday.

Tickets: 100 000 VND

Traditional Tet market at Metropole Hanoi

The five-star hotel Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi will once again hold its traditional Tet market to help travellers discover and experience local Vietnamese culture. During the festive event, there will be bamboo stalls selling local food, fresh products, handicrafts and colourful wood-block paintings from the Dong Ho traditional village.

Local artisans will also present demonstrations of chung (square sticky rice) cake making.

While wandering in the market, visitors can also stop for a warm bowl of pho and have their portrait painted by a Vietnamese artist.

The Metropole Tet market will be open from today to Saturday at the hotel's garden. Main entrance to the market is on Le Phung Hieu Street.

Learn to make sticky rice cake for new year

Chung (square sticky rice) cake is a must-have traditional food of Vietnamese people in the Lunar New Year festival.

Grab the chance to learn about this unique speciality on Saturday at the Family Resort in Hoa Lac suburban district.

During the course, which starts from 9am until 3.30pm, attendees will be shown different processes of making the cake and will then get the chance to make one themselves. To register the course, contact hanoifriends.org@gmail.com or call Hong at 090 440 6208.

Tickets cost VND350,000 per person, including return transport, lunch and a take-away cake. A shuttle bus will collect attendees at 9am from the main gate of the Big C Thang Long, 225 Tran Duy Hung Street, Cau Giay District.

Park Hyatt to host Yin and Yang Party

Park Hyatt Saigon's Martini Bar will host a "Yin and Yang" party to celebrate Tet (Lunar New Year) on February 7.

The party, starting 9pm and ending at midnight, will feature contemporary beats by DJ D-Roc and a lucky draw.

The hotel is located at 2 Lam Son Square in District 1.

Singer Brett Newski bids adieu to HCM City

American singer/songwriter/guitarist Brett Newski who has been living and performing with The Corruption band in HCM City, will hold his final show in Viet Nam on Saturday before returning to the US.

Newski and several "special guests" will perform acoustic music from 8pm to 10pm at the Decibel Lounge at 79/2/5 Phan Ke Binh Street in District 1. Entrance is free.

Well-known Spanish DJ to perform on Feb. 2

One of the world's well-known DJs and music producers, Wally Lopez, will perform at the Blanchy's Tash bar on Saturday.

The Madrid-based musician will perform with standout female DJ Celeste Siam from Thailand, as well as the city's own DJs Konka, Pedro, Dan K, Global B and Icee.

The show will begin at 10pm at 95 Hai Ba Trung Street in District 1. The entrance fee is VND150,000 per person.