The classic Christmas carol "Jingle Bells" can be heard across HCM City, a sign that the holiday is very near, with New Year’s Day not far away. Entertaining venues and restaurants in the city and neighbouring provinces have prepared special events for the festive season.

The brass band Yellow Star Big Band will perform traditional carols at the Symphonic Christmas Eve concert on December 24 at Chill Skybar. Photo courtesy of the artist

Special Christmas concerts

The Saigon Classical Music Group will present the concert “Winter Melodies #3” at Salon Saigon in District 3 on December 22. The concert will feature excerpts from The Season, Op 37 and The Nutcracker Suite by Tchaikovsky, Four Seasons by Vivaldi, and Étude Op. 25, No. 11 in A minor (Winter Wind) by Chopin.

The 16-member brass band Yellow Star Big Band, the first runner-up of Việt Nam Television’s reality show Ban Nhạc Việt (Vietnamese Band) in 2018, will perform traditional carols at the Symphonic Christmas Eve concert on December 24. The concert will take place from 9 pm to midnight at Chill Skybar in District 1.

A time for sharing

The District 2-based outdoor bar Saigon Outcast will host a Christmas potluck dinner on December 23. Participants are encouraged to bring their home-cooked traditional dishes from Việt Nam and different countries to the event and share them with others.

Live music will be played during the dinner, which will begin at 6:30 pm.

Following the dinner will be an outdoor movie screening of A Christmas Story, a 1983 American comedy directed by Bob Clark. The screening will start at 8 pm.

New Year festival on Mũi Né Beach

A music festival to celebrate the New Year will be held at Coco Beachcamp on Mũi Né Beach in Bình Thuận Province from December 28 to January 1

The festival will feature famous local and international DJs, bands, MCs and musicians. They will play hip hop, disco, techno and acoustic music.

Dancers from the HCM City-based Dan Studio will perform hip hop and break dance, while a dance contest for visitors will be launched.

There will be several beach games, graffiti performances and workshops, an indoor cinema area, and a flea market offering fashion, accessories, food and beverages.

The venue is located at Hàm Tân District. For ticket reservations, contact booking@cocobeachchamp.vn.

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Festive season feast at Café Central An Đông

Well-known as the largest buffet restaurant in town, Café Central An Đông is presenting a traditional festive buffet from December 22 to 24, and from December 29 to 31 as its highlight of the season.

The Festive Season Feast features a live seafood market, international cuisine. local favourites and a spread of traditional turkey, with delightful activities and live musical entertainment, Christmas carols, games and festive decorations.

The special buffet is priced at VNĐ988,000++ per person including free flow sparkling wine, German draught beer and soft drinks. Add VNĐ200,000++ per person for free flow house wine.

The restaurant is also offering a Holiday Take-away Turkey Package featuring the festive goodness of mouth-watering, oven-roasted turkey with hearty trimmings specially prepared for the season.

Available till January 1, 2019, the package includes traditional stuffing, roasted vegetables and sauces and is  VNĐ2,000,000+ for a whole turkey, VNĐ100,000+ for an additional vegetable side and VNĐ200,000+ for an additional pumpkin crumble.

Café Central An Đông is located on Level 4 of the Windsor Plaza Hotel on 18 An Dương Vương Street in HCM City’s District 5. For bookings, call (028) 38336688.

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Christmas and New Year’s Eve Set Menu at The Royal Pavilion

The holidays are here and it is time to gather around the table. The Royal Pavilion is offering a special set menu of classic Cantonese recipes, a perfect choice for unique holiday gathering with family and friends.

The delightful six course set menu dinner features delicacies such as baked crab shell stuffed with crab meat in coconut juice, grilled scallop with bacon in barbeque sauce and pan-fried lamb chop with sea salt and herbs. The menu is priced at VNĐ2,188,000++ per person and available on December 24, 25 & 31, and January 1.

Capturing the essence of Cantonese fine dining, the talented culinary team at The Royal Pavilion presents an exquisite array of authentic cuisine featuring only the finest ingredients.

The restaurant is located on Level 4 of the Times Square Building on 23-36 Nguyễn Huệ Street and 57-69 Đồng Khởi Street in HCM City’s District 1. For reservations, call (028) 38236688. VNS