“Sapa in the Clouds” Festival 2011

Time: 27 Apr – 04 May 2011

Location: Sapa town, Lao Cai province

“Sapa in the Clouds” Festival 2011 is part of Sapa Culture-Tourism Program 2011, hosted by provinces of Lao Cai, Phu Tho and Yen Bai. The event will take place from 27 Apr to 4 May with many new interesting activities. Visitors will have a chance to discover this famous tourism town through lots of unique, diversified activities of festival.

Program “Traditional Cultural Day” will consists of music performances and folk games of ethnic groups: Mong, Dao, Tay, Giay, Xa Pho at the Ham Rong tourism site.

HCM City – Firework to Celebrate Reunification Day

Time: Sat 30 Apr 2011, 9 – 9.15 pm

Location: Thu Thiem tunnel, District 2

Dam Sen Cultural Park, District 11

Ho Chi Minh City plans two spectacular firework displays on National Reunification Day. The fireworks will be set off at Thu Thiem tunnel in District 2 and at Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11. The Ho Chi Minh City Television will air the firework displays live. This year, the local authorities have reduced the firework shows to save the city budget money keeping in mind the price hikes.

Performance at Youth Theater

Time: Every Thursday from 21 Apr 2011, 8 pm

Location: Youth Theater, 11 Ngo Thi Nham, Hanoi

Form Troupe of Youth Theater holds performances with combination of traditional dance and contemporary art “Vietnamese spirit” which emulates traditional ritual of Vietnam.

Program is directed by People’s Artist Lan Huong. It is also the first time when ritual tradition and practices of Mother Godness are performed in stage with the combination of ritual practice, contemporary dance, form art, classical drama in “hát Văn” (traditional music in ritual practices of Vietnam) music theme of artist Van Chuong.

With these programs, organizers and performers hope that “Vietnamese spirit” performance can contribute to preserve and develop traditional culture in new lively form which can attracts public’s concern.

Ticket price: 80 000, 100 000 VND

Contact for performance contract and tickets:

Mr Hai Trung – Form Troupe of Youth Theater

Mobile: 0912677977

Email: TrungNH@hotmail.com

Shimmy Mob Event

Time: Sun 01 May 2011, 10 – 11 am

Location: Vietnamese Women’s Museum, 36 Ly Thuong Kiet, Hanoi

On the occasion of International Labour Day (May 1st) and International Museum Day (May 18th), the Vietnamese Women’s Museum in cooperation with Apsara studio and the Center for Women and Development will hold the Shimmy Mob Event. This is the first belly dance event in Viet Nam to honor the beauty of women and raise funds to support disadvantaged women or victims of domestic violence at the Peaceful House.

Apsara Studio and Center for Women and Development (CWD) look forward to support from community (belly dancers in Hanoi) and guests by participating in this event. For joining as member to dance this choreography, you will support by buying a Shimmy Mob kit including shirt, belly dance belt, and pant with the price of 500.000VND/kit. After deducting producing cost, the rest will be donated to Peace House.

Women who never know about Belly Dance or at beginner level or even advanced level are encouraged to join this group belly dancing. Choreography is made by Shimmy Mob international dancers with different styles including Carabet, ATS (American Tribal fusion) and Tribal Fusion. Apsara Studio instructors will train you to move and dance following this choreography. Besides, guests (individual and organizations) who are willing to donate and support can join on 01 May.

Tickets: Entry fee to the museum: 15 000 VND/person (tickets are available at the Museum).

For more information, contact: Dương Thu Giang at 0974277769, email: thugiang.apsarastudio@gmail.com

or Phạm Thùy Linh at emailing: linh.cwd@gmail.com

Screening of “Saigon Yo!”

Saigon Yo! is a teen dance drama about youth culture and hip hop in Vietnam. The film is directed by Stephane Gauger and is screened in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Da Nang and HCMC.

Check out the list of cinemas below:

IN HANOI:

Megastar Vincom

Platinum Cineplex

IN HAI PHONG:

Megastar Thuy Duong Plaza

IN DANANG:

Megastar Vinh Trung Plaza

IN HCMC:

Megastar Hung Vuong Plaza

Megastar CT Plaza

Megastar Saigon Paragon

Lotte Diamond Plaza

BHD Star Cinema

Violin Solo Concert at VNAM

Time: Fri 06 May 2011, 8 pm

Location: Vietnam National Academy of Music, 77 Hao Nam, Dong Da District, Hanoi

You are invited to the violin solo concert performed by Alicja Smietana accompanied by pianist Grzegorz Mania.

Program:

L.Beethoven: Variation on “Se Vuol Ballare” by W.Mozart

J.S.Brahms: Sonata in D Minor no.3

H.Wieniawski: Fatasie brilliante on the theme of Opera “Faust”

Ticket price: 100 000, 200 000 VND

Tickets are available at Vietnam National Academy of Music

Or contact Mr Chi: 0913566614 for free delivery

Alicja Smietana will also perform with Hanoi Philharmonic Orchestra at Hanoi Opera House on Tue 10 May 2011.

Wasted Youth of a Nation at Hanoi Rock City

Time: Sat 30 Apr 2011, 8.30 pm

Location: Hanoi Rock City, 27/52 To Ngoc Van, Tay Ho, Hanoi

WASTED YOUTH OF A NATION is growing as a phenomenon and earning respect amongst the underground artists/musicians in Vietnam. Now for the first time ever, HRC is bringing Wasted Youth of a Nation to Hanoi for our very first metallic taste of this spine-crunchin’ rock, with performances from four amazing live bands.

MOETH

Two-piece drone / doom / noise band of French visual artist and musician Thierry Bernard-Gotteland and Singaporean drummer Mohamad Wahid.

WỪU

Experimental / Grindcore band

A.K.A.T

Psychedelic /stoner rock band

DISGUSTED

Brutal metal

Ticket price: 60 000 VND (at door)

Come Together at Heresy for Cedric

Time: Fri 29 Apr 2011, 7 pm

Location: Heresy Rock Club, 266 Thai Ha, Hanoi

There was a man from France…. we loved him and he loved music, so lets Come Together. The Freebirds would like to honour Cedric Ihaddadene and also invite his friends and brothers and sisters to sing or play to celebrate his life and what was important to him.

Money will go to his family in France so he can go back home to rest.

Thank you to Heresy- the first venue in Vietnam where Cedric played, and the last.

(Cedric’s picture by Phu, Hanoi Rock City)

HCM City – Super Melody Live Concert

Time: Fri 06 May 2011, 9 pm

Location: La Fenetre Soleil, 2nd Floor, 44 Ly Tu Trong Street, District 1, HCMC

Everyone’s a DJ is proud to present a live performance of indie electro pop from Super Melody. Minh Khoa will be providing live visuals all night long and EADJ’s superkid will be playing indie electro, discopunk, 80s new wave and 50s/60s tunes all night long to keep your feet dancing.

Super Melody is the brainchild of James Cecil, the Melbourne-based artist and producer who made his name with globe- and genre-trotting pop group Architecture In Helsinki. The debut Super Melody album “Destination Unknown” was released recently, the product of two years and almost one thousand cups of coffee consumed at his itinerant musical laboratory Super Melody World. The album was picked by both 3RRR and 2SER as ‘Albums of the Week’, and the single “I Want Your Blood” was recently featured on the cult US comedy series “Bored To Death”.

On 28 Apr, Super Melody also played Hanoi at the Factory.

Ticket price: 50 000 VND

First 100 people to arrive get a free “SM♥VN” CD!

Get Funked Hanoi

Time: Sat 07 May 2011, 8 pm

Location: American Club, 19 – 21 Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi

It’s time to get back to basics with this good old fashioned CAMA outdoor funk and soul extravaganza with Supabad supported by The Props & CAMA Sound System.

Supabad:

A ten piece big band playing nothing but pure 70s James Brown Funk!

Resident in Bangkok Supabad play tight, authentic covers of James Brown’s classic early seventies funk which heavily influenced popular music for decades to come.

With a solid rhythm section, tight horns and percussionist Supabad have built up a large following in Bangkok and Asia with their classic revue show of the James Brown Band. Recent performances in Cambodia and Vietnam have further highlighted Supabad as one of Bangkok’s premier show bands.

The Props:

The Props are a Hanoi-based original rock band featuring drums, bass, guitar, harmonica and vocals. With members from the four corners of the globe, their sound is influenced by many genres including punk, funk, blues, indie rock and alt country. One local columnist described them as “The Velvet Underground meets Wilco”. From melodic anti-ballads, to rump-shaking melees, Props shows are known to be dynamic, raucous and cathartic.

Not long for Hanoi, this may be the last chance to see these stalwart rockers in action.

Cama Sound System:

Supporting the funkical mayhem are CAMA’s own in-house reprobate selectahs; known not for mixing or trickery but promising plenty of soul bothering funk. Expect a full range of classic and contemporary soul and funk to ensure the sweat is dripping on the dance floor. Possibly some disco while we’re on the beat.

Program:

5 pm: CAMA Sound System

7.30 pm: The Props

8.15 pm: CAMA Sound System

9.30 pm: Supabad

Ticket price: 150 000 VND

Workshop “Hanoi Does Shakespeare”

Time: Sat 07 May 2011, 1 pm

Mon 09 May, 8 pm

Location: Hanoi International Theatre Society (HITS)

Learn the secret of Shakespeare with the Hanoi International Theater Society. Choose from two workshops or attend both! Workshops are lead by Kelly Brennan, Dana Peterson, Ruth Mortimer and Joe Ruelle.

Spaces are limited so we ask for emails and applications to join stating interest and experience (everyone welcome and do not have to be a previous member of HITS)

For more information and to register, please email to hits.hanoi@gmail.com or dejapeterson@gmail.com/

Exhibition “Hanoi in Spring”

Opening: Tue 03 May, 6 pm

Exhibition: 03 – 09 May 2011

Location: Viet Art Center

You are invited to the exhibition by 3 Thai Artists: Direk Kingnok, Dinhin Rakpong-Asoke, Suwit Jaipom and one inviting Vietnamese artist: Phuong Vu Manh.

After the opening ceremony, Suwuit will draw portrait for visitors on crayon and chacoal.

The exhibition is organized to celebrate 35th anniversary of the diplomat relations between Thailand and Vietnam.

Photo exhibitions mark Reunification Day 

Photo exhibitions on Ho Chi Minh City’s development and integration are being held on Dong Khoi Street at Lam Son and Chi Lang Park to celebrate the National Reunification Day (April 30) and International Labor Day (May 1) as well as the 13th National Assembly and Peoples’ Council elections. 

More than 100 pictures are on display, which are being exhibited in two parts at the Lam Son Park in District 1.

The first part, with the theme “liberation of the South and reunification of the whole country” includes photos of the peoples’ heroic fight led by the Vietnam Communist Party and President Ho Chi Minh. The second part focuses on the city’s significant achievements in various fields

While at Chi Lang Park, the focus is on 95 pictures on display to show the prosperous building and development of the city.

Seventy images of the outstanding development in economy, science, technology, culture, tourism, shopping areas, restaurants and health services in the city are on view along Dong Khoi Street.

The displays run until May 5.

City hosts painting exhibition on Vietnam War 

A painting exhibition on the Vietnam War and the armed forces to mark the 36th anniversary of National Reunification Day (April 30) is on at the Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Museum. 

The exhibition also celebrates the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the war veteran painters club.

Around 255 works in various mediums such as oil, lacquer, watercolor, pottery as well as painted diaries recalling years of war and images of the late President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnamese heroic mothers and Truong Sa archipelago are on display.

Fifty one artists including Huynh Biec, Huynh Phuong Dong, Nguyen Duc Tho, Tran Son, Lai Ngoc Tuyen, Vo Xuong, Dang Ai Viet, Trang Phuong, Nguyen Thanh Chau, Pham Quang Can, Bui Quang Anh, sculptors Tran Thi Phuong Dung and Ta Kim Dung have displayed their works.

They are mostly members of the Vietnam War and People’s Armed Forces Club of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association.

The exhibition also aims to commemorate member artists who sacrificed their lives in the war.

The display is on until May 6.

PV