There are still a few days left to Halloween, a festival popular in North America and Western Europe in which people dress up in scary costumes as monsters, ghosts and witches. As in prior years, major Vietnamese cities are preparing to celebrate the holiday in their own ways.

The closer it comes, the more people flock to stores to buy toys and accessories for parties. In Ha Noi, dozens of young people go to Hang Ma and Luong Van Can streets, both famous for selling toys for festivals.

"Among their favourite things are monster masks, black shirts and skeletons," said a vendor on Hang Ma. "Some are interested in strings of garlic, maize and peppers."

This Sunday, the Ho Tay (West Lake) Water Park at 614 Lac Long Quan Street will host the Vu Dieu Ma Quy (Dance of Ghosts) programme. Students from 20 universities will have a chance to play games and see performances by dance crews Logger and Last Fire, a magic show, and humourous horror acts by 24 nationwide contestants as they vie for the title of Vua Hai Dat Viet 2011 (Vietnamese King of Humour 2011).

The Sao Ha Noi Commerce and Tourism Co is also providing tourists a Halloween programme on Sunday at the Culture-Tourism Village of Vietnamese Ethnic Groups, about 40km west of the inner capital city. After learning about the cultures of Viet Nam's 54 ethnic groups, tourists will be able to dance and celebrate in a masquerade party that night. Participants will vote on the best and most horrible costumes.

In HCM City, products for Halloween can be found on sale on Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street. A merchant there revealed that most of young people buy masks and hats or pumpkins, artificial hair and lanterns.

Ngoc Minh, whose son is studying at an international school, said, "The international school holds Western festivals to help students learn more about it. The students like Halloween the most because they have an opportunity to dress up as different characters. Every year, my son asks me to buy him a costume for the party at the school."

Among programmes open to the public in HCM City this year will be Halloween Ky Bi (Mysterious Halloween) at Dam Sen Cultural Park, 3 Hoa Binh Street, from tomorrow through Monday. Adults will enjoy a costume competition on Sunday while children will enjoy the Dam Sen-Wonderful World parade at 8pm tomorrow and Monday.

The Danh Thuc Quy Vuong (Waking up the Devil) programme will be held from 5pm on Sunday on the sixth floor of Alta Plaza at 91B2 Pham Van Hai Street in HCM City. They will experience the terror of a 3D Haunted House as well as eat special dishes at the Hell Market and enjoy a magic show by conjurer Hoang Long.

Hotels will also give visitors unforgettable moments for Halloween.

VNS