Fill up your calendar with these exciting events.
March 6 - 7 - 8
What: Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde Theater Performance
Where: The Opera House, 7 Cong Truong Lam Son, D1; 7:30pm
About: The ADGE and TNT Theatre Britain will present the thriller- cum-horror comedy Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. The production is being adapted to the stage by the same artistic team that created Gulliver’s Travels, Frankenstein and Brave New World. Director Paul Stebbings has also directed recent TNT/ADGE productions such as King Lear, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. The company’s style combines dynamic physical theater with specially composed music, songs and striking visual imagery, adding a dash of audience participation to create a truly theatrical event. The production is touring over 20 countries in the world, from Britain to Vietnam. The performances will be in English with Vietnamese subtitles.
Contact: Tickets cost VND600,000 and can be purchased at the box office at The Opera House (left wing), 7 Cong Truong Lam Son, D1; or call 3829 9976
March 7
What: 7th Installment of Heart Beat
Where: Cargo Bar, 7 Nguyen Tat Thanh, D4; 8pm
About: Techno scene developer Heart Beat Saigon presents an eclectic mix of performers including DJs Cybersnack, Marshall White, Pav Parotte and Konka. Entrance fee costs VND100,000 and VND50,000 for students.
Contact: Buy tickets at ticketbox.vn or email info@heartbeatsaigon.com
March 7
What: Eclectic Night
Where: The Observatory, corner of Le Lai and Ton That Tung, D1; 10pm till late
About: The Observatory presents DJ Maft Sai, known for his vast eclectic and unique collection of rare vinyl. He will showcase years of his extensive research, digging and DJ-ing as the boss of an eclectic record label. Entrance fee costs VND150,000.
Contact: Call 3925 9415 for tickets and inquiries
March 7
What: Hong Kong Bound: AAF Preview Exhibition
Where: Craig Thomas Gallery, 27i Tran Nhat Duat, D1; 6pm - 8pm
About: The exhibition is a preview of selected works by 10 artists that CTG will be showing at the Affordable Art Fair (AAF) in Hong Kong. The works comprise of the figurative and abstract, mixed media, oil and acrylic painting, woodburn sculpture and installation. The artists included are Lim Khim Ka Ty, Bui Thanh Tam, Lieu Nguyen Huong Duong, Pham Huy Thong, Tran Minh Tam, Nguyen The Hung, Bui Tien Tuan, Tran Quoc Tuan, Luong Luu Bien and Ngo Van Sac.
Established in 2009, CTG is a natural evolution of its founder’s decade long involvement in the Vietnamese art scene and the relationships developed with artists, curators and collectors during that time. The gallery is focused on supporting the development of young, emerging to mid-career Vietnamese artists and providing them with a platform to present their work to a wider audience.
Contact: For more information, email: cthomasgallery@gmail.com
March 8
What: Celebrating Women’s Day with a Handmade Card Workshop
Where: VinGallery, 6 Le Van Mien, D2; 10:30am - 12:30pm
About: To celebrate Women’s Day, VinGallery will host a card- making workshop. You can also try out their DIY card session workshop for VND70,000 per person. You will get a complimentary flower to give her showing how much you appreciate her.
Contact: Visit www.vingallery.com for more info
March 8
What: Art Market
Where: VinGallery, 6 Le Van Mien, D2; 10am - 4pm
About: Art Market features handmade arts and crafts, paintings, drawings and limited edition prints, ceramics, sculpture, handmade jewelry, homewares and gift items. Photographers are welcome to showcase their works. This is a great opportunity for art lovers to come and grab first-hand designs.
Contact: Visit www.vingallery.com for more info
March 8-15-22-28
What: Saigon Soul Pool Parties
Where: Splash Bar, New World Saigon Hotel, Le Lai, D1; 10am - 11pm
About: Saigon Soul Pool Parties aim to become the liveliest ongoing event in the city with parties every Saturday. At each event, they will have DJs spinning tunes, a fully operational bar with drinks from VND50,000 as well as local restaurants setting up food stations. The New World spa will be offering outdoor massages, with local artisans selling their creations, giveaways, hotel promotions, swimwear retailers and more. Entry fee is VND100,000 and free for hotel guests.
Contact: For more info, call Dallas Waines at 0122 734 8128 or email dallas.waines@gmail.com
March 13
What: Canvas & Wine: Life Drawing and Painting
Where: VinSpace Art Studio, 6 Le Van Mien, D2; 6:30pm - 9pm
About: Painting from life is a rewarding experience. Start drawing a model for short poses and work towards a long pose to develop your own work, with the help of an instructor. No previous experience in painting or life drawing is needed.
Contact: Visit www.vingallery.com for more info
March 15
What: Australian International School (AIS) Open Day, 9am - 12pm
Where: Thu Thiem Campus, 264 Mai Chi Tho (East-West Highway), D2
About: An opportunity to meet the school’s students and teachers, enjoy a range of educational activities at the school (suitable for adults and children), watch exclusive performances by AIS students and experience an Aussy BBQ.
Contact: For more info, visit: www.aisvietnam.com/openday
March 15-16
What: Ta Lai Trophy - Corporate Challenge
Where: Cat Tien National Park, Dong Nai
About: Open to 33 companies with teams of two runners, the challenge will require running in the jungle, mountain biking, swimming and kayaking. The level is extreme (5-7 hours), therefore only suitable for experienced racers or runners. Participating companies are charged a fee of USD195 while racers are required an entry fee of USD135.
Contact: For registration and further details, visit www.talai-adventure.vn
March 15-16-22-23
What: Lightroom, Photoshop & Photography Workshops
Where: Saigon Hub, 27 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, D1
About: Saigon School of Imaging offers courses in Lightroom (15th & 16th), Photoshop (22nd), and photography (23rd) led by professional photographer Quinn Ryan Mattingly. It promises to help you learn the best way to shoot and edit stunning images. All courses are eight hours in duration (9am – 6pm), with a one-hour lunch break. One-on-one courses are also available.
Contact: For more info, email quinn@quinnmattingly.com or visit www.saigonimaging.com
March 18
What: Apocalaughs Nows!
Where: Cargo Bar, 7 Nguyen Tat Thanh, D4; 8pm
About: A night of stand-up comedy featuring Daniel Kinno from the US and Dave Callan from Australia, with supporting Saigon comedians Steve Jackson and Jeremy Ginsberg. Entrance fee is VND250,000 and gets you a free bottle of Magners cider.
Contact: Visit www.facebook.com/saigoncomedyclub
March 19
What: CBC Networking Night
Where: Sofitel Saigon Plaza, 17 Le Duan, D1; 6pm - 8:30pm
About: Canadian Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam invites you to join them in an evening of drinks and networking. Mix and mingle and share some stories while expanding your network and enjoying some canapés and drink specials. Come out and meet some new contacts from all different types of industry sectors and other business chambers. Free entrance for CanCham members and co-hosting members provided you bring your membership card while non- members are required to pay an entrance fee of VND50,000.
Contact: Email hcmc@canchamvietnam.org or call 3824 3754 for more info
March 20
What: Canvas & Wine: Depicting The Dance
Where: VinSpace Garage, 95 Pasteur, D1; 6:30pm - 9pm
About: Figures in movement are a traditional topic in art and culture. For this session, the model will pose in several movements that will allow you to paint a scene of figures dancing, like the influences of Matisse and Picasso. No previous experience in life drawing or figure is needed.
Contact: Visit www.vingallery.com for more info
March 20-21
What: Mamma Mia!
Where: Australian International School, Thu Thiem Campus, East- West Highway, D2
About: A mother. A daughter. Three possible dads. And a trip down the aisle you’ll never forget! The smash hit musical based on the songs of ABBA, has been reinvented by students of the Australian International School (AIS) and performances will be available over two nights at 6:30pm. Choreographed, staged, propped, directed and performed by the Secondary students of the Australian International School in District 2, the musical is a must-see. Free admission and tickets are available at the AIS Reception.
Contact: For more info, visit www.aisvietnam.com or visit the Reception desk at any of the three campuses for tickets.
March 20-21-22
What: Two by Jim Cartwright
Where: (March 20 & 21) La Habana, 6 Cao Ba Quat, D1; (March 22) McSorley’s Square, 4 Thao Dien, D2; 7:30pm
About: Saigon Players, as part of its 10th season, presents Jim Cartwright’s award-winning tour-de-force play, Two. The play is about a night in a pub owned by a bickering husband and wife. Throughout the play, you will see the pub’s different customers and their quirks and issues as well as the fragile relationship between the landlord and the landlady. The play will take the audience through a rollercoaster ride of human emotions, and promises an engaging, heartwarming night.
Tickets cost VND200,000. Proceeds of the show will go to Operation Smile (www.operationsmile.org.vn) and Friends For Street Children Association (www.ffscvn.org).
Contact: For inquiries and bookings, email saigonplayers@gmail.com
March 21-23
What: Saigon Model United Nations
Where: Saigon Exhibition and Conference Centre, 799 Nguyen Van Linh, D7
About: Hosted by Renaissance International School Saigon, Saigon Model United Nations (MUN) is run internationally in high schools and universities whereby students, who each represent different countries in the United Nations, research and write resolutions to world problems and then go on to debate using parliamentary procedures. This is a training ground for those future diplomats, leaders of NGOs and those who enjoy the cut and thrust of a debate.
Contact: Email ngalth@renaissance.edu.vn or call 090 888 3465 for details
March 21-30
What: One Way or Another: Contemporary Art Exhibition
Where: VinGallery, 95 Pasteur, D1 and 6 Le Van Mien, D2
About: One Way or Another brings together artists from across the world who work within the genre of international art. The exhibition includes artists with roots in Vietnam, France, South Africa, Spain, the US, Australia, Indonesia and the UK. The title of this exhibition suggests that there is not, whatever the country, a formulaic way of making or seeing art. These artists and their work reinvent different kinds of languages and initiate a new set of conversations that highlight the multidimensional ways of conceptualizing and producing art today. The diversity of their work highlights boundless influences, from a wide array of art historical references to popular culture, drawing on both local and international cultures
Contact: Visit www.vingallery.com for more info
March 22
What: Family Fun Day
Where: Saigon Star International School, Thanh My Loi, D2; 11am - 4pm
About: Saigon Star International School will host its 4th Annual Family Fun Day, opening its doors to the whole community and welcoming everyone to join a fun-filled day of activities. There will be bouncy castles by Mr. Bouncy, pony rides by Saigon Pony Club, arts and crafts corner by VinSpace, face painting and lots of games on the school fields. Black Cat will be on hand with a barbecue, Al Fresco’s will be providing pizza and there will treats like ice cream, popcorn and candyfloss throughout the day. Entry is free and transport will be available from select locations in Binh Thanh, An Phu and Phu My Hung.
Contact: Call 3742 7827 for more information
March 26
What: New Trends for Business Intelligence
Where: New World Hotel, 76 Le Lai, D1; 1:30pm - 4:30pm
About: CEO and IT professionals are invited to join TRG at the “New Trends for Business Intelligence” seminar to learn about the new trends of business intelligence and how to turn data to valuable assets for improved performance and best practice in implementing business intelligence.
Contact: Contact Pham Thi Thao Linh at linh.pham@trginternational. com or 3823 6900 for inquiries
March 26
What: AmCham Palooza Party
Where: Renaissance Riverside, 8-15 Ton Duc Thang, D1; 6pm- 8:30pm
About: The monthly Palooza Party organized by American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam is a platform to develop friendships, networking opportunities and information exchange. People from all age groups are welcome to attend. Everyone is advised to wear business casual attire. Admission is free for members and VND100,000 for non-members.
Contact: Email Lily Nguyen at contact@amchamvietnam.com or call 3824 3563
March 29
What: The Laguna Lang Co Triathlon
Where: Laguna Lang Co, Cu Du Village, Loc Vinh Commune, Phu Loc, Thua Thien Hue
About: Featuring a 1.8k swim, 62k bike ride and 12k run, the triathlon will be complemented by a team relay, a duathlon, and a Fun Run.
Contact: To register, contact Go Adventure Asia at www. goadventureasia.com/LLT/lltreg.htm
Now until April 25
What: Art Labor’s Unconditional Belief Exhibition
Where: San Art, 3 Me Linh, Binh Thanh; 10:30am - 6:30pm
About: Unconditional Belief is an exhibition by collective Art Labor (visual artists Truong Cong Tung and Phan Thao Nguyen and curator/ writer Arlette Quynh Anh Tran), who imaginatively explores the concept of ‘belief’ in Vietnam by examining particular site and historical accounts. The exhibition surveys different layers of belief - from human dependence on spiritual power or sacred objects in healing sickness, to the use of education to disseminate religious ideas. Unconditional Belief is not simply an artwork display; it also experiments with the possibility of reading an exhibition as an artistic research book. Entering this book /exhibition, the viewers can walk in, touch, see and read; they will encounter turning points of the artists’ investigations, traces of their references from academic sciences, hints to decode the artworks and even the collective’s plan for future projects.
Contact: For more info, visit www.san-art.org
Now until April 25
What: Daisy, Daisy - Ode of Digits Exhibition
Where: Phuong My Flagship Store, 81 Le Thanh Ton, D1
About: Daisy, Daisy – Ode of Digits is an exhibition that explores the poetry behind the relationship of humans and technology. Using motifs of the science-fiction genre such as metallic materials, the red light of a spaceship control center, precise laser-cut components and 3D drawn figures, Sandrine depicts various persona of her ideal futuristic woman, the one whom both humans and machines fall in love with, like Daisy in the song “Daisy Bell.”
Born in France, Sandrine Llouquet has lived in Vietnam since 2005. She graduated from École Pilote Internationale d’Art et de Recherche – Villa Arson in 1999.
Contact: Email tra@san-art.org for details