Fill up your calendar with these exciting events
September 6
What: Vietnam Swans AFL Asia Match & ‘Ladies Day’
Where: RMIT Sports Grounds, D7
About: In conjunction with the Saigon Colts & Saigon Lady Gaels, the Vietnam Swans will be holding an open day, which will see them host AFL Asia powerhouse the Philippine Eagles. The day will consist of three games and will be open for all players, new and old to join. Non-players: join in the festivities with bar and catering facilities available. To help promote the day a special Ladies Tent will offer free foot massages, mani/pedicures, wine and finger food.
Contact: For further info, contact Josh Lee at nationalpres@vietnamswans.com
September 11
What: AusCham Real Estate Symposium
Where: Intercontinental Asiana Saigon (corner of Le Duan & Hai Ba Trung, D1); 8am registration, 8:30am start
About:A symposium that will look 20 years back and two years forward in Vietnam’s real estate industry. Government representatives and experts will share knowledge, experiences and insights on how to discover new opportunities. For members/co- hosts tickets are VND1,900,000; non-member VND2,300,000.
Contact: Email Phuong at events1@auschamvn.org
September 13
What: Oskar Offermann
Where: The Observatory (corner of Le Lai & Ton That Tung, D1); 10pm; VND100,000 entry fee
About: As a well-known figure of the legendary Berliner’s club Berghain/Panorama Bar, Oskar is the owner of two Berlin-based record labels: White Records and Rimini Records. His DJ sets bring the audience through a deep journey in house and techno. Supporting act will be DJ Hibiya Line.
Contact: Visit www.theobservatory-hcmc.com for details
September 15 - October 11
What: Nevertheless, solo exhibition by Tom Smith
Where: VinSpace Art Studio (6 Le Van Mien, D2)
About: Nevertheless exhibition will showcase projects Tom Smith has been working on in recent years. Work such as the Absurdist Fringe series, a collection of quirky ink and watercolor illustrations. Codfish is a series of mixed media pieces which uses oils, enamel paints, solvent transfer and stencils and references absurdist imagery strongly influenced by Sean Landers, Philip Guston and Paul McCarthy. The Visitors, which began several years ago, sees three new pieces in this exhibition. This series uses bland settings and random figures, where the viewer can speculate on the reasoning and allegory behind the imagery.
Contact: Visit www.vin-space.com for details
September 18 - October 31
What: Jamie Maxtone-Graham Solo Exhibition: That Little Distance
Where: Galerie Quynh (Level 2, 151/3 Dong Khoi, D1)
About: Dark, dreamy and fragile, Jamie’s photographs conjure up an elusive world of nostalgia and longing, where people and objects of everyday life find themselves in a whirl of interconnection between the past and present. Playing upon ideas of colonial carte-postales and representation of lives in Vietnam, the works invite viewers to reflect on the meaning of human relationships, of history and of life itself.
Contact: Visit www.galeriequynh.com for details
September 19
What: Friendly Neighborhood Bike Ride
Where: Starts at The Bike Shop (250 Nguyen Van Huong, D2); 7pm
About: To celebrate the joy of cycling. It is a fun 15km ride suitable for riders of all levels. As this is an evening ride and cyclists will be sharing the road with other vehicles, for safety reasons it is strongly recommended that kids under the age of 12 do not participate. This is a self-organized ride and everyone is responsible for their own safety and well-being. Bike rentals are available for the ride.
Contact: Email thebikeshopvn@gmail.com for details
September 21
What: Largest Sailing Event in the World: Vietnam’s Contribution
Where: Song Hien-Jibes, Suoi Nuoc, Near Muine, Binh Thuan; 9am- 5pm; VND100,000 for kids, VND500,000 for adults
About: The event is in memory of Andrew (Bart) Simpson, UK Olympic gold medalist who died while training for the America’s Cup in San Francisco last year. His friends wanted to arrange an event in memory of him, expecting about 20 clubs to register but instead over 600 clubs have signed up, across more than 40 countries, including Vietnam (www.bartsbash.co.uk). Anyone who joins the event has a chance to become a Guinness Book of Records holder. Sailors and non-sailors are welcomed; non-sailors will sail with experienced ones.
Contact: Email juliashaw2@gmail.com with dinghy/windsurf ability or experience, and equipment preference. Registration deadline is September 12
September 22 - October 17
What: 200 Hour Worldwide Yoga Alliance Teacher Training/4 Week Hatha Yoga and Wellness Certification Course
Where: An Phu, D2
About: Become an internationally recognized, certified yoga instructor with Suzanne Vian, an E-RYT, RCYT, yoga teacher trainer from California. Suzanne has more than 20 years of experience in the yoga & wellness industry.
Contact: Email Suzanne at info@lifebright.org or call 090 835 2265 for details
September 25
What: Canvas & Wine: Joan Miro
Where: VinSpace Garage (95 Pasteur, D1); 6:30pm-9pm
About: Joan Miro was a Spanish painter who lived in the 20th century. His styles were of broad range and original, including Fauvism, realism and surrealism. Learn to paint like him.
Contact: Visit www.vin-space.com for details
September 26
What: Culoe De Song
Where: The Observatory (corner of Le Lai & Ton That Tung, D1); 10pm; VND100,000 entry fee
About: Culoe De Song is a respected name in South Africa’s dynamic deep house music scene. His talents gained him the recognition of Johannesburg-based superstar Black Coffee early in his career with the track 100 Zulu Warriors. Culoe has also been recognized by the Red Bull Music Academy, which selected him to participate in Barcelona in 2008. Under German label Innervisions, Culoe has released various tracks including The Bright Forest and has performed at the 2013 Innervisions party at Amsterdam Dance Event along with Dixon and Ame. Supporting act will be DJ Hibiya Line.
Contact: Visit www.theobservatory-hcmc.com for details
September 27
What: Vietnam Swans AFL Grand Final Party
Where: Game On Sports Bar (115 Ho Tung Mau, D1); Doors open at 9am
About: The AFL Grand Final always proves to be a massive event with free flow drinks and an all day buffet, plus kids’ entertainment, prizes and games.
Contact: VND1 million for tickets, available at the venue or online at www.vietnamswans.com/online-shop
September 27
What: Sound Adventures Presents Frank Gossner
Where: The Observatory (corner of Le Lai & Ton That Tung, D1); 10pm; VND100,000 entry fee
About: Frank Gossner’s career as a DJ began 1994 in Berlin. In 1996 Frank moved to NYC and his weekly Vampyros Lesbos Party soon turned into a NYC nightlife classic. In 2000, Frank moved back to Berlin where he founded the Soul Explosion which soon became Europe’s biggest Deep Funk event. In 2005, Frank took a plane to West Africa where he extensively traveled countries like Guinea, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Benin and Nigeria to build a unique collection of rare African Funk records. Frank’s African digging adventures are chronicled on his critically acclaimed blog www.voodoofunk.com. Frank’s DJ sets burst with exclusive tracks and with over 15 years of experience in working dance floors across the globe, he knows how to put the power of an infectious groove on.
Contact: Visit www.theobservatory-hcmc.com for details
October 4
What: Sống Dance Show
Where: Hoa Binh Theater (3 Thang 2, D10); 8pm
About: A dance show by John Huy Tran and Urban Dance Group (UDG). Performed by young Vietnamese talent, Sống will bring to the stage a dynamic urban scene with hip-hop dancers, circus performers, beat-boxers, graffiti artists and more. Sống supports youth culture development in Vietnam.
Contact: Visit facebook.com/songdanceshow for details
October 10, 12 & 13
What: Waiting for Godot
Where: Cargo Bar (7 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Q4); 7:30pm, 2:30pm Saturday matinee
About: Dragonfly Theatre presents Waiting For Godot by Samuel Beckett. Generally considered to be one of the finest plays of the 20th century, this black comedy takes a lighthearted and irreverent look at the biggest questions in life: Who are we? Why are we here? What are we waiting for? The play follows two men as they wait for the seemingly never present Godot. At times striking and thought- provoking, at others downright silly, this is a play for all.
Contact: Tickets will be available for an advanced discount for VND300,00 at ticketbox.vn, or VND350,000 at the door.