Everywhere You Go

October 10
What: Canadian Thanksgiving Pot Luck
Where: Body by Jovie (Block B, Riverside Residence, Nguyen Luong Bang Street, D7); 6:30pm; Free if you bring a pot luck dish
About: Although it’s a Canadian themed event, guests are welcome to bring any international dish they like. Prizes will be awarded for best dish. There will be a Zumba kids demonstration and all new attendants will receive a free three-day trial pass for yoga, Pilates, Zumba or TRX Suspension classes.
Contact: RSVP by October 6 to info@bodybyjovie.com

October 10
What: French Pop with Singer Sophie Maurin
Where: IDECAF (28 Le Thanh Ton, D1); 8pm; VND160,000
About: Sophie Maurin is a classically educated singer/songwriter who has taken her country by storm with her lyrics and the sweetness of her voice. Her first album, Sophie Maurin, revealed a talent that could be inherited from Scott Joplin on the piano, the Beatles at Abbey Road or the Double Six in front of a blank page: lots of freedom, lots of rigor and lots of invention.
Contact: Call 3823 9968 for more details

October 10
What: Second Annual AusCham Scramble
Where: Vietnam Golf and Country Club (Long Thanh My, D9)
About: Entry fee of VND2.6 million (members), and VND2.9 million (non-members), gives players: Green (4 Ball Scramble format) and caddy fees; AusCham Scramble shirt and hat; breakfast, lunch and dinner, drinks; buses to and from the golf course; and prizes including a chance to win a Harley-Davidson. Proceeds from the day will be donated to charity.
Contact: Email office@auschamvn.org or call 3832 9912 for more details

October 10 - 12
What: Oktoberfest
Where: Deutsches Eck/German Corner (A001-003 Nguyen Van Linh, Hung Vuong 1, Phu My Hung, D7); 4pm to late
About: To celebrate Oktoberfest, the world’s largest beer festival held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, German Corner is holding a three-day event showcasing German culture. Traditional Bavarian fun is supplied by a BBQ with pork knuckles, sausages, pretzels and more. And don’t forget to wash it all down with a choice of 20 German beers – all served by a “real” German waitress. And to keep the fun going, there will be a lucky draw, a beer drinking contest, arm wrestling challenge and plenty more.
Contact: Call 5410 6695 or email nhahanggocduc@gmail.com for more details

October 11
What: Art Market
Where: The Cube Bar (31B Ly Tu Trong, D1); 10am - 4pm
About: Vendors will sell handmade arts and crafts, paintings, drawings and limited edition prints. Photographers are welcome to showcase their works as well. This is a great opportunity for art lovers to come and grab original designs.
Contact: Visit www.vingallery.com for more details

October 14
What: Art Babble – Not Everyone is an Artist
Where: The Snap Café (32 Tran Ngoc Dien, D2); 7pm
About: As part of a more inclusive approach to culture and art in Asia, VinGallery has started a program where guest speakers from the art community will talk about art and photography. The program opens with Bridget March and her summer in Sapa, the life and culture of ethnic minorities and changing young lives - which will be available as an illustrated book in 2015. Future talks are scheduled for November 5, 25 and December 9. Sessions last 40 minutes, with networking at the bar afterwards.
Contact: Visit www.vingallery.com for more details

October 15 & 16
What: The Mist
Where: Saigon Opera House (7 Cong Truong Lam Son, D1)
About: Performed by Arabesque, The Mist is a new theatrical show that depicts Vietnamese farming life through contemporary dance, live music, colorful lighting effects and audience interaction. The Mist tells the story of farmers in a village going about their everyday routine in the early morning mist, such as tending rice paddies, husking rice and preparing for the early morning market. These activities and emotions are expressed through symbolic dance movements combined with the use of traditional working clothes and authentic rural props, so as to deliver a typical Vietnamese countryside experience. The live music is improvised against the backdrop of the dancers. The Mist is choreographed by the directors from Lang Toi and A O Show.
Contact: For tickets email reservation@themist.com.vn or call 094 933 6133

October 18
What: Charity Bike Ride for Ho Tram Water Safety
Where: Two Starts: Cat Lai (6am, 140km) or Long Thanh (7am, 80km). Finish at Ho Tram Community Pool
About: Third annual bike ride from HCMC to Ho Tram to raise money and awareness of water safety in Vietnam. Ho Tram Water Safety is a consortium of people and organizations concerned by the high incidence of children drowning in Vietnam and committed to improving the level of water safety in the Ho Tram region. Register at The Bike Shop in District 2, entry fee of VND1.6 million includes BBQ, beers, bike shirt and return bus transport.
Contact: Visit Facebook: Ho Tram Water Safety for more details

October 20 - November 29
What: The Landmark Health Club Annual Squash Tournament
Where: The Landmark Health Club (15th & 16th Floors, 5B Ton Duc Thang, D1)
About: Competitors from men, women, beginner, intermediate and advanced levels are welcome to compete in the Annual Squash Tournament. Registration fee for non-members is VND500,000 and includes all tournament matches. Registration starts from October 1 -15. Matches begin October 20 and the finals tournament on November 29 (prizes will be awarded on this day). The Landmark Health Club features a fully-equipped gym, yoga studio, rooftop swimming pool, saunas, and the only squash court in central Saigon.
Contact: For more info, call Viet at 3822 2098 ext. 176/090 380 4057 or email hc@thelandmarkvietnam.com

October 21 - 24
What: Ta Lai Longhouse Children Camp
Where: Cat Tien National Park
About: Send your children on a jungle adventure at the Ta Lai Longhouse. This month’s camp has a special program incorporating the iPad. Through guided instruction using various apps on the iPad, each workshop teaches a practical skill to give kids a greater understanding of the great outdoors and the world around us. VND6 million per child includes all expenses.
Contact: Visit www.talai-adventure.vn for more details

October 24
What: Anchorsong (Case Study, Thoughts Recordings - Tokyo) & Kay Suzuki
Where: The Observatory (corner of Le Lai & Ton That Tung, D1); 10pm; VND100,000
About: Since moving to London in 2004, Kay has been heavily involved in its diverse club scenes and has a debut on the BBC’s award-winning party/label CO-OP in 2007. While releasing remixes, re-edits and original production on several labels in Europe, the US and Japan, he also launched his own label Round in Motion in 2010, and subsequently his first album, Consciousness. The first single Music, which featured West African traditional musicians, has become a cult hit in South Africa’s deep house scene.
Contact: Visit www.theobservatory-hcmc.com for more details

October 24 & 25
What: Balade en France
Where: Hotel Equatorial (242 Tran Binh Trong, D5); 6pm – 11pm; Adult tickets are VND150,000 in advance, VND300,000 at the door; Children (6-14), VND120,000; free under 6
About: Around 1,800 people are expected to attend this two-night event. Visitors can buy an entrance ticket granting access to the event, including entertainment and games. Coupons sold for VND20,000 each can be exchanged for food or beverages. Balade en France is the annual rendezvous for Francophiles who want to discover and learn more about French cuisine and wine.
Contact: Email catherine.tran@diplomatie.gouv.fr for more details

October 25
What: Thristian Richards
Where: The Observatory (corner of Le Lai & Ton That Tung, D1); 10pm; VND100,000
About: One of the original architects of the Boiler Room, which has grown to become a globally respected and popular underground music show, Thristian has built a reputation as a passionate and exciting DJ, demonstrating a natural talent as a music selector. As the Lead Programmer/A&R for Boiler Room, he’s responsible for the dynamic and eclectic line-ups that have become synonymous with Boiler Room sessions from London to Los Angeles and Berlin to Cape Town. Supporting act will be DJ Hibiya Line and Nic Ford.
Contact: Visit www.theobservatory-hcmc.com for more details

October 25
What: Arts for Mobility Presents Vietnam’s Young Virtuosos 2014
Where: Saigon Opera House; VND500,000/adult; 6pm refreshment and art auction, 7:30pm – 10pm concert
About: Arts for Mobility, in conjunction with Saigon Chamber Music, will showcase musical talents from young virtuosos. Compositions by Bach, Mozart, Schumann and others will be performed with a charity auction during intermission.
Contact: Visit www.artsformobility.com for more details

Until October 30
What: Autumn Galleria
Where: San Art (3 Me Linh, Binh Thanh); Tuesday – Saturday (10:30am - 6:30pm)
About: Here autumn takes shape by means of drawing, painting and photography. Visit the fictional school from Thao Nguyen’s paintings, meet a family in their TV time framed inside Phan Quang’s photograph, contemplate in front of Nguyen Thai Tuan’s gate, see nature through Le Phi Long’s eyes and come back to a hidden reality of death with Nguyen Van Du. Last but not least, take a peek at Bich Phuong’s painting the way her subject looks at you.
Contact: Visit www.san-art.org for more details

October 31 & November 1
What: Saigon Players’ Rocky Horror Halloween Madness
Where: McSorley’s Square (4 Thao Dien, D2); Film starts at 7:30pm
About: This is the annual screening (with shadow actors) of one of the most famous cult movies of all time - The Rocky Horror Picture Show! Come dressed in your fishnets or stilettos or as your favorite character in the movie. They will provide props for the audience participation sections. Proceeds go to Operation Smile Vietnam and Viet Hearts.
Contact: Email saigonplayers@gmail.com for more details

November 1
What: Saigon Melbourne Cup
Where: Reverie Hotel in Times Square, 11am – 4pm; USD150 a ticket
About: Hosted by AusCham, the event is a local celebration of the annual Australian horse race event, the Melbourne Cup, held on the first Tuesday of November and dating back to 1861. The Saigon Melbourne Cup will have special horse races where people can purchase horses with cash to win prizes from sponsors. The cash will be donated directly to charity. In keeping with tradition of the Melbourne Cup’s Fashions on the Field, there will be Fashions on the ‘Gon which will be divided into two categories: The Pro Show (10 Vietnamese models dressed in ao dai will wear striking hats designed by Kan Kanemura exclusively for the Saigon Melbourne Cup) and The People’s Performance. Guests can register in advance for some expert tips on the catwalk provided by Soul Music Academy.
Contact: Email events@auschamvn.org for more details