Phu Quang, a renowned writer of ballads about Hanoi and composer, will perform live in Ho Chi Minh City Sunday. The show, titled “The Sea, Nostalgia and You,” will see 25 of his most popular songs sung by HCMC-based singers along with Quang’s daughter and son-in-law, the pianist Trinh Huong and violinist Bui Cong. Tuoi Tre spoke to the 62-year-old Hanoi-based musician about his preparations for the show and his feelings about HCMC. - How do you feel about returning to HCMC after seven years? I came to Saigon without friends or relatives. I just wanted to live in another place to forget my sorrows at that time. I had to start everything afresh here. Audiences know my songs through my shows. I have not held shows here for a long time. This show hopes to express my gratitude to audiences who have always supported me. To be honest, HCMC has made my songs popular. I tried hard in Hanoi things did not turn out as I expected. - Nostalgia for Hanoi was the inspiration … [Read more...] about Hanoi balladist to hold show in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho chi minh city
Food service prices shoot up in Ho Chi Minh City
Although food prices have cooled down since the Lunar New Year, many eateries and food services around Ho Chi Minh City have scrambled to increase their prices. Many customers are shocked to see that prices skyrocketed by as much as 60 percent compared to the pre-Tet period. Most eatery and food service owners reasoned that the price increase is due to rising input costs, including cooking gas, employee wages, or rental fees. Such an answer was given to Nguyen Quoc Viet, a resident from Go Vap District, when he complained to an eatery on Hoang Sa Street, which charged him VND50,000 (US$2.5) for a breakfast dish which used to cost only VND30,000. The price hike, which is more than 66 percent, is unacceptable, given the recently decreasing food prices, he said. "It is impossible for a food commodity to have that drastic a price hike," he said, adding he will now only choose to eat at establishments where appropriate prices are listed. The prices at most other food services … [Read more...] about Food service prices shoot up in Ho Chi Minh City
Non La to launch musical shows in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City's newest traditional theatre Non La (Cone Hat) will have its debut show "Ngoc Viet" (Vietnam's Pearls) featuring 13 musical performances next Monday at Lao Dong Cultural House in District 1. Director Huynh Anh Tuan, head of the theatre talked to Sai Gon Tiep Thi Newspaper about the newest entertainment venue that will showcase Vietnam's traditional art for foreign visitors. Non La Theatre, the name sounds both familiar and strange. How did you come up with idea of this theatre? Together with ao dai, non la is a symbol of the Vietnamese culture. I had this idea 6 years ago when I founded the Rong Vang Water Puppet Theatre, but I could not find a suitable venue. The success of Rong Vang has inspired me to establish theatres like Non La to introduce Vietnam's traditional musicals such as hat boi, cheo, nha nhac, cai luong, and ca tru..to international tourists. Fortunately, I have found support from the management board of Lao Dong Cultural House. After months of … [Read more...] about Non La to launch musical shows in Ho Chi Minh City
Tet attractions in Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City is entering the final stretch in its preparations for Tet on February 3. If you are wondering where to go or what to do to partake in the country's biggest festival, here is a list of events and places that will be abuzz come the Lunar New Year. Catch the fireworks displays at seven spots around the city just after midnight on the Eve to welcome the Year of the Cat. High-altitude fireworks will be set off at the Caric Shipbuilding Factory in District 2, administrative center project site in District 7, the vicinity of Nguyen Van Linh Street and Phu My bridge in District 7, Gieng Nuoc crossroads in Hoc Mon District, Tan Tuc resettlement in Binh Chanh District, and the Ben Duoc Memorial Temple in Cu Chi District. The two other displays, at a slightly lower height, will be at the Dam Sen Cultural Park in District 11 and Suoi Tien Amusement Park in District 9. Houses along those streets will also be decorated with colorful lights from January 31 to February 2 when … [Read more...] about Tet attractions in Ho Chi Minh City
European music festival to be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City
The European Music Festival 2011 will be held at the Youth Theater in Hanoi and the Ho Chi Minh City Music Conservatory from November 17 - 28. This was announced by the European Union (EU) delegation in Vietnam and EU member embassies at a press conference yesterday in Hanoi. The festival will feature classical, jazz, pop and world music performances by twenty top musicians from Germany, the Netherlands, France, Wallonia-Brussels (Belgium), the UK and Slovakia. The German world-class "Ma' a lot' Quintet" chamber music ensemble will open the festival with a special performance. Jazz artist Harmen Fraanje (Netherlands), pop singer Milena Minichova (Slovakia) and well known bands such as Swing Quartet (France) and Zun Zun Egui (UK) will also play at the festival. On of the highlights of the festival will be the world music combination of Vietnamese and European music featuring two Vietnamese folk instruments, T'rung and Tam thap luc (a zither with thirty-six strings). The … [Read more...] about European music festival to be held in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City