The world’s largest film network, Future Shorts, will kick off a series of cultural events in Hanoi during the holiday with its screening from 7 – 11 pm on August 31 at the Boombox Lounge at 1 Nguyen Khac Can Street. The event will showcase numerous short films by directors from around the world including Grant Orchard's "A Morning Stroll", Mihai Grecu’s experimental documentary "We'll Become Oil", and Will Madden’s stop-motion animated "Notes on Biology.” Tickets cost VND100,000 (US$5) and include one free drink.

A highlight to mark the national holiday is a concert titled “Dieu Con Mai” (Everlasting Things). At the show to be held at 2pm on September 2 at the Hanoi Opera House, well-known singers including Thanh Lam, Hong Nhung, My Linh, and Trong Tan will join together to perform with the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, led by conductor Le Phi Phi. “Dieu Con Mai” will be broadcast live on VTV1.

Also that day, the HCMC Circus Troupe will perform at Hai Ba Trung District’s Central Circus as part of its tour around northern provinces, which began August 24. In their shows, artists will perform routines that have been included at international circus festivals. Tickets costing from VND120,000 to VND 300,00 are available at the venue.

HCMC Circus Troupe's acrobat artist Thu Hien in a performance.

For fans of fine art, galleries and exhibitions in the capital will be good destinations for their holiday. An exhibition featuring 3D photos and videos depicting Hanoi at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century is taking place at 45 Trang Tien Street. “Hanoi through The Lens of Time” displays around 100 3D works divided into three topics: Hanoi’s ancient streets, Hanoi’s architectural heritage, and Hanoians’ lifestyle. The exhibition will run until September 4.

An indispensable activity for the holiday is a fireworks display. A performance will take place on the night of September 2 in four of Hanoi’s districts, including Hoan Kiem, Tay Ho, Hai Ba Trung and Ha Dong.

For those who like to enjoy an outdoor atmosphere, the Hang Bong night market, which will take place from Friday to Sunday, is probably a good choice. Besides offering many kinds of goods, the market near Sword Lake will also showcase a variety of local street cookings, promising to bring visitors an interesting experience in local cuisine culture.

Meanwhile, Vietnam’s most populous city, Ho Chi Minh City, will also welcome the holiday in its own way.

104 of the best photos chosen from 1,594 entries of the 37th HCMC Art Photograph Festival 2012 will be displayed at the HCMC Photography Association at 122 Suong Nguyet Anh Street starting September 1. The photos depict the country and its people as well as outstanding construction works across the country under the themes of “Freedom” and “New Rural Area.”

French photographer Yan Lerval’s ongoing exhibition featuring 24 photos about Saigon kids is also a nice consideration. Themed "Saigon Kids", the exhibition is in honor of the work of KOTO, a not-for-profit hospitality training organization that is changing the lives of street and disadvantaged youth in Vietnam. Pictures are on sale until September 16 at My Place restaurant, 195 Dien Bien Phu, District 3 and all profits will be donated to KOTO.

Dong Lan, a talented contestant from the current popular reality show “The Voice of Vietnam”, will add more colors to the holiday through her show titled "Je t’aime" at We Lounge on District 3’s Le Quy Don Street on September 1. The performer, who has impressed The Voice’s jury and audiences with her bohemian style and unique voice, will sing original tracks including "Chú Cừu Nhỏ" (Little Sheep), "Sợ Chết" (Scared of Death) and other songs from her upcoming album. Tickets cost VND300,000 and are available at the venue.

Dong Lan at The Voice of Vietnam 's blind audition.

One day later, September’s live show of the Vietnamese Billboard chart “Bai Hat Yeu Thich”(Favorite Songs) will be held at Lan Anh Stage at 291 Cach Mang Thang 8 Street, offering more choices for locals. The show will feature numerous well-known young voices like Uyen Linh, Van Mai Huong, Quuoc Thien, Noo Phuoc Thinh and Dinh Manh Ninh. It will take place at 9pm and be broadcast live on VTV3.

Like Hanoi, HCMC will also have fireworks performances at 9pm on September 2 at the Thu Thiem Tunnel area in District 2 and Dam Sen Park in District 11.

In addition, Dam Sen theme park will offer many programs for its visitors on September 1 and 2, including comedic shows, music performances, and drama plays for children.

Elsewhere, the central coastal province of Binh Thuan is also hosting the International Hot Air Balloon Festival, which is being organized in Vietnam for the first time ever. Besides hot-air balloon performances, the event, themed “Bien Xanh – Cat Trang – Nang Vang” (Blue Sea, White Sand and Yellow Sunlight), will consist of multiple activities including a trade fair, cuisine festival, flower garlands and colored lanterns festival, photo exhibition, kite surfing performances, dragon dances and street music shows.

Moreover, many blockbusters including “Painted Skin 2,” “The Odd Life of Timothy Green,” “Paranormal” and “The Lucky One” are being screened at cinemas across the country and will bring relaxing and joyous moments to movie fans.

Source: tuoitrenews