Saigon's New Year charms this weekend: art, cabaret, and culinary experiences

 Saigon's New Year weekend offers an array of events, from art exhibitions and cabaret shows to local artisan fairs and piano recitals, ensuring a fun start to 2024.

Exhibition "Mystical Topography"

The exhibition "Mystical Topography" features the works of Le Ba Dang, a renowned Vietnamese artist recognized in Europe during the latter half of the 20th century. Dang's visual language system challenges traditional artistic perspectives, through various artistic methods to create his distinctive style.

An artwork on display at the "Mystical Topography" exhibition. Photo courtesy of Annam Gallery

The artworks resemble topographical maps, depicting landscapes like paddy fields, mountains, and seas. A series on this event titled "Nature Prays Without Words", created in the late 1960s, drawing inspiration from Daoist philosophy. In these artworks, Dang uses subdued colors and a luminous void to convey abstraction.

The exhibition is scheduled from Dec. 16 to Jan. 28 at Annam Gallery, 371/4 Hai Ba Trung Street, Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3. Operating hours are from Monday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with an entrance fee of VND70,000 ($2.90) per person.

New Year celebration

Hôtel des Arts Saigon - MGallery invites guests to celebrate the New Year with a variety of events. The Social Club Rooftop Countdown Party takes place on Dec. 31, starting at 7 p.m. until late, at the Social Club Rooftop Bar on the 24th floor. Admission to the party is VND1,500,000 ($60), including one drink.

Diners can enjoy a variety of fresh seafood from the New Year menus. Photo courtesy of Hôtel des Arts Saigon - MGallery

Additionally, the Saigon Kitchen Restaurant offers a New Year lunch buffet on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on the 2nd floor. The buffet is priced at VND850,000 ($35).

For those seeking an evening celebration, the Saigon Kitchen Restaurant hosts a New Year's Eve seafood buffet dinner on Dec. 31 from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. The dinner is priced at VND2,380,000 ($97), including a free flow of red, white, sparkling wine, beer, soft drinks, and juices.

The New Year's Day seafood buffet dinner on Jan. 1, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., is priced at VND1,790,000 ($73)

Hôtel des Arts Saigon - MGallery is located at 76 - 78 Nguyen Thi MinhKhai Street, District 3.

Local artisanal fair

The "Local artisanal fair" provides a platform for local businesses to showcase and sell products made from indigenous resources, emphasizing green, clean, and safe technology. It features high-quality Vietnamese goods meeting established standards.

Visitors can gain hands-on experience in programs, including crafting household items from loofah at a local artisan fair. PhotThe event offers regional culinary performances and hands-on experiences with traditional crafts such as Thai ethnic brocade weaving, beeswax painting, brocade weaving, and silk weaving by the Thai and Hmong ethnic groups. Workshops will guide attendees in making handmade products.

The fair runs from Dec. 29 to 31, operating daily from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Workshops and hands-on experience areas, guided by artisans, are open daily from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. The venue is the Reunification Palace at 135 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street, District 1.

Piano recital "Elysium"

The "Elysium" piano recital seeks to offer a musical experience marked by casual and peaceful tones. The event includes piano performances featuring compositions by various artists, including Paul de Senneville & Oliver Toussaint, Beethoven, Badelt/Radnich, Chopin, Schuman, Tchaikovsky, and Czerny.

The ticket price for the recital is VND200,000 ($8), covering a tea break. Attendees are expected to dress politely, and the event is not suitable for children under 8 years old.

The performance is scheduled for Dec. 30, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Steinway & Sons Exclusive Gallery in Crescent Mall, 101 Ton Dat Tien Street, District 7.

New Year’s Eve cabaret - Midnight Follies

The "Midnight Follies" is a New Year's Eve event at Clay Saigon, a Mediterranean restaurant, transformed into a Cabaret. The event features a curated menu with a five-course dinner, including cocktails, wines, and champagnes.

The night starts with a DJ Set at 7 p.m., followed by the Cabaret Show at 8:30 p.m., and concludes with another DJ Set until 2 a.m. Early arrival is recommended for a complete experience.

Canadian lobster kelp confit, accompanied by an array of vibrant sauces. Photo courtesy of CLAY Saigon

The menu offers a five-course dinner with a welcome drink at VND2,480,000 ($100), featuring dishes like Hokkaido scallop and caviaroscietra, Japanese red tunaotoro and foie gras, Canadian lobster kelp confit, andbafun sea urchin.

There's also a vegan menu at VND1,480,000 ($60). Bottle packages range from VND4,200,000 to VND13,500,000 ($170 to $550).

Booking in advance through the restaurant's Facebook page is suggested, and free entrance is available after midnight. The event is scheduled for Dec. 31, at Clay - Cocktails & Cuisine, at 18 Number 6 Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2.o courtesy of Phien Cho Xanh - Tu Te

Exploring the enchanting stone park

A picturesque corner of the stone park within Nui Chua National Park in Phan Rang – Thap Cham City, Ninh Thuan Province - PHOTO: NHAN TAM

Situated approximately 30 kilometers northeast of downtown Phan Rang – Thap Cham City, the stone park belongs to the Nui Chua National Park, recognized as a world biosphere reserve in the scenic south-central province of Ninh Thuan. This unique park is a haven for nature enthusiasts, boasting an array of captivating stone formations and distinctive trees.

The park’s authorities say that the granite blocks found here were shaped nearly 100 million years ago. Over time, extensive weathering has sculpted these granite terrains into a breathtaking assortment of forms. Depending on the imagination of each visitor, the stones may take on the appearances of elephants, fish, human statues, chairs, and more.

A visit to the stone park offers the chance to marvel at the sea’s beauty from elevated vantage points, inhale the crisp, invigorating air, and bask in the sheer grandeur of Mother Nature—a truly wondrous experience.

 

Elevate Your Festive Escape: Unveiling Tranquility with Exclusive Holiday Retreats

 

Disconnecting from the hustle and bustle of ordinary life, many seek refuge in the lush and tranquil spaces offered by An Lâm Retreats. Here, verdant expanses and serene surroundings conspire to embark guests on a one-of-a-kind journey

n the serene enclave of An Lâm Retreats, the grandest symphony is the melodic serenade of birds harmoniously echoing amidst the swaying foliage or the rhythmic cadence of the gentle waves. This idyllic haven transforms into an impeccable sanctuary for those seeking refuge in the embrace of nature, providing a respite from the bustling urbanity of the festive season.

In the year’s final month, December unfailingly brings a rush of hurried sensations, laden with the urgency to conclude something significant before the onset of the new year. This inadvertently propels us into the whirlwind of stress, often overlooking the deserving respite and rejuvenation one rightfully merits after a year of dedicated endeavours.

This holiday season, choose An Lâm Retreats Saigon River for a refined staycation near Ho Chi Minh City or unwind at An Lâm Retreats Ninh Vân Bay, set against the pristine Ninh Van Bay. The picturesque natural landscapes of each resort, coupled with the unparalleled attentiveness of the An Lam Team, present compelling reasons to transcend indecision.

Health is the premier gateway leading us towards a state of equilibrium

Health is the root of all happiness. This simple philosophy is the guiding thread that weaves a better life from the inside out. As such, two Retreats under An Lâm Retreats continuously elevate and rejuvenate health and wellness experiences – from gentle spa treatments to profound practices such as meditation, yoga and trekking – offering you the opportunity to refine your ability to absorb energy from nature and awaken the fresh wellspring of vitality, ensuring you step into the new year with joy and fulfilment.

Relaxing the body and mind in the embrace of nature offers a pathway to rejuvenate a positive and dynamic energy flow

Especially at An Lâm Retreats Ninh Vân Bay on Hon Heo Peninsula, Khanh Hoa Province, meditation activities are thoughtfully varied, leveraging the secluded space and tranquil nature to amplify their effects. Choose from Mindfulness Meditation, Christmas Bell Meditation, or Sunrise Meditation based on your preferences. Additionally, the Retreat introduces trending wellness activities such as aerial yoga, Bosu ball workouts, and numerous stretching classes, including simple acupuncture, for guests to continue practising after their vacation. For those seeking mental rejuvenation, indulging in a cocktail under the starry sky or visiting the garden to learn the art of crafting nutritious beverages is a perfect addition to the experience.

An Lâm Retreats Ninh Vân Bay embraces a serene and romantically infused natural landscape, featuring tranquil natural streams and an expansive stretch of beach. This idyllic setting is tailored for those seeking privacy and seclusion, providing an exclusive retreat for discerning individuals

“The Joy of Family: A Complimentary Path to Restoration”

The alignment of year-end celebrations globally with the essence of “reunion” is not fortuitous; instead, it’s a recognition that joy amplifies in the company of cherished ones during these occasions of merriment and travel. Elegantly, weariness and tension gracefully recede, making way for warm embraces, shared sentiments, and the profound connections of familial ties throughout this distinguished festive season.

To create a delightful surprise this festive season, guests can explore a unique duo of menus exclusively crafted for Christmas and New Year’s Eve or join a buffet celebration by the Saigon River and Ninh Van Bay. Indulge in vibrant evening music performances, exciting activities for children, and a unique countdown experience to welcome the new year in style with loved ones. 

An Lâm Retreats also emphasizes various activities for children, notably the Christmas cookie-making class that delights the young guests

In fostering familial bonds, both Retreats introduce an elevated array of holiday engagements, encompassing exclusive Christmas cookie crafting classes and an upscale trek to the stream in the company of Santa Claus. These bespoke activities seamlessly complement the Retreat’s routine offerings, ranging from cinematic experiences to tranquil sunset viewings. Deliberately curated for discerning travellers, these experiences epitomize the seamless fusion of luxury and tradition, making the juncture between the departing and incoming years an indelibly sophisticated affair.

Giving to Receive: A Paradigm of Regenerating Joy

A distinctive shift from previous years is underway in the festive season at An Lâm Retreats Saigon River this year. For the first time, the Retreat will have a corner dedicated to showcasing and retailing handcrafted products from the “Tu Tam” orphanage. This charitable initiative, seamlessly integrated with the Retreat’s exclusive offerings, heralds a new era of compassion and communal spirit, epitomizing a holiday celebration marked by opulence and altruism.

Beyond mere financial aid, our little guests will have an exceptional performance on the afternoon of December 25 in the serene greenery of An Lâm Retreats Saigon River. This philanthropic initiative, seamlessly blending with the resort’s lush environment, adds a touch of meaningful festivity to the holiday spirit.

Embark on a journey to An Lâm Retreats during Christmas 2023 and New Year 2024, believing that your feet and heart will wander together in a truly special and unforgettable way.

Please contact for more information:

(+84) 028 7309 7686 | anlam.com

RELAXATION BETWEEN LAGOON AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA

 

Out on a long spit of land graced with a sandy strand forming the barrier behind which lies South East Asia’s largest lagoon you will find one of Vietnam’s best beach resort hotels. The Ana Mandara is located fifteen kilometres east of the ancient capital of Hue and much of its architecture and interior room design is inspired by the opulence of Imperial’s City’s monuments.
There can be no other city of a quarter of a million souls outside of Vietnam that possesses no bus system other than Hue. It seems the poorer a place the fewer buses it has. This extends to a lack of public transport to outlying villages. I did see one or two bus stop posts but these appeared more for the purposes of leaning against whilst you watch the girls go by. The Ana Mandara thus can be difficult to reach. You could do as the locals do and go by motorbike. I regard this as unsafe and undignified. I refuse to risk life and limb of myself and family. It comes as a relief to know that the resort does operate a shuttle bus but it seems to run on demand and they were not coming in town just to pick up one family. Four wheels good, two wheels bad as the saying goes. There was no alternative but to hire a taxi for the equivalent of $10. When you consider you can go the 160 kilometres from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne in a just as comfortable air conditioned coach for half this price a tourist might consider saving the beach part of his holiday for there.
Aside from the minor detail of access once you arrive at Ana Mandara you will certainly not be disappointed. First appearances count for a lot and the lobby is truly magnificent. You will feel grander than entering the Hue citadel. Upon mounting a stone staircase from the top of which water bursts forward in fountains of urns you enter a wide open hall fit for an emperor. Ahead of you is a long ornamental infinity pool and beyond that the boundless ocean. What an entree! Extra kudos are in order as they have thought of the disabled by incorporating a ramp system.
A member of staff with good English, Mr Quan, took our bags and led us to our Beach Front Villa. Fresh fruit and tea making facilities were complimentary and soon we were partaking of these on the ample verandah. A daisy lawn with a path leading to the well-manicured beach was in front of us. The room itself was sumptuous with a four poster bed, black hardwood furniture and cushions and sofa in royal Hue purple. A cabinet held ceramic jars that looked as if they had been salvaged from a centuries’ old wreck. The bathroom redolent of lemon grass had all manner of toileteries and both an indoor shower and another in a small garden with high bamboo walls.
A big plaudit to Ana Mandara – they did not decide to build this resort in an isolated place in order to gain a captive market. It is right alongside the fishing township of Thuan An. The advantages of this are manifold. Not only does it ensure that the fish and seafood on the tables of its two restaurants (One of which specialises in Hue dishes) are super fresh but it also contributes to the local economy with employment. A waitress at breakfast estimated that seventy five per cent of staff were local. Especially as bicycles are available for free, another advantage for the guest is that one can experience at ease the life of a Vietnamese fishing community.
For the first night we decided to dine out in the village and enjoy a stroll among the friendly local folk. After walking just eight minutes we found a supermarket with a Vietnamese fast food outlet. My wife and daughter who had been feasting on ‘bánh bột lọc’ (manioc dumplings stuffed with prawn) were not hungry. They just enjoyed the Walls ice cream. I had a seafood rice platter for a mere VND15,000.
There is plenty to do at the Ana Mandara. Apart from the beach there is a large pear-shaped swimming pool and a games room. Cookery classes can be arranged. A large number of excursions can be made through the tour desk. If you are feeling more adventurous you could use bikes to explore the paddies, the shrimp and aquaculture farms and maybe hunt for crabs in among the remaining mangrove patches.
The thought occurred to me that being exposed to the ocean might be dangerous in the typhoon season. My wife, who is a Hue person, remembers a terrible storm some thirty years ago that caused severe damage and loss of life. I raised this concern with management who assured me that an evacuation plan is in place and that all staff are fully trained in the procedures.
To conclude, the Ana Mandara Beach Resort gives you a first class Vietnamese beach experience in opulent surroundings. If you are heading for historical Hue you can now be not only be a ‘culture vulture’ but also a beach basker and a lagoon lingerer.
Deluxe Room VND2,058,000++
Duplex Suite VND2,730,000++
Beach Villa VND4,788,000++
Pool Villa VND8,190,000++

­Ana Mandara Hue
Thuan An Town, Hue,
Tel: (054) 3983-333
sales@anamandarahue-resort.com
www.epikurean.ws

AN ARTFUL STONEMASON

 — Being a stonemason living in a village specialising in stone products, Mr Do Khac Duc, of Ninh Van village, Ninh Binh Province, 90 km south of Hanoi, decided to build a beautiful stone house for himself. But he was afraid his wife would not agree, as they were so poor they did not have enough rice to eat. So he told his wife that he had received an order to build a stone house, and brought stones home for his wife and children to work.

The capital of a square pillar

Mr Do Khac Hoang, 60, the eldest child of Mr Duc, remembers the days he shaped stones with his mother to make pillars. He said: ‘I was eight at that time. My father used to give me money for cakes, so I would have to work with my mother. A big stone would be placed on sand, and we used smaller ones and water to rub it into shape, either round or square.’

The wife often asked the husband: ‘Why don’t you ask for some payment for this house?’ He would answer that the customer would pay after the house was built. After four years of work – from 1954 – the stone was ready. The wife was surprised when she saw her husband calling their relatives to help erect the house on the plot their ancestors had given them.
Mr Hoang said, ‘The pillars were very heavy, so a lot of relatives and also neighbours came to give us a hand. There was no cement at that moment, so our dad had to use cooked sugar cane juice mixed with lime to make a glue that could stick stones together.
‘I can still remember that though our stone house was just a 40-square-metre house with three compartments [in the countryside houses are usually much bigger], it was a uniquely beautiful house that no one had ever had. It was not only our village people who were amazed. People from the province or other places also come to our house for a chance of viewing it.’
The amount of stone used to ran to tens of cubic metres. Stone was plentiful on mountains near the village, but to get it out was a huge effort, as there were no machines. Holes had to be made in mother rock and wedges and hammers used to break pieces away. It took a mason a morning to make just one hole.
Dun mountain (Núi ??n) is where Mr Duc used to get stones. After months of wedging stone away, he had to wait until the level of water in a waterway rose and used banana trees to make rafts to carry it to the village. He also used wooden rollers.
Smoothing a parallelepiped pillar took a month; a cylindrical pillar took almost two months, then more months to carve and engrave.
In 1962, a storm destroyed almost all the houses in the village, but the stone house stood firm. In 1985, Mr Do Khac Duc was officially recognized, by the Government, as an ‘artist’.

PERSONALITY IN THE TIME OF WOODEN SHOES

 From a photograph of a reading lesson in the open air conducted by the Congregation of sisters of Saint Paul in Hanoi in the days of flat wooden shoes (original photograph from the collection of Philippe Chaplain), and a wooden shoe with a high heel being made today (photo: Nguyen Thanh Hai)

In this era of global footwear brands, I had almost forgotten the wooden shoe, those who wore them and the sound of them resounding in late, serene nights in the countryside. The topic opened a door that had been shut for a long time. Loved ones came back, alive, my grandparents, parents, aunts and many others, who all wore wood shoes. When it came to fashion, peasantry did not have a choice. For years, many of us did not buy clothes. I remember my father’s pants, full of holes and patches, patches that would become heavy when wet. Until the 1970s and 1980s, to us northern youth, including townsfolk, plastic shoes were only a dream. Wooden ones were everyone’s footwear.  My grandfather, a carpenter, made my grandmother a pair of shoes from chinaberry wood. She wore them only on the most important occasions; most of the time she was barefoot. Unlike her mother-in-law, my mother wore shoes all the time. As a teacher she could not go to class without shoes. When she was coming home late, we waited for her at our grandparents’, next-door. Her shoes thumped in the gateway.
We could differentiate the sounds of different shoes-wearers. There were slow rhythms, fast beats, light resonances and heavy tones, the sound of someone angry and of someone drunk and of old people, and young women on their way home from a meeting of a collective; I visualize an oil lamp flickering in a hand. In my mother’s stories, my grandfather used to lie on the porch, getting fresh air, with a pair of shoes for a pillow. At that time, unlike women, country men did not use kapok or cornsilk pillows but a chunk of bamboo. When it rained, the village lanes became slippery. The folk took off their shoes and carried them under their arms. They stopped at a pond to wash their feet and put the shoes back on.
My aunt died before I was born. One afternoon, when she was 16, she went to catch clams in a river. In those days of famine, the river was our source of food. We caught clams to make gruel. There was so little rice in the dish that we could count the grains. We ate mostly vegetables. My aunt caught pneumonia that rainy, winter afternoon and died, a few months before her wedding day. My grandmother often dreamt of her standing at the doorway asking her mother to sell a basket of rice and buy her a shirt and shoes. On my aunt’s death anniversary my grandmother burnt paper clothing and paper shoes. When my grandmother died, her cousin made a pair of shoes and put them in her coffin.
In my home village, people made shoes of Betula alnoides, which is soft, easy to carve and light. The trees grew everywhere in the village. My uncle said another reason for using this wood was the sound it made, which was especially clear.
Later, only old people made shoes for themselves, and young women replaced home-made, plain ones with painted ones from the markets.
The components of shoes were sold separately, so a perfect fit could be obtained. I followed my older sister to the market to buy shoes. She would try one sole after another for a whole morning, then look for straps. There were straps of different materials, including rubber, leather and silk. Next came the nails and padding to go between the straps and the soles so the nails would not easily break the straps. Last were the rubber pads to go under the soles to protect them and reduce noise. 
Shoe straps have their own history. Every pair of soles had its straps changed many times. People saved whatever material could be used on shoes. Once, my father came home with a briefcase a provincial official had discarded and cut it up, carefully, as if it were gold, and gave the pieces to relatives. From time to time my father brought home an old bike tire that he cut into straps. Straps from bicycle tires were hard but durable. In what I call the wooden-shoe era, everything was scarce and precious. The rubber straps were highly valuable to folk who did not travel beyond the village.
When I was a child, a villager taught me to make wooden shoes. There was a way to make the heels as comfortable as possible. If not well made, the shoes would cause injury or discomfort. After carving the soles, we used pieces of glass to polish them. More often than not, we wore the shoes out, until the soles were thin.
A few old people in the village still wear wooden shoes. Their children buy them plastic or leather ones, which they try on and put away and never use.
 
* Mr Nguyen Quang Thieu is a writer. He was born in 1957 in Hanoi.