VJ OPEN CONTEST - VJ:MAZED DEBUTS AT HOZO CITY TẾT FEST 2025 FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME

For the first time, VJs can turn their ideas into a stunning visual experience on the city’s biggest stage.

This opportunity for VJs to tell stories through light, rhythm, and color, while connecting with the audience, is possible via the first-ever VJ:MAZED VJ open contest.

Making its debut at HOZO City Tết Fest 2025, the VJ contest is a playground for VJ artists, a place to nurture emerging talents, and a stepping stone for Vietnamese artists to reach international stages in the future.

If you want your art to tell stories and connect with people in a living, interactive way, learn more about the VJ Open Contest at: https://vjmaze.citytetfest.com and apply via this the link: https://forms.gle/mKMmnM9UH66hMny5A (Submisssions close after 15.11.2025).

Vin Gallery proudly presents a solo show by Son Dang that explores the concept of digital-native aesthetics as a profound philosophical response to our algorithm-driven world.

Son Dang’s introduces the concept of the "Peripheral node," which became the title of the show, that depicted those creators in the internet who operate from society's margins, embracing momentary affect over permanence.

Through his visual explorations of glitches, infinite scrolls, and vibe shifts, Son Dang’s redefines the digital age as fleeting ruptures of intensity that reject purpose and permanence.

Ethos Collective returns with something a little different. Beyond The Verse shifts focus from words to waves, a night centered around instrumental storytelling and spontaneous creativity.

The lineup features a diverse range of bands whose music grows from jam sessions rather than rigid structures. Some are veterans of the Vietnamese underground, while others are bringing their sound to HCMC for the very first time.

Lineup:

• Fuko – Mathrock meets stoner rock from Nha Trang, riff-heavy and hypnotic
• Shallow Vessels – Slow-burning post-rock built on atmosphere and tension
• 7/4 Surfers – Bass and drum duo from Nha Trang with intricate, groovy interplay
• Bedlam Royals – Experimental post-metal mixing ambience with chaotic heaviness
• Skeleton Goode – Psychedelic surf rock with a wild edge and vintage vibes

Come for the tones, stay for the journey.

Pre-sale: 200k
At door: 300k
Register here.

Out The Run is pleased to invite you to Có Tai Như Điếc, Có Mắt Như Mù.

This time we invited a 5-piece screamo / emoviolence band from Gold Coast, Australia called Blind Girls. The band has been around for about 10 years and did extensive touring, including US, Canada, Europe and Japan. This will be their first time to play in Vietnam!

Blind Girls music is intense and dissonant. Their entire live set sounds like a single composition, championing the punk tradition of playing with as few breaks as possible.

On top of that we have District 105 joining the show with their new EP right out the oven. The release date of the EP is exactly on the show day, so we'll be able to listen to the new songs in the morning and by the night can already singalong with the band!!

3 more local bands to join the gig are:

• KINH (death metal)
• ADxHD (fastcore / powerviolence)
• Grudgebound (beatdown hardcore)

Register here.
Presale: 200.000đ (limited to 75 tickets)
Presale after and at door: 300.000đ (also limited to 75 tickets)

Let's gâu.

If you’ve fallen in love with Vietnamese through its words and sounds, don’t miss the chance to discover the visual beauty of every letter. In this Vietnamese calligraphy workshop we’ll explore the elegance and fluidity of the brush so that Vietnamese can be not only heard, but vividly seen on the page.

Under the guidance of Nguyễn Đào Thanh Phi, you’ll learn about the brush, practice the basic strokes of quốc ngữ calligraphy, and apply those strokes to several letters. At the end, you’ll create a small finished piece you can use to decorate your living space. More than an art session, this is time to relax your mind and find quiet amid a busy life.

Event details:

• Participation fee: 300,000 VND (paper, brush, and ink included)
• Registration link: https://forms.gle/P6DK6phjHuDRphH67 (maximum 10 participants)

Notes:

• The workshop will run only if at least 4 people register.
• Please register in advance so organizers can prepare calligraphy gifts and set up the space.
• If for any reason you cannot attend, please notify the organizers by message or hotline.
• Please arrive at least 10 minutes early to choose a good seat and enjoy Nhã’s beautiful atmosphere.

We look forward to welcoming you for a practice session in the spirit of “Nhã Tập Hiên.”

CTRL+M - KNOCK ON THE MAZE, SUBMIT YOUR MAZE-LY WORKS

Brief moments that serve as reactions, not interruptions, are essential parts of an unfolding process. When a thought rises, an image begins to shift and transform. It is in those flickering instants that creativity cracks open and the very first tremor of art comes alive!

In that spirit, CITY TẾT FEST returns this year via a special collaboration with HOZO, bringing a mega-festival of bold, immersive, and amazing experiences.

To spark its ignition, HOZO CITY TẾT FEST 2025 officially invites all who carry a fierce creative pulse: artists, creators, researchers, students, performers and cross-disciplinary experimenters, to step into CTRL+M, a multimedia exhibition where ideas intertwine and collide to become a living creative maze.

Share your works, prototypes, and visual interventions to open new dialogues about the city, about Tết, and about humans in the digital age: boxes within boxes, frames inside frames, paths zig-zagging into unexpected connections. Whoever you are, let your work speak and resonate within this chromatic playground of art.

HOZO CITY TẾT FEST 2025 is eagerly awaiting the inspiring creations you will bring to life.

Read the full Open Call here: https://ctrlm-open-call.citytetfest.com/

CTRL+M - Submit your ideas via: https://bit.ly/47w82Kd (Submisssions close after 15.11.2025)

Big cities hold millions of people - yet every street, every story feels unique.

Do we truly share the same city, or are we all living in our own version of it?

Experience an evening of spontaneous theatre and real stories about urban life - from Saigon to New York.

One night only! Featuring Rick Andrews (NYC) and Saigon Improv House.

Rick is an acclaimed improviser and coach from New York City, where he performs and teaches at the legendary Magnet Theatre. With over 20 years of experience, Rick brings a wealth of knowledge, heart, and humor to every class he leads.

On his Asia tour, Rick is stopping by Saigon to share some of his favorite workshops. You’re invited to jump in, play, and learn with us at Saigon Improv House.

Join us for world-class learning and fun, all at a local price!

Show: 300.000VNĐ
Tickets: https://tally.so/r/mRXrWK

DISCOUNT:
Early Bird registration before 11:59PM 7th November:
Show: 270.000VNĐ

Light refreshments will be served, and copies of the book will be available for purchase and personalized signing by the author!

About the Talk
In this talk, Steinhauer will explore the inspiration behind his work — capturing the heart and soul of the Vietnamese people, their resilience, survival, and creativity. He will reflect on how art inherits the past while nurturing hope for the future, and how it can play a transformative role in healing and reconciliation. The talk will also introduce his latest book, SPIRES: Cathedrals of the Red River Delta, which beautifully documents churches built during the French colonial period and the blending of French architectural styles with Vietnamese design sensibilities.

About the Speaker
Peter Steinhauer is an artist, photographer, and author of four monographs who lived and worked in Vietnam for 30 years beginning in 1993. Carrying forward his father’s legacy — a U.S. military doctor who co-founded a non-profit health organization supporting Vietnamese hospitals and doctors — Steinhauer’s mission has been to portray Vietnam’s natural beauty, culture, and people beyond the context of war.

Register here: https://forms.office.com/r/eLZiQFgicX

We look forward to seeing you there!

84BADBLOOD proudly presents the “YOUSUNAVAPEACH” show! Bands: CÚT LỘN, Empathize Hardcore, Under Pressure, happyco., ElbowDrop, 9xacly.

Tickets:

• Presale: 200,000 VND
• At door: 300,000 VND

Register here.

After selling out the entire run at Edinburgh Fringe 2025, Danny O'Brien (Ireland) is bringing his show ADULTING HARD to Saigon for one night only.

It's gonna be a hilariously memorable night of comedy with local favs Ankita Ghosh (Ind), Wayner Ed(UK) and Adam Fawcett (UK) lighting up the stage along with Danny.

See y'all at Comedy!

Tickets: 250k (online pre-book), 300k (walk-in).

Register here.

Annam Gallery is honored to collaborate with Rue Miche L’édition at Union Square in launching a new artistic initiative aimed at shaping a cultural and creative space for emerging Vietnamese talents. As RueMiche created an arena for many clothing designers to flourish, Annam is also a bridge that connects art lovers and artists closer to each other.

Back in April 2023, a series called “Duality” was created and Volume 1, a duo exhibition by two women artists, Lap Phuong and Trinh Cam Nhi was a visual dialogue full of subtle yet powerful nuances. Here, “Fragment of Soul” was a place where souls meet to contemplate, to think deeply, to rest in tranquility , with reflections of Lap Phuong’s sculptures intertwined with Cam Nhi’s calming paintings.

For this very first event at the newly opened venue, Rue Miche and Annam gallery are pleased to present the group exhibition “Kaleidoscope - The Dreamscape of Self”, which celebrates maximalist works that overflowing with colours and movement. While Volume 1 was a representation of a more minimalist approach , this exhibition, also known as Volume 2, consists of eye-catching works,with bright hues that challenge the audience’s vision. From explosive compositions to layered, nuanced planes of hue, each work is an experiment in chromatic intensity.

While these works are playful and inviting to look at first glance, the audience are also questioned to examine much closer - underneath , what is the real tale that each artist implies. Some artists use deliberate juxtapositions to create visual dissonance, while others layer glazes to create a glowing, almost three-dimensional depth. Here, colours are used vividly, as artists used them to interact with one another, creating a sense of movement and vitality that pulses across the exhibition. Some artists use colour to construct alternate realities- vibrant, abstracted landscapes and unique geometric forms. The audience is invited into these new worlds, places of respite and pure aesthetic delight where the rules of everyday life do not apply.

The chaotic and sometimes overwhelming density of the compositions demands sustained engagement. The lack of single, clear narrative forces the audience to construct their own meaning from the eclectic mix of elements. The journey through this exhibition is reckoning with complexity- both the artist’s and your own. It is a reminder that beauty and truth can be found not just in what is simple and sparse, but in the vibrant, overwhelming, and intricate reality of everything.

Ultimately, in a world that can at times feel muted or grey, the exhibition is a striking contrast, as it is an invitation for us to engage in the raw, unfiltered energy of colour. The artworks here offer an immersive visual experience, reminding us of the profound connection between colour and life itself.

Admission: Free and open to the public.

A timeless tale. A journey of love, sacrifice, and the power of community.

Impact Theatre Saigon (ITS) proudly presents the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Once On This Island, marking ITS’s first full-scale musical theatre production.

Based on Rosa Guy’s novel My Love, My Love (The Peasant Girl) - itself inspired by Andersen’s beloved The Little Mermaid - the show invites us to rediscover an old story in a new way.

On a small Caribbean island, villagers gather together after a fierce storm to tell the tale of Ti Moune, a young orphan saved by the gods in the wake of a hurricane. Raised in a poor village, she falls in love with Daniel, a wealthy aristocrat from the upper class. Faced with differences of caste, deep-rooted prejudice, and the watchful eyes of four powerful gods - Asaka (Mother of the Earth), Agwé (God of Water), Erzulie (Goddess of Love), and Papa Ge (Demon of Death) - Ti Moune sets out on a journey of love, destiny, and impossible choices.

???? 360° In-the-Round – An Immersive Experience
Staged in a 360-degree theatre, every seat offers a different perspective, turning the audience from passive observers into part of the living, breathing world of the island. Here, you don’t just “watch” the story - you step inside it.

♻️ From Community, For Community
The set, costumes, and props are created from repurposed and recycled materials, along with contributions from the community. What might once have been discarded is transformed into art, breathing new life into the stage. Beyond the theatre, the project also collects clothing and supplies for communities in Vietnam affected by natural disasters - turning Once On This Island into not only a work of art, but also an act of solidarity.

With vibrant music, electrifying dance, and a story that touches the heart, Once On This Island promises an unforgettable experience: a celebration of love, resilience, and the strength of community.

This milestone is not only a defining moment for ITS, but also for Vietnam’s musical theatre landscape - showcasing the ability of young Vietnamese artists to create a professional musical at international standards. Together, we bring this story to life once again - in Vietnam, by Vietnamese artists, and for the Vietnamese community.

Licensed by Music Theatre International (MTI).

Register link: https://solo.to/ooti

Goût tui Cré offers creative workshops that connect people, craft, and sustainability. Join local artisans to explore various textile techniques like hand-embroidery, appliqué, up-cycling, mending and more. Classes are open to all skill levels, perfect for beginners or anyone eager to learn something new.

In this Christmas Edition of our popular Sew & Sip series, you’ll learn how to Creatively Mend and decorate your favorite piece, using festive embroidery, patchwork, or visible repair techniques.

No experience needed, just bring your curiosity and good vibes!

Fee: 650,000 VND per person, includes 1 drink and all materials.

• Each session is capped at 15 people for a cozy, guided experience
• Learn new mending techniques to turn old garments into unique, wearable art
• Perfect for those who joined our first workshop or want to level up creatively

Register here: https://forms.gle/WTxocnQs1D8zSBMk9

Saigon Film Photowalk is designed for those who are just starting out with photography. You are provided with a camera, film and instructions for use when registering to participate. Or you can use your own recording device as you like.

ROUTE INFORMATION:
Under the pressure of urbanization, Saigon's canals and old wharves gradually became street names or distant memories of nostalgic people. Let's take a trip down memory lane with SFP to the last old Saigon wharf boats that still exist. Because tomorrow, we probably won't see each other again! On this trip, you will experience traveling on a rare remaining boat, experience river life right in Saigon and learn about Southern temple culture.

This journey was created out of curiosity about the lives and beliefs of the people around the river and canal banks, listening to war stories full of loss and sacrifice. There, you can feel the ups and downs and the strong vitality of the Southern people through the words of living witnesses.

PROGRAM DETAILS:

• 8:30 - 9:00: Gather at Binh Dong communal house and receive instructions on how to use the film camera.
• 9:00 - 11:00: Visit the Mekong River region right at Saigon's old river wharf by the rare remaining boat in Saigon, hear about the customs of worshiping gods at Southern temples and shrines in the past and present.
• 11:00 - 11:30: Move to the end of the journey, listen to stories about the canals in Saigon.

Register at: https://forms.gle/uzoSiQdYcboZB43r6

Reverie Under the Moonlight at Moonlit Buffet

On the most enchanting moonlit night of the season, gather with your loved ones for a joyful reunion feast. Beneath the shimmering glow reflected on the serene lakeside, indulge in a curated menu that ranges from delicate, handcrafted sushi to a sumptuous seafood barbecue. In the vibrant rhythms of the night, savor the sweetness of traditional mooncakes – the "vedette" of the night.

• Price: VND 990,000++/adult
• VND 495,000++/child (5–12 years old)
• Complimentary for kids under 5
• Beverage package: VND 450,000++/person

Lively lion dance performance to bring the night to life.

Complimentary traditional toy figurine and clown activities.

The exhibition Gió Lụa Trùng Dương (Silk and Ocean Winds) draws inspiration from the Silk Road — a vital trade network stretching from Asia to distant lands across the world.

The concept of the “Silk Road” was first introduced in 1877 by German geographer Ferdinand von Richthofen to describe the trade routes between Han Dynasty China and the Roman Empire. However, the Silk Road was never a single road. It was a complex web of overland and maritime trade routes that spanned multiple continents, flourishing from the 2nd century BCE to the 15th century CE. The Maritime Silk Road in particular played a crucial role in linking Southeast Asia, East Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Arabia, Africa, and Europe.

Along these routes, not only were luxury goods exchanged, but also ideas, religions, ecosystems, and cultures that transcended borders. Quang deLam transforms these historical layers into reflections on existence, curiosity, and imagination. Through multimedia and photographic practices, he constructs fragments based on archival sources, documentaries, painterly gestures, and graffiti. His works go beyond illustrating history — they refract it, creating a “cabinet of curiosities” for our turbulent times.

Much like the Wunderkammer of early modern Europe, Quang deLam’s narratives invite us to question the propositions of both the past and the present.

From Sounds to Stories: Discover Phonics at BIS HCMC.

The British International School Ho Chi Minh City (BIS HCMC) will host an interactive phonics workshop on Wednesday, 22nd October at 8:45am, welcoming parents of children aged 1 to 7. The event is designed to introduce families to the school’s approach to building confident, independent readers from the earliest years.

Using the Read Write Inc. Phonics Programme, BIS HCMC provides a structured, engaging, and playful introduction to reading that equips children with the skills and confidence to progress from sounds to stories.

The workshop will feature:

• Interactive phonics activities led by BIS HCMC’s Early Years and Infant teachers
• Practical strategies for parents to support reading at home
• A guided tour of the Early Years and Infant Campus
• Opportunities to meet members of the teaching and leadership teams

The event offers families an opportunity to see how BIS HCMC creates a strong foundation for literacy in a supportive and stimulating environment.

To find out more and to sign up, click here.

From creepy drinks and "thrilling" treats, stay tuned for spook-tacular buffet this Halloween. Savor an array of fine sushi, premium beef medallion or salmon wellington while you transform into the best witches of the town.

Price:
VND1,200,000++/adults
VND600,000++/child (5-12 years old)
Complimentary for kids under 5
Beverage package at VND450,000++/person

10% off for Marriott Bonvoy members.
30% off for Club Marriott members.

The short story is a thing of beauty. Compressed, yet it holds within it a universe; expansive-- but only in a few lines. Vietnamese American author, Andrew Lam, has been in love with this art form since his early days as a young refugee kid devouring books in public libraries in San Francisco. Come and join us on Nov 06, 2025 at The Old Compass Cafe, to celebrate and read from his latest work, Stories from the Edge of the Sea, and hear him discuss this art form, and how he uses them to chronicle stories of love and heartbreaks among Vietnamese in America.

Andrew Lam was born in Vietnam and moved to the United States at the age of 11 at the end of the Vietnam War. He was an editor of New America Media, an association of over two thousand ethnic media outlets in America, for 15 years. His essays have appeared in dozens of newspapers and magazines across the country, and his short stories are anthologised widely. Followed by a film crew back to his homeland, Vietnam, he was featured in the documentary My Journey Home, which aired nationwide on PBS in 2004.

His book Perfume Dreams: Reflections on the Vietnamese Diaspora won a PEN American Beyond Margins award in 2006. His second book, East Eats West: Writing in Two Hemispheres (2010) about Asian immigration changing American culture, was nominated as top 10 best indies by Shelf Unbound.

His third book, Birds of Paradise Lost (2013), a collection of short stories about Vietnamese refugees in America’s West Coast, has received the UC Irvine Medal of Distinction for contribution to the Humanities and the Oakland Pen’s Josephine Miles Literary Award. It is currently nominated for the Story Prize and the Faulkner Prize.

Lam’s awards include the Society of Professional Journalist Outstanding Young Journalist Award, The World Affairs Council's Excellence in International Journalism Award, the Asian American Journalist Association National Award, the Pen Open Book Award 2006 and many others. Lam was a John S. Knight Fellow at Stanford University during the academic year 2001-02.

He is also a member of the World Academy of Art and Science. His articles have appeared in many newspapers and magazines, including Mother Jones, The Nation, LA Times Magazine, The New York Times, San Francisco Article, California Magazine, Baltimore Sun, South China Morning Postand dozens of other publications.

Lam was a regular commentator on National Public Radio’s "All Things Considered" for eight years. He currently blogs for the Huffington Post and has a regular column with the Shanghai Daily and is working on another book of short stories and a novel.

Join us for a special Saigon evening.

Limited tickets available – 30 seats only.

Entrance tickets can be purchased in advance directly from The Old Compass Cafe only:

• Combo ticket – 650,000 VND (includes Vietnamese set dinner and a glass of red or white house wine)
• Ticket only – 300,000 VND
• Entrance tickets at the door (if available): 350,000 VND.

Please note that this is an intimate venue and most talks sell out.

Children under 12 years old are not permitted.

Group requests will be handled based on availability.

Tickets available at The Old Compass Cafe.

Online tickers available here.

"The opening of the exhibition “Hội họa trừu tượng Cha và Con” took place in a solemn and deeply emotional atmosphere at TAA Gallery.

The works of the late artist Hồ Hữu Thủ, like waves of memory, met and resonated with the creations of artist Hồ Hồng Lĩnh, forming a contemplative yet radiant space. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the guests who joined us — listening to the silent music of painting and sharing this meaningful moment together."