Valentine’s Day with Saigontourist

A couple enjoys Valentine Day by the beach - Photo: TL

For Valentine’s Day, many city hotels under Saigontourist have delicious food programs for lovers to indulge in.

Grand Hotel Saigon (8 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, tel: 3829 4046)

The hotel’s Chez-nous on the ground floor will host the program “The night of couples” on February 14. Dine in the romantic surrounds by candle light serenaded by love songs and violin and guitar. Enjoy Western and Asian dishes together with chocolate deserts. Tickets are US$40 net/set for a couple, inclusive of a love cocktail and gifts.

Majestic Hotel Saigon (1 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, tel: 3829 5517)

The love party will be at the hotel’s Serenade Restaurant from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on February 14. Tickets are US$88 for couple, including Western and Asian menu, a couple of cocktails, a small bottle of imported liquor, a couple of love chocolates and roses. Guests staying at the hotel will be discounted 10%. A pianist, violinist and saxophonist will perform love songs by famous composer Trinh Cong Son plus dance shows of tango, waltz and cha cha.

Continental Hotel Saigon (132 Dong Khoi Street, District 1, tel: 3825 7679)

There will be a party just for couples at the La Fayette Restaurant on February 14 by candle light with piano and violin music.

The set menu cost VND900,000 per adult, inclusive of champagne, chocolate and roses. Happy hour from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. will be discounted 20%.

Dong Khanh Hotel (2 Tran Hung Dao Street, District 5, tel: 3923 6404)

The Dong Khanh Restaurant will prepare a buffet from 6 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on February 14 with more than 30 Western and Vietnamese dishes and deserts made of ice-cream and chocolate. VND249,000 per adult and VND175,000 per child. Revelers will be given gifts.

First Hotel (18 Hoang Viet Street, Tan Binh District, tel: 3844 1199)

The Valentine party will be prepared at the hotel’s candlelit First Hot Pot Restaurant with romantic violin music. VND500,000 per couple, inclusive of one drink.

Bat Dat Hotel (238 Tran Hung Dao Street, District 5, tel: 3857 8252)

The hotel will offer a buffet of 45 dishes made in Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine priced at VND279,000 per adult and VND199,000 per child. Buy 10 tickets get one free and one free cocktail for women.

Saigon Ship Hotel (Bach Dang Wharf, tel: 3823 0393)

Buffet featuring more than 30 dishes accompanied with performances of flute, guitar and Latin Eyes music band. Tickets are VND600,000 per adult.

Related Articles

• Market moves up sharply
• Market drops below 450 points
• Ethnic minorities, poor to receive free legal aid
• Prime Minister discusses relations, co-operation with Lao counterpart
• President Triet on official visit to Laos

Saigon prepares for Christmas

Customers shop for Christmas decorations at a shop in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in HCMC’s District 5 - Photo: Thanh Truc

Everywhere you look, Saigon is busy decking out the streets with Christmas decorations and lights. Take a stroll along Ham Nghi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan and Nguyen Hue and you will feel the festive air as the Yuletide approaches.

A strip of shops  in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5 specialize in selling Christmas decorations with an extensive range in different colors and materials. Lengths of gold/silver tinsel cost about VND10,000–12,000, with the latest styles for VND17,000.  Boxes of six colorful Christmas baubles are priced from VND20,000 to VND30,000. The tinsel and baubles are the biggest sellers as they are compact and cheap. People are still watching the purse strings after the economic slowdown so they are looking for the best value they can find.

The Christmas trees displayed along Le Hong Phong Street in HCMC’s District 5 are also selling well. A medium size Christmas tree without decorations is about VND250,000 and from VND480,000 to VND700000 for decorated trees with Christmas baubles and tinsel.

Although the Christmas-decoration seller streets this year are quite busy, its been a bit slower than last year.

In some famous areas that sell Christmas products such as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (District 3), Kim Bien Market (District 5) and even Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (District 5), the sales are much less than previous years,  down about 20% according to some shops.

Although the Christmas market has cooled down this year, the streets of Saigon are colorfully festooned for the many shoppers and onlookers to enjoy. The commercial centers in District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Centre and Thuong Xa Tax are glittering at night with shiny giant displays and lights. Everybody gets excited about the big Christmas displays and families take their kids around to see it.

This is the time of year to relax and enjoy the holidays in Uncle Ho’s city, welcoming the Christmas season in peace and happiness.

Related Articles

• Saigon prepares for Christmas

Saigon prepares for Christmas

Customers shop for Christmas decorations at a shop in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in HCMC’s District 5 - Photo: Thanh Truc

Everywhere you look, Saigon is busy decking out the streets with Christmas decorations and lights. Take a stroll along Ham Nghi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan and Nguyen Hue and you will feel the festive air as the Yuletide approaches.

A strip of shops  in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5 specialize in selling Christmas decorations with an extensive range in different colors and materials. Lengths of gold/silver tinsel cost about VND10,000–12,000, with the latest styles for VND17,000.  Boxes of six colorful Christmas baubles are priced from VND20,000 to VND30,000. The tinsel and baubles are the biggest sellers as they are compact and cheap. People are still watching the purse strings after the economic slowdown so they are looking for the best value they can find.

The Christmas trees displayed along Le Hong Phong Street in HCMC’s District 5 are also selling well. A medium size Christmas tree without decorations is about VND250,000 and from VND480,000 to VND700000 for decorated trees with Christmas baubles and tinsel.

Although the Christmas-decoration seller streets this year are quite busy, its been a bit slower than last year.

In some famous areas that sell Christmas products such as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (District 3), Kim Bien Market (District 5) and even Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (District 5), the sales are much less than previous years,  down about 20% according to some shops.

Although the Christmas market has cooled down this year, the streets of Saigon are colorfully festooned for the many shoppers and onlookers to enjoy. The commercial centers in District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Centre and Thuong Xa Tax are glittering at night with shiny giant displays and lights. Everybody gets excited about the big Christmas displays and families take their kids around to see it.

This is the time of year to relax and enjoy the holidays in Uncle Ho’s city, welcoming the Christmas season in peace and happiness.

Related Articles

• Saigon prepares for Christmas

Saigon prepares for Christmas

Customers shop for Christmas decorations at a shop in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in HCMC’s District 5 - Photo: Thanh Truc

Everywhere you look, Saigon is busy decking out the streets with Christmas decorations and lights. Take a stroll along Ham Nghi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan and Nguyen Hue and you will feel the festive air as the Yuletide approaches.

A strip of shops  in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5 specialize in selling Christmas decorations with an extensive range in different colors and materials. Lengths of gold/silver tinsel cost about VND10,000–12,000, with the latest styles for VND17,000.  Boxes of six colorful Christmas baubles are priced from VND20,000 to VND30,000. The tinsel and baubles are the biggest sellers as they are compact and cheap. People are still watching the purse strings after the economic slowdown so they are looking for the best value they can find.

The Christmas trees displayed along Le Hong Phong Street in HCMC’s District 5 are also selling well. A medium size Christmas tree without decorations is about VND250,000 and from VND480,000 to VND700000 for decorated trees with Christmas baubles and tinsel.

Although the Christmas-decoration seller streets this year are quite busy, its been a bit slower than last year.

In some famous areas that sell Christmas products such as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (District 3), Kim Bien Market (District 5) and even Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (District 5), the sales are much less than previous years,  down about 20% according to some shops.

Although the Christmas market has cooled down this year, the streets of Saigon are colorfully festooned for the many shoppers and onlookers to enjoy. The commercial centers in District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Centre and Thuong Xa Tax are glittering at night with shiny giant displays and lights. Everybody gets excited about the big Christmas displays and families take their kids around to see it.

This is the time of year to relax and enjoy the holidays in Uncle Ho’s city, welcoming the Christmas season in peace and happiness.

Related Articles

• Saigon prepares for Christmas

Saigon prepares for Christmas

Customers shop for Christmas decorations at a shop in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in HCMC’s District 5 - Photo: Thanh Truc

Everywhere you look, Saigon is busy decking out the streets with Christmas decorations and lights. Take a stroll along Ham Nghi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan and Nguyen Hue and you will feel the festive air as the Yuletide approaches.

A strip of shops  in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5 specialize in selling Christmas decorations with an extensive range in different colors and materials. Lengths of gold/silver tinsel cost about VND10,000–12,000, with the latest styles for VND17,000.  Boxes of six colorful Christmas baubles are priced from VND20,000 to VND30,000. The tinsel and baubles are the biggest sellers as they are compact and cheap. People are still watching the purse strings after the economic slowdown so they are looking for the best value they can find.

The Christmas trees displayed along Le Hong Phong Street in HCMC’s District 5 are also selling well. A medium size Christmas tree without decorations is about VND250,000 and from VND480,000 to VND700000 for decorated trees with Christmas baubles and tinsel.

Although the Christmas-decoration seller streets this year are quite busy, its been a bit slower than last year.

In some famous areas that sell Christmas products such as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (District 3), Kim Bien Market (District 5) and even Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (District 5), the sales are much less than previous years,  down about 20% according to some shops.

Although the Christmas market has cooled down this year, the streets of Saigon are colorfully festooned for the many shoppers and onlookers to enjoy. The commercial centers in District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Centre and Thuong Xa Tax are glittering at night with shiny giant displays and lights. Everybody gets excited about the big Christmas displays and families take their kids around to see it.

This is the time of year to relax and enjoy the holidays in Uncle Ho’s city, welcoming the Christmas season in peace and happiness.

Related Articles

• Saigon prepares for Christmas

Saigon prepares for Christmas

Customers shop for Christmas decorations at a shop in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in HCMC’s District 5 - Photo: Thanh Truc

Everywhere you look, Saigon is busy decking out the streets with Christmas decorations and lights. Take a stroll along Ham Nghi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan and Nguyen Hue and you will feel the festive air as the Yuletide approaches.

A strip of shops  in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5 specialize in selling Christmas decorations with an extensive range in different colors and materials. Lengths of gold/silver tinsel cost about VND10,000–12,000, with the latest styles for VND17,000.  Boxes of six colorful Christmas baubles are priced from VND20,000 to VND30,000. The tinsel and baubles are the biggest sellers as they are compact and cheap. People are still watching the purse strings after the economic slowdown so they are looking for the best value they can find.

The Christmas trees displayed along Le Hong Phong Street in HCMC’s District 5 are also selling well. A medium size Christmas tree without decorations is about VND250,000 and from VND480,000 to VND700000 for decorated trees with Christmas baubles and tinsel.

Although the Christmas-decoration seller streets this year are quite busy, its been a bit slower than last year.

In some famous areas that sell Christmas products such as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (District 3), Kim Bien Market (District 5) and even Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (District 5), the sales are much less than previous years,  down about 20% according to some shops.

Although the Christmas market has cooled down this year, the streets of Saigon are colorfully festooned for the many shoppers and onlookers to enjoy. The commercial centers in District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Centre and Thuong Xa Tax are glittering at night with shiny giant displays and lights. Everybody gets excited about the big Christmas displays and families take their kids around to see it.

This is the time of year to relax and enjoy the holidays in Uncle Ho’s city, welcoming the Christmas season in peace and happiness.

Related Articles

• Saigon prepares for Christmas

Saigon prepares for Christmas

Customers shop for Christmas decorations at a shop in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in HCMC’s District 5 - Photo: Thanh Truc

Everywhere you look, Saigon is busy decking out the streets with Christmas decorations and lights. Take a stroll along Ham Nghi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan and Nguyen Hue and you will feel the festive air as the Yuletide approaches.

A strip of shops  in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5 specialize in selling Christmas decorations with an extensive range in different colors and materials. Lengths of gold/silver tinsel cost about VND10,000–12,000, with the latest styles for VND17,000.  Boxes of six colorful Christmas baubles are priced from VND20,000 to VND30,000. The tinsel and baubles are the biggest sellers as they are compact and cheap. People are still watching the purse strings after the economic slowdown so they are looking for the best value they can find.

The Christmas trees displayed along Le Hong Phong Street in HCMC’s District 5 are also selling well. A medium size Christmas tree without decorations is about VND250,000 and from VND480,000 to VND700000 for decorated trees with Christmas baubles and tinsel.

Although the Christmas-decoration seller streets this year are quite busy, its been a bit slower than last year.

In some famous areas that sell Christmas products such as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (District 3), Kim Bien Market (District 5) and even Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (District 5), the sales are much less than previous years,  down about 20% according to some shops.

Although the Christmas market has cooled down this year, the streets of Saigon are colorfully festooned for the many shoppers and onlookers to enjoy. The commercial centers in District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Centre and Thuong Xa Tax are glittering at night with shiny giant displays and lights. Everybody gets excited about the big Christmas displays and families take their kids around to see it.

This is the time of year to relax and enjoy the holidays in Uncle Ho’s city, welcoming the Christmas season in peace and happiness.

Related Articles

• Saigon prepares for Christmas

Saigon prepares for Christmas

Customers shop for Christmas decorations at a shop in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in HCMC’s District 5 - Photo: Thanh Truc

Everywhere you look, Saigon is busy decking out the streets with Christmas decorations and lights. Take a stroll along Ham Nghi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan and Nguyen Hue and you will feel the festive air as the Yuletide approaches.

A strip of shops  in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5 specialize in selling Christmas decorations with an extensive range in different colors and materials. Lengths of gold/silver tinsel cost about VND10,000–12,000, with the latest styles for VND17,000.  Boxes of six colorful Christmas baubles are priced from VND20,000 to VND30,000. The tinsel and baubles are the biggest sellers as they are compact and cheap. People are still watching the purse strings after the economic slowdown so they are looking for the best value they can find.

The Christmas trees displayed along Le Hong Phong Street in HCMC’s District 5 are also selling well. A medium size Christmas tree without decorations is about VND250,000 and from VND480,000 to VND700000 for decorated trees with Christmas baubles and tinsel.

Although the Christmas-decoration seller streets this year are quite busy, its been a bit slower than last year.

In some famous areas that sell Christmas products such as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (District 3), Kim Bien Market (District 5) and even Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (District 5), the sales are much less than previous years,  down about 20% according to some shops.

Although the Christmas market has cooled down this year, the streets of Saigon are colorfully festooned for the many shoppers and onlookers to enjoy. The commercial centers in District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Centre and Thuong Xa Tax are glittering at night with shiny giant displays and lights. Everybody gets excited about the big Christmas displays and families take their kids around to see it.

This is the time of year to relax and enjoy the holidays in Uncle Ho’s city, welcoming the Christmas season in peace and happiness.

Related Articles

• Saigon prepares for Christmas

Saigon prepares for Christmas

Customers shop for Christmas decorations at a shop in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in HCMC’s District 5 - Photo: Thanh Truc

Everywhere you look, Saigon is busy decking out the streets with Christmas decorations and lights. Take a stroll along Ham Nghi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan and Nguyen Hue and you will feel the festive air as the Yuletide approaches.

A strip of shops  in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5 specialize in selling Christmas decorations with an extensive range in different colors and materials. Lengths of gold/silver tinsel cost about VND10,000–12,000, with the latest styles for VND17,000.  Boxes of six colorful Christmas baubles are priced from VND20,000 to VND30,000. The tinsel and baubles are the biggest sellers as they are compact and cheap. People are still watching the purse strings after the economic slowdown so they are looking for the best value they can find.

The Christmas trees displayed along Le Hong Phong Street in HCMC’s District 5 are also selling well. A medium size Christmas tree without decorations is about VND250,000 and from VND480,000 to VND700000 for decorated trees with Christmas baubles and tinsel.

Although the Christmas-decoration seller streets this year are quite busy, its been a bit slower than last year.

In some famous areas that sell Christmas products such as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (District 3), Kim Bien Market (District 5) and even Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (District 5), the sales are much less than previous years,  down about 20% according to some shops.

Although the Christmas market has cooled down this year, the streets of Saigon are colorfully festooned for the many shoppers and onlookers to enjoy. The commercial centers in District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Centre and Thuong Xa Tax are glittering at night with shiny giant displays and lights. Everybody gets excited about the big Christmas displays and families take their kids around to see it.

This is the time of year to relax and enjoy the holidays in Uncle Ho’s city, welcoming the Christmas season in peace and happiness.

Related Articles

• Saigon prepares for Christmas

Saigon prepares for Christmas

Customers shop for Christmas decorations at a shop in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in HCMC’s District 5 - Photo: Thanh Truc

Everywhere you look, Saigon is busy decking out the streets with Christmas decorations and lights. Take a stroll along Ham Nghi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan and Nguyen Hue and you will feel the festive air as the Yuletide approaches.

A strip of shops  in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5 specialize in selling Christmas decorations with an extensive range in different colors and materials. Lengths of gold/silver tinsel cost about VND10,000–12,000, with the latest styles for VND17,000.  Boxes of six colorful Christmas baubles are priced from VND20,000 to VND30,000. The tinsel and baubles are the biggest sellers as they are compact and cheap. People are still watching the purse strings after the economic slowdown so they are looking for the best value they can find.

The Christmas trees displayed along Le Hong Phong Street in HCMC’s District 5 are also selling well. A medium size Christmas tree without decorations is about VND250,000 and from VND480,000 to VND700000 for decorated trees with Christmas baubles and tinsel.

Although the Christmas-decoration seller streets this year are quite busy, its been a bit slower than last year.

In some famous areas that sell Christmas products such as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (District 3), Kim Bien Market (District 5) and even Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (District 5), the sales are much less than previous years,  down about 20% according to some shops.

Although the Christmas market has cooled down this year, the streets of Saigon are colorfully festooned for the many shoppers and onlookers to enjoy. The commercial centers in District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Centre and Thuong Xa Tax are glittering at night with shiny giant displays and lights. Everybody gets excited about the big Christmas displays and families take their kids around to see it.

This is the time of year to relax and enjoy the holidays in Uncle Ho’s city, welcoming the Christmas season in peace and happiness.

Related Articles

• Saigon prepares for Christmas

Saigon prepares for Christmas

Customers shop for Christmas decorations at a shop in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in HCMC’s District 5 - Photo: Thanh Truc

Everywhere you look, Saigon is busy decking out the streets with Christmas decorations and lights. Take a stroll along Ham Nghi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan and Nguyen Hue and you will feel the festive air as the Yuletide approaches.

A strip of shops  in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5 specialize in selling Christmas decorations with an extensive range in different colors and materials. Lengths of gold/silver tinsel cost about VND10,000–12,000, with the latest styles for VND17,000.  Boxes of six colorful Christmas baubles are priced from VND20,000 to VND30,000. The tinsel and baubles are the biggest sellers as they are compact and cheap. People are still watching the purse strings after the economic slowdown so they are looking for the best value they can find.

The Christmas trees displayed along Le Hong Phong Street in HCMC’s District 5 are also selling well. A medium size Christmas tree without decorations is about VND250,000 and from VND480,000 to VND700000 for decorated trees with Christmas baubles and tinsel.

Although the Christmas-decoration seller streets this year are quite busy, its been a bit slower than last year.

In some famous areas that sell Christmas products such as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (District 3), Kim Bien Market (District 5) and even Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (District 5), the sales are much less than previous years,  down about 20% according to some shops.

Although the Christmas market has cooled down this year, the streets of Saigon are colorfully festooned for the many shoppers and onlookers to enjoy. The commercial centers in District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Centre and Thuong Xa Tax are glittering at night with shiny giant displays and lights. Everybody gets excited about the big Christmas displays and families take their kids around to see it.

This is the time of year to relax and enjoy the holidays in Uncle Ho’s city, welcoming the Christmas season in peace and happiness.

Related Articles

• Saigon prepares for Christmas

Saigon prepares for Christmas

Customers shop for Christmas decorations at a shop in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in HCMC’s District 5 - Photo: Thanh Truc

Everywhere you look, Saigon is busy decking out the streets with Christmas decorations and lights. Take a stroll along Ham Nghi, Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, Le Duan and Nguyen Hue and you will feel the festive air as the Yuletide approaches.

A strip of shops  in Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street in District 5 specialize in selling Christmas decorations with an extensive range in different colors and materials. Lengths of gold/silver tinsel cost about VND10,000–12,000, with the latest styles for VND17,000.  Boxes of six colorful Christmas baubles are priced from VND20,000 to VND30,000. The tinsel and baubles are the biggest sellers as they are compact and cheap. People are still watching the purse strings after the economic slowdown so they are looking for the best value they can find.

The Christmas trees displayed along Le Hong Phong Street in HCMC’s District 5 are also selling well. A medium size Christmas tree without decorations is about VND250,000 and from VND480,000 to VND700000 for decorated trees with Christmas baubles and tinsel.

Although the Christmas-decoration seller streets this year are quite busy, its been a bit slower than last year.

In some famous areas that sell Christmas products such as Nguyen Dinh Chieu Street (District 3), Kim Bien Market (District 5) and even Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street (District 5), the sales are much less than previous years,  down about 20% according to some shops.

Although the Christmas market has cooled down this year, the streets of Saigon are colorfully festooned for the many shoppers and onlookers to enjoy. The commercial centers in District 1 such as Parkson, Diamond Plaza, Vincom Centre and Thuong Xa Tax are glittering at night with shiny giant displays and lights. Everybody gets excited about the big Christmas displays and families take their kids around to see it.

This is the time of year to relax and enjoy the holidays in Uncle Ho’s city, welcoming the Christmas season in peace and happiness.

Related Articles

• Saigon prepares for Christmas

Places to celebrate Halloween Night

Scary party heads pose for photos at Seventeen Saloon’s Halloween bash last year - Photo: Official website of the Seventeen Saloon

If you are looking for a cool place for a Halloween party, here’s our list of some hotels, bars and café in town.

*Caravelle Hotel: The Halloween Nightmare Party will be at Saigon Saigon Bar at 6:30 p.m. on October 31 with exciting games, sweet and spooky Halloween drinks, “frightening food” and shock-inducing shots awaiting you and your friends.

Halloween drink list includes Vampire’s Kiss, Blood and Sand, Ectoplasm n’ Eyeballs, Swarm Water Gross and Bloody Vampire for VND135,000++ each.

*Legend Hotel Saigon:  A fabulous night filled with the Halloween spirits and treats lies ready at the hotel’s Atrium Café from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Oct 31. There’s a buffet with frightful dishes, live entertainment by the Jamm’n Essence band and the orange and black scareroom, with skeletons, spider webs, carved pumpkins and frightening creations.

A witch will be flying her broom over the tables to make you scream. While enjoying the live band, you can have Transylvania Dinner, Asian Witch Soup, Dracula’s First Bite and many more devilish foods.

*Windsor Plaza Saigon: On Oct. 31 from 9 p.m. till late, the hotel’s America Discotheque will host Halloween special activities.

Dress up in your best costume for a chance to be crowned Halloween King or Queen of the night in the special costume contest. At 12 midnight, the lights will go out for 15 minutes and Halloween fever will come to life for everyone present.

America Discotheque will be decorated as a haunted house on the evening with plenty of spooky decorations everywhere, including traditional Jack-o’-lanterns, spider webs and mummies. There will be plenty of opportunities to take fun and memorable photographs with special backdrops and photo areas as well.

The hotel’s Café Central An Dong in Dist. 5 and Café Central Nguyen Hue in Dist. 1 will also present a fun-filled Halloween.

*Seventeen Saloon: The saloon will be turn into a Halloween maze with well-known celebrities from hell like Jason, Dracula, Vampire and Frankenstein. There are two different theme nights including “The return of Jason” (the main character in the Friday the 13th horror movie) featuring dances and gameshows on Oct 30 and “The combination of Dracular and vampire” on Oct 31.

The fun starts at 9 p.m. both nights at Seventeen Saloon, 103A Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1. Guests who buy a bottle of spirits will get one Halloween mask or gift. Seventeen Saloon with give prizes for guests with the best make up. Free make-up is available from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For further information, contact 3914 0007 or 0944 017 017.

*Vasco’s bar: To celebrate Halloween on Oct. 30, Vasco’s will transform its two rooms into dungeons. The main room will feature A.K.A.T, DJ Kamel Knight, DJ Robert Brant, DJ Alex Zander, Jordan and Jase while the Blue Room will host several birthday parties with music by Von Knappe, Don Pucci, DR.Jakell and guest performers.

The night also includes a variety of prizes and specials including a bottle of Southern Comfort and a US$200 F&B voucher to be used at La Camargue and Vasco’s for Best Male Costume and best Female Costume. Lucky guests will also have a chance to win bottles of Southern Comfort throughout the night.

Vasco’s 74/7D Hai Ba Trung Street, District 1, HCMC, tel: 3824 3148.

*Acoustic Café: The live music cafe Acoustic will host “Scream From the Ring” at 8 p.m. on Saturday Oct. 30. The Halloween live concert features bands Titanium, Coconuts and Overload, singers Ha Okia, Thao Trang, Chu Minh Ki, Minh MTV and special guests guitarist Nguyen Dat and his famous band Da Vang.

The night will also feature a host of horror games with the chance to win prizes worth US$400. Halloween makeup for guests is available from 6 p.m. Entrance is VND80,000 inclusive of a drink. Entry is free for guests in Halloween costumes.

Acoustic, 6E1 Ngo Thoi Nhiem Street, District 3, HCMC, tel: 3930 2239.

*Hard Rock Café: “Running with the Devil” is the Halloween Special Treat to guests at 9 p.m. on Saturday Oct 30. The café offers free entrance with live music, free shots and special treats for those in Halloween costume.

Hard Rock Café s at Kumho Asiana Plaza, 39 Le Duan Blvd., District 1.

Related Articles

• Leafy wonder
• Hanoi model wins Miss Vietnam 2010
• HCMC begins to think about giving up meat
• Blue seas and unspoiled beaches
• Tevez on target as Man City beat Liverpool 3-0

Rice done right

Tay Ninh Province is approximately 90 kilometers to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.

The area remains a popular tourist destination thanks to its lush forests and serene pagodas. But, for most foodies, Tay Ninh’s major draw is its local delicacies. Between banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang (Trang Bang dew-wetted rice paper) and banh canh (a thick Vietnamese noodle made from a mixture of rice and tapioca flour), the province is worth the visit.

Banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang

Rice paper is everywhere in HCMC. It typically appears at the table in piles of store-bought rounds and eats with the consistency of a raincoat.

To offset this, some moisten the sheets with water and fill them with tasty bits of meat and fresh herbs.

Trang Bang District’s “dew-wetted rice paper,” however, is the result of a painstaking, seven-step process.

The special ingredient is the rice itself. Tay Ninh varietals are known for their delicate fragrance and the trick to making good paper is remaining true to the grain’s original flavor.

When cooks want to make the rice paper, the grains are soaked for two to three hours.

The wet grains are then mixed with a little salt and ground into a sort of paste.

The processed mush is then spread in two thin layers on a cloth that is hung over a cauldron full of boiling water. The mixture is then spread out over a bamboo grid and left to dry in the sun.

The resulting paper is grilled over a fire of peanut shells. The cooks use a shallow pan to cook the double-layered paper and sniff the resulting smoke to ensure the fragrance is not lost.

HCMC LOCATIONS:

Hoang Ty Restaurant850 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District Tel: (08) 3 899 8820 691 B Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District (08) 3 898 8789 106 Cao Thang Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 833 2077 Banh canh Trang Bang441 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, District 5 Tel: (08) 3 856 1268 180 Ly Thai To Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 832 2532

The paper is then left out overnight, to be moistened by the evening dew. Ideally, these famed rice paper makers will yield a wrap that is, at once, soft, tender and springy. Most importantly, the final product should still bear the smell of the original rice plant.

Pork is also a crucial ingredient in the dish, therefore, it must be chosen carefully. Tay Ninh favors lean cuts from the rump which is selected for its thin skin.

The meat is then paired with locally-grown fresh herbs like basil, peppermint, and chives. Locals from the district are known to throw in thin slices of mango bud and perilla. Add some strips of pickled carrot and Daikon and you’re almost there. But this roll is nothing without the nation’s famed sweet and sour dipping sauce - comprised of fish sauce, sugar, garlic, lime and chili.

It costs around VND90,000 for a portion which easily feeds two.

Banh canh Trang Bang

Another Tay Ninh favorite is the famed banh canh Trang Bang (thick noodle soup with pork hock). The dish is comprised of a bowl of delicious bone broth filled with springy noodles, and spiced fish sauce.

A fatty and chewy smoked ham hock is plopped down in the center of the dish, which can intimidate some foreign eaters.

Ham hocks in the New World are typically smoked, stewed and discarded. But here in Vietnam, they are chewed gnawed and sucked clean of marrow.

Thick skinned, and chock full of tasty tendons, the hock should be tacked with a combination of spoon and pork chops. Just eat it! You won’t be sorry.

Thanks to a little help from the tapioca flour, the chewy banh canh noodles will have absorbed a good deal of that divine swine flavor.

A bowl of banh canh costs between VND27,000–40,000 depending on where you’re dining.

Related Articles

• High rice price cuts exports
• Assoc insists on power price hike despite protests
• Energy group asks for 50% price hike
• Rice done right
• Vietnamese inflation quickened in September to 8.92 pct

Rice done right

Tay Ninh Province is approximately 90 kilometers to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.

The area remains a popular tourist destination thanks to its lush forests and serene pagodas. But, for most foodies, Tay Ninh’s major draw is its local delicacies. Between banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang (Trang Bang dew-wetted rice paper) and banh canh (a thick Vietnamese noodle made from a mixture of rice and tapioca flour), the province is worth the visit.

Banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang

Rice paper is everywhere in HCMC. It typically appears at the table in piles of store-bought rounds and eats with the consistency of a raincoat.

To offset this, some moisten the sheets with water and fill them with tasty bits of meat and fresh herbs.

Trang Bang District’s “dew-wetted rice paper,” however, is the result of a painstaking, seven-step process.

The special ingredient is the rice itself. Tay Ninh varietals are known for their delicate fragrance and the trick to making good paper is remaining true to the grain’s original flavor.

When cooks want to make the rice paper, the grains are soaked for two to three hours.

The wet grains are then mixed with a little salt and ground into a sort of paste.

The processed mush is then spread in two thin layers on a cloth that is hung over a cauldron full of boiling water. The mixture is then spread out over a bamboo grid and left to dry in the sun.

The resulting paper is grilled over a fire of peanut shells. The cooks use a shallow pan to cook the double-layered paper and sniff the resulting smoke to ensure the fragrance is not lost.

HCMC LOCATIONS:

Hoang Ty Restaurant850 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District Tel: (08) 3 899 8820 691 B Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District (08) 3 898 8789 106 Cao Thang Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 833 2077 Banh canh Trang Bang441 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, District 5 Tel: (08) 3 856 1268 180 Ly Thai To Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 832 2532

The paper is then left out overnight, to be moistened by the evening dew. Ideally, these famed rice paper makers will yield a wrap that is, at once, soft, tender and springy. Most importantly, the final product should still bear the smell of the original rice plant.

Pork is also a crucial ingredient in the dish, therefore, it must be chosen carefully. Tay Ninh favors lean cuts from the rump which is selected for its thin skin.

The meat is then paired with locally-grown fresh herbs like basil, peppermint, and chives. Locals from the district are known to throw in thin slices of mango bud and perilla. Add some strips of pickled carrot and Daikon and you’re almost there. But this roll is nothing without the nation’s famed sweet and sour dipping sauce - comprised of fish sauce, sugar, garlic, lime and chili.

It costs around VND90,000 for a portion which easily feeds two.

Banh canh Trang Bang

Another Tay Ninh favorite is the famed banh canh Trang Bang (thick noodle soup with pork hock). The dish is comprised of a bowl of delicious bone broth filled with springy noodles, and spiced fish sauce.

A fatty and chewy smoked ham hock is plopped down in the center of the dish, which can intimidate some foreign eaters.

Ham hocks in the New World are typically smoked, stewed and discarded. But here in Vietnam, they are chewed gnawed and sucked clean of marrow.

Thick skinned, and chock full of tasty tendons, the hock should be tacked with a combination of spoon and pork chops. Just eat it! You won’t be sorry.

Thanks to a little help from the tapioca flour, the chewy banh canh noodles will have absorbed a good deal of that divine swine flavor.

A bowl of banh canh costs between VND27,000–40,000 depending on where you’re dining.

Related Articles

• High rice price cuts exports
• Assoc insists on power price hike despite protests
• Energy group asks for 50% price hike
• Rice done right
• Vietnamese inflation quickened in September to 8.92 pct

Rice done right

Tay Ninh Province is approximately 90 kilometers to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.

The area remains a popular tourist destination thanks to its lush forests and serene pagodas. But, for most foodies, Tay Ninh’s major draw is its local delicacies. Between banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang (Trang Bang dew-wetted rice paper) and banh canh (a thick Vietnamese noodle made from a mixture of rice and tapioca flour), the province is worth the visit.

Banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang

Rice paper is everywhere in HCMC. It typically appears at the table in piles of store-bought rounds and eats with the consistency of a raincoat.

To offset this, some moisten the sheets with water and fill them with tasty bits of meat and fresh herbs.

Trang Bang District’s “dew-wetted rice paper,” however, is the result of a painstaking, seven-step process.

The special ingredient is the rice itself. Tay Ninh varietals are known for their delicate fragrance and the trick to making good paper is remaining true to the grain’s original flavor.

When cooks want to make the rice paper, the grains are soaked for two to three hours.

The wet grains are then mixed with a little salt and ground into a sort of paste.

The processed mush is then spread in two thin layers on a cloth that is hung over a cauldron full of boiling water. The mixture is then spread out over a bamboo grid and left to dry in the sun.

The resulting paper is grilled over a fire of peanut shells. The cooks use a shallow pan to cook the double-layered paper and sniff the resulting smoke to ensure the fragrance is not lost.

HCMC LOCATIONS:

Hoang Ty Restaurant850 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District Tel: (08) 3 899 8820 691 B Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District (08) 3 898 8789 106 Cao Thang Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 833 2077 Banh canh Trang Bang441 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, District 5 Tel: (08) 3 856 1268 180 Ly Thai To Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 832 2532

The paper is then left out overnight, to be moistened by the evening dew. Ideally, these famed rice paper makers will yield a wrap that is, at once, soft, tender and springy. Most importantly, the final product should still bear the smell of the original rice plant.

Pork is also a crucial ingredient in the dish, therefore, it must be chosen carefully. Tay Ninh favors lean cuts from the rump which is selected for its thin skin.

The meat is then paired with locally-grown fresh herbs like basil, peppermint, and chives. Locals from the district are known to throw in thin slices of mango bud and perilla. Add some strips of pickled carrot and Daikon and you’re almost there. But this roll is nothing without the nation’s famed sweet and sour dipping sauce - comprised of fish sauce, sugar, garlic, lime and chili.

It costs around VND90,000 for a portion which easily feeds two.

Banh canh Trang Bang

Another Tay Ninh favorite is the famed banh canh Trang Bang (thick noodle soup with pork hock). The dish is comprised of a bowl of delicious bone broth filled with springy noodles, and spiced fish sauce.

A fatty and chewy smoked ham hock is plopped down in the center of the dish, which can intimidate some foreign eaters.

Ham hocks in the New World are typically smoked, stewed and discarded. But here in Vietnam, they are chewed gnawed and sucked clean of marrow.

Thick skinned, and chock full of tasty tendons, the hock should be tacked with a combination of spoon and pork chops. Just eat it! You won’t be sorry.

Thanks to a little help from the tapioca flour, the chewy banh canh noodles will have absorbed a good deal of that divine swine flavor.

A bowl of banh canh costs between VND27,000–40,000 depending on where you’re dining.

Related Articles

• High rice price cuts exports
• Assoc insists on power price hike despite protests
• Energy group asks for 50% price hike
• Rice done right
• Vietnamese inflation quickened in September to 8.92 pct

Rice done right

Tay Ninh Province is approximately 90 kilometers to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.

The area remains a popular tourist destination thanks to its lush forests and serene pagodas. But, for most foodies, Tay Ninh’s major draw is its local delicacies. Between banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang (Trang Bang dew-wetted rice paper) and banh canh (a thick Vietnamese noodle made from a mixture of rice and tapioca flour), the province is worth the visit.

Banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang

Rice paper is everywhere in HCMC. It typically appears at the table in piles of store-bought rounds and eats with the consistency of a raincoat.

To offset this, some moisten the sheets with water and fill them with tasty bits of meat and fresh herbs.

Trang Bang District’s “dew-wetted rice paper,” however, is the result of a painstaking, seven-step process.

The special ingredient is the rice itself. Tay Ninh varietals are known for their delicate fragrance and the trick to making good paper is remaining true to the grain’s original flavor.

When cooks want to make the rice paper, the grains are soaked for two to three hours.

The wet grains are then mixed with a little salt and ground into a sort of paste.

The processed mush is then spread in two thin layers on a cloth that is hung over a cauldron full of boiling water. The mixture is then spread out over a bamboo grid and left to dry in the sun.

The resulting paper is grilled over a fire of peanut shells. The cooks use a shallow pan to cook the double-layered paper and sniff the resulting smoke to ensure the fragrance is not lost.

HCMC LOCATIONS:

Hoang Ty Restaurant850 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District Tel: (08) 3 899 8820 691 B Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District (08) 3 898 8789 106 Cao Thang Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 833 2077 Banh canh Trang Bang441 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, District 5 Tel: (08) 3 856 1268 180 Ly Thai To Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 832 2532

The paper is then left out overnight, to be moistened by the evening dew. Ideally, these famed rice paper makers will yield a wrap that is, at once, soft, tender and springy. Most importantly, the final product should still bear the smell of the original rice plant.

Pork is also a crucial ingredient in the dish, therefore, it must be chosen carefully. Tay Ninh favors lean cuts from the rump which is selected for its thin skin.

The meat is then paired with locally-grown fresh herbs like basil, peppermint, and chives. Locals from the district are known to throw in thin slices of mango bud and perilla. Add some strips of pickled carrot and Daikon and you’re almost there. But this roll is nothing without the nation’s famed sweet and sour dipping sauce - comprised of fish sauce, sugar, garlic, lime and chili.

It costs around VND90,000 for a portion which easily feeds two.

Banh canh Trang Bang

Another Tay Ninh favorite is the famed banh canh Trang Bang (thick noodle soup with pork hock). The dish is comprised of a bowl of delicious bone broth filled with springy noodles, and spiced fish sauce.

A fatty and chewy smoked ham hock is plopped down in the center of the dish, which can intimidate some foreign eaters.

Ham hocks in the New World are typically smoked, stewed and discarded. But here in Vietnam, they are chewed gnawed and sucked clean of marrow.

Thick skinned, and chock full of tasty tendons, the hock should be tacked with a combination of spoon and pork chops. Just eat it! You won’t be sorry.

Thanks to a little help from the tapioca flour, the chewy banh canh noodles will have absorbed a good deal of that divine swine flavor.

A bowl of banh canh costs between VND27,000–40,000 depending on where you’re dining.

Related Articles

• High rice price cuts exports
• Assoc insists on power price hike despite protests
• Energy group asks for 50% price hike
• Rice done right
• Greenback firmer on signs of rising demand

Rice done right

Tay Ninh Province is approximately 90 kilometers to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.

The area remains a popular tourist destination thanks to its lush forests and serene pagodas. But, for most foodies, Tay Ninh’s major draw is its local delicacies. Between banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang (Trang Bang dew-wetted rice paper) and banh canh (a thick Vietnamese noodle made from a mixture of rice and tapioca flour), the province is worth the visit.

Banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang

Rice paper is everywhere in HCMC. It typically appears at the table in piles of store-bought rounds and eats with the consistency of a raincoat.

To offset this, some moisten the sheets with water and fill them with tasty bits of meat and fresh herbs.

Trang Bang District’s “dew-wetted rice paper,” however, is the result of a painstaking, seven-step process.

The special ingredient is the rice itself. Tay Ninh varietals are known for their delicate fragrance and the trick to making good paper is remaining true to the grain’s original flavor.

When cooks want to make the rice paper, the grains are soaked for two to three hours.

The wet grains are then mixed with a little salt and ground into a sort of paste.

The processed mush is then spread in two thin layers on a cloth that is hung over a cauldron full of boiling water. The mixture is then spread out over a bamboo grid and left to dry in the sun.

The resulting paper is grilled over a fire of peanut shells. The cooks use a shallow pan to cook the double-layered paper and sniff the resulting smoke to ensure the fragrance is not lost.

HCMC LOCATIONS:

Hoang Ty Restaurant850 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District Tel: (08) 3 899 8820 691 B Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District (08) 3 898 8789 106 Cao Thang Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 833 2077 Banh canh Trang Bang441 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, District 5 Tel: (08) 3 856 1268 180 Ly Thai To Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 832 2532

The paper is then left out overnight, to be moistened by the evening dew. Ideally, these famed rice paper makers will yield a wrap that is, at once, soft, tender and springy. Most importantly, the final product should still bear the smell of the original rice plant.

Pork is also a crucial ingredient in the dish, therefore, it must be chosen carefully. Tay Ninh favors lean cuts from the rump which is selected for its thin skin.

The meat is then paired with locally-grown fresh herbs like basil, peppermint, and chives. Locals from the district are known to throw in thin slices of mango bud and perilla. Add some strips of pickled carrot and Daikon and you’re almost there. But this roll is nothing without the nation’s famed sweet and sour dipping sauce - comprised of fish sauce, sugar, garlic, lime and chili.

It costs around VND90,000 for a portion which easily feeds two.

Banh canh Trang Bang

Another Tay Ninh favorite is the famed banh canh Trang Bang (thick noodle soup with pork hock). The dish is comprised of a bowl of delicious bone broth filled with springy noodles, and spiced fish sauce.

A fatty and chewy smoked ham hock is plopped down in the center of the dish, which can intimidate some foreign eaters.

Ham hocks in the New World are typically smoked, stewed and discarded. But here in Vietnam, they are chewed gnawed and sucked clean of marrow.

Thick skinned, and chock full of tasty tendons, the hock should be tacked with a combination of spoon and pork chops. Just eat it! You won’t be sorry.

Thanks to a little help from the tapioca flour, the chewy banh canh noodles will have absorbed a good deal of that divine swine flavor.

A bowl of banh canh costs between VND27,000–40,000 depending on where you’re dining.

Related Articles

• High rice price cuts exports
• Assoc insists on power price hike despite protests
• Energy group asks for 50% price hike
• Rice done right
• Greenback firmer on signs of rising demand

Rice done right

Tay Ninh Province is approximately 90 kilometers to the northwest of Ho Chi Minh City.

The area remains a popular tourist destination thanks to its lush forests and serene pagodas. But, for most foodies, Tay Ninh’s major draw is its local delicacies. Between banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang (Trang Bang dew-wetted rice paper) and banh canh (a thick Vietnamese noodle made from a mixture of rice and tapioca flour), the province is worth the visit.

Banh trang phoi suong Trang Bang

Rice paper is everywhere in HCMC. It typically appears at the table in piles of store-bought rounds and eats with the consistency of a raincoat.

To offset this, some moisten the sheets with water and fill them with tasty bits of meat and fresh herbs.

Trang Bang District’s “dew-wetted rice paper,” however, is the result of a painstaking, seven-step process.

The special ingredient is the rice itself. Tay Ninh varietals are known for their delicate fragrance and the trick to making good paper is remaining true to the grain’s original flavor.

When cooks want to make the rice paper, the grains are soaked for two to three hours.

The wet grains are then mixed with a little salt and ground into a sort of paste.

The processed mush is then spread in two thin layers on a cloth that is hung over a cauldron full of boiling water. The mixture is then spread out over a bamboo grid and left to dry in the sun.

The resulting paper is grilled over a fire of peanut shells. The cooks use a shallow pan to cook the double-layered paper and sniff the resulting smoke to ensure the fragrance is not lost.

HCMC LOCATIONS:

Hoang Ty Restaurant850 Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District Tel: (08) 3 899 8820 691 B Xo Viet Nghe Tinh Street, Binh Thanh District (08) 3 898 8789 106 Cao Thang Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 833 2077 Banh canh Trang Bang441 Nguyen Tri Phuong Street, District 5 Tel: (08) 3 856 1268 180 Ly Thai To Street, District 3 Tel: (08) 3 832 2532

The paper is then left out overnight, to be moistened by the evening dew. Ideally, these famed rice paper makers will yield a wrap that is, at once, soft, tender and springy. Most importantly, the final product should still bear the smell of the original rice plant.

Pork is also a crucial ingredient in the dish, therefore, it must be chosen carefully. Tay Ninh favors lean cuts from the rump which is selected for its thin skin.

The meat is then paired with locally-grown fresh herbs like basil, peppermint, and chives. Locals from the district are known to throw in thin slices of mango bud and perilla. Add some strips of pickled carrot and Daikon and you’re almost there. But this roll is nothing without the nation’s famed sweet and sour dipping sauce - comprised of fish sauce, sugar, garlic, lime and chili.

It costs around VND90,000 for a portion which easily feeds two.

Banh canh Trang Bang

Another Tay Ninh favorite is the famed banh canh Trang Bang (thick noodle soup with pork hock). The dish is comprised of a bowl of delicious bone broth filled with springy noodles, and spiced fish sauce.

A fatty and chewy smoked ham hock is plopped down in the center of the dish, which can intimidate some foreign eaters.

Ham hocks in the New World are typically smoked, stewed and discarded. But here in Vietnam, they are chewed gnawed and sucked clean of marrow.

Thick skinned, and chock full of tasty tendons, the hock should be tacked with a combination of spoon and pork chops. Just eat it! You won’t be sorry.

Thanks to a little help from the tapioca flour, the chewy banh canh noodles will have absorbed a good deal of that divine swine flavor.

A bowl of banh canh costs between VND27,000–40,000 depending on where you’re dining.

Related Articles

• High rice price cuts exports
• Assoc insists on power price hike despite protests
• Energy group asks for 50% price hike
• Rice done right
• Greenback firmer on signs of rising demand

Venues for Mid-Autumn celebrations

Children play around a giant fish lantern - Photo: Le Toan

When the Mid-Autumn Festival comes, the streets are full of children carrying lanterns with friends and parents, watching lion dances and joining folk games. Here are some ideal venues for festival celebrations.

In Hanoi

The program “Vietnam-China Color” at the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology at Nguyen Van Huyen Street, Cau Giay District on September 17 - 20.

The program will feature Chinese and Vietnamese dramas, traditional music, dances, lion – dragon dances and water puppet shows. There will be a variety of Vietnamese and Chinese traditional games and toys such as lanterns, kites and Chinese masks.

Visitors to the museum can enjoy Chinese tea and learn to bake traditional cakes. Dress ups in Vietnamese and Chinese traditional costumes, oral legends of the Mid-Autumn Festival, cultural films of Vietnam and China, and singing and dancing shows are also part of the activities.

Tickets are available at Vietnam Museum of Ethnology for VND25,000 per adult, VND30,000 per children and VND5,000 for students.

“Kid’s party to admire the moon” at Tay Ho Park on September 19

One thousand primary school kids in Hanoi will enjoy contests and Mid-Autumn activities such as craft classes to make lanterns, kites and to he  (a traditional children’s toy made by shaping glutinous rice powder dough into edible figurines such as animals, flowers or characters from folk stories)

The night will be broadcast live on VTV1 on September 22.

Thang Long lantern parade at Hoan Kiem Lake on September 22

There will be a lantern parade around the lake with a lion dance troupe and a 1,000-meter-long dragon, 1,000 lanterns, 1,200 lantern hanging on the streets and 1,000 lotus flowers released on the lake.

Children will be given moon cakes, fruits and snacks.

In HCMC

“Full Moon” Festival at HCMC Fine Arts Museum, 1 Le Thi Hong Gam in District 1 on September 18

Learn how to make lanterns from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. with bamboo, plastic, paper and paints, enjoy a lantern exhibition, music shows and film screening from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

“Love Mid-Autumn Festival” at the Hoa Binh Theater at 240-242 Ba Thang Hai Street, District 10 on September 18

The program will feature music shows for children.

“Charitable Mid-Autumn Fair” at Ben Thanh Theater, 6 Mac Dinh Chi Street in District 1, on September 18

Games and shows will keep the kids entertained while the parents can discuss with experts how to make their kids healthier and smarter. All the proceeds will be donated to children with heart disease at Children Hospital 2.

Children can also celebrate the festival at Dam Sen Park, 3 Hoa Binh Street in District 11, design and make their own lanterns to enter a contest, enjoy dragon dances, lantern parades and story telling contests. At Binh Quoi Tourist Area 1, children and their parents can join folk games. The circus at September 23 Park will be on and Nguyen Du Stadium has water puppet shows.

Related Articles

• Timber-product exporters sign $3b deals