Saigon weekend: clothing swap and rescue road trip

Clothing swap party

The event "Clothing Swap Party" encourages attendees to refresh their wardrobe sustainably by exchanging clothing items. Participants are instructed to bring their clothes, which will be checked for quality and exchanged for credits. These credits can then be used to acquire new fashion items from the event's collection.

People browse clothes at a swap event in HCMC. Photo courtesy of Saigon Swap

The event includes an entrance fee of VND150,000 ($6), which covers a complimentary drink and allows participants to swap up to 15 items. The event is scheduled for March 2, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at The Backyard, located at 19 Street 46, District 2.

Rescue road trip

The seasonal Rescue Road Trip aims to provide participants with the opportunity to explore scenic spots while supporting shelters and raising awareness about rescue animals in Vietnam. In the upcoming trip, attendees will visit Saigon Time Shelter in Binh Chanh District and then head to Tri An Lake in Dong Nai Province.

Accommodation in air-conditioned tents at the glamping site is provided, along with a welcome drink, BBQ dinner, and breakfast. Activities such as stand-up paddleboarding, hiking, swimming, cycling, and campfires are available throughout the trip.

Each package includes a VND250,000 ($10) donation to the shelter visited. Bringing a pet incurs an extra VND200,000 charge per pet for transportation and accommodation.

The event starts with pickup at 6 a.m. at R House, situated at 24/2 Tran Ngoc Dien Street, District 2, on March 3, and concludes with return on the evening of March 3.

Art exhibition "Of Scented Reverie"

The Annam Gallery presents an exhibition honoring the late artist Tu Duyen (1915-2012) titled "Of Scented Reverie." This exhibition features 18 artworks, including pieces on silk and paintings employing Tu Duyen's hand stamp painting technique.

"Of Scented Reverie" exhibition poster. Photo courtesy of Annam Gallery

"Of Scented Reverie" is a collection inspired by woodblock printing, featuring various flowers and Vietnamese women in traditional dress ao dai, alongside traditional musical instruments. Tu Duyen's favorite flowers, lotus, sunflower, and lily, are prominently depicted.

The exhibition will run from March 2 to 31, at the Annam Gallery, located at 371/4 Hai Ba Trung Street, District 3. It will be open to visitors every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with an entrance fee of VND70,000 ($2.80) per person.

Soap-making workshop

In the "Making Natural Soap" workshop, participants will learn to make their own natural chocolate soap using pure cocoa butter, cocoa powder, and various fragrance oils. They will also learn how to customize the soap's scent to make it unique.

Attendees are guided in creating their own soap at a workshop in HCMC. Photo courtesy of Binon Saigon Chocolate

The workshop is scheduled for March 2 from 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at Binon Chocolate Shop & Cafe, located at 12H Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, District 1. The workshop fee is VND550,000 ($22.30) per person.

French movie "Anatomie d'une chute" (Anatomy of a Fall)

French cinema Rendez-vous is a weekly event introducing the richness and diversity of French cinema by screening a variety of very different films. Screenings are held by French Cinema Rendez-vous and Institut Français de HCMV.

Part of the "Anatomie d'une chute" movie poster. Photo courtesy of French Cinema Rendez-vous

"Anatomy of a Fall" is a 2023 French drama following a writer wrongly accused of her husband's murder. The film also delves into the moral dilemma faced by their son, the sole witness to the incident, who is visually impaired.

The movie will be screened at 7 p.m. on March 2 at DCiné Cinema, 6 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1. The price of a ticket is VND75,000 ($3) per person.