Saigon weekend: What to do and where to go

By Phuc Trinh April 6, 2023 | 11:42 pm PT

Celebrate this weekend in Saigon with a variety of fun events, such as an art festival and exhibition, a Korean Culture Festival, and a cookie workshop.

Krossing Over Art Festival

The Krossing Over Art Festival (KOAF) is a celebration of dance and its interactions with music, poetry, visual arts, cinema, and more. It also showcases cultural exchanges between local and international artists. After four years of absence, the festival returns to Ho Chi Minh City with a new look and more exciting activities. From April 8 to 15, there will be four performances and two dance workshops that explore various aspects of personal and social identity.

The poster for the Krossing Over Art Festival. Photo courtesy of the Krossing Over Art Festival

The festival will kick off this Saturday with "When Film Meets Dance," a collection of six captivating short films that capture the fleeting beauty of dance, featuring the work of local artists and filmmakers. The program will be held from 8 p.m. to 9:45 p.m. at IDECAF, 28 Le Thanh Ton St., District 1.

On Sunday, at the "Resonance" dance workshop, visitors will use movement, voice, and sound to create a shared space shaped by the participants themselves. Whether you're an experienced artist or a beginner, this event will be a fun and stimulating experience. The worship will take place from 9 a.m. to noon, at The Lyricists Studio (3rd Floor of Youth Cultural House), 4 Pham Ngoc Thach St., District 1.

Exhibition LIT by Sun Life

LIT (Light up) is an exhibition that showcases four visual art spaces. The public can explore stories that reflect aspects of life illuminated by light, created by artists Uot Mi, Cao Hoang Long, Kyunri Vien, Diego Lazy and Chom Hom.

A piece of art from the exhibition LIT. Photo courtesy of Sun Life Viet Nam

The trio of artists Cao Hoang Long, Diego Lazy, and Kyunri Vien bring to the exhibition Generative AI technology and interactive art. Chom Hom uses virtual reality animations while Uot Mi (Pham Thi Vinh) brings a world full of light and color to viewers through her arts.

The exhibition is open to the public at The Ant Studio, Vu Tong Phan Street, An Phu Ward, District 2.

Easter cookies decoration workshop

L'Usine Thao Dien will host an Easter cookie decoration workshop for kids. You will get all the ingredients, materials, guidance from the L'Usine bakery team and a refreshing drink, and then take home your cookies after the workshop.

The poster for L'Usine Easter cookies decorating workshop. Photo courtesy of L’Usine

The L'Usine Easter cookies decoration workshop costs VND350,000 ($14.92) per person. The event happens on April 8 at L'Usine, 24 Thao Dien, District 2.

Korean Culture Festival 2023

At the Korean Culture Festival on April 7 and 8 in the Phu My Hung area, you can try on Hanbok, play Korean folk games, or write your name in Korean. You can also enjoy various Korean street food. There will be an acoustic music show and an outdoor singing contest for kids. And you can win prizes from the lucky draw program or by answer quiz questions.

The poster for the Korean Culture Festival 2023. Photo courtesy of Kiwooza Edutainment Vietnam

The festival is on Friday and Saturday, from 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. The event will take place at the SSMC Building, 9A Tran Van Tra St., Tan Phu Ward, District 7. Admission is free.

Sourdough baking class

Tartine Saïgon Vista Verde opens a beginner-friendly baking class this weekend, with two sessions on Saturday and Sunday. The Saturday class is from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., and includes a tea break. The Sunday class is from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with brunch break included. You will learn the whole sourdough process from scratch. The class is limited to 10 students.