Saigon weekend: what to do and where to go

Saigon wine fest 2023

The Saigon Wine Fest 2023 offers a celebration centered around wine, where attendees can indulge in wine samples, explore various wine styles, and even make purchases of glasses and bottles to take home. Alongside the wine, attendees can also savor delectable food pairings such as cheese, cold cuts, and French cuisine. The festival will feature live music, games and other interactive activities suitable for the whole family.

"Saigon wine fest 2023" poster. Photo courtesy of Saigon Outcast

The Saigon Wine Fest 2023 is scheduled to take place on July 15, from noon to 10 p.m. The event will be held at Saigon Outcast, located at 188/1 Nguyen Van Huong Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2. Entrance ticket is VND50,000 ($2) per person. Children can attend the event free of charge.

A journey to Osaka

Saigon Kitchen, a restaurant in Hôtel des Arts Saigon, invites guests to a culinary journey to Osaka. The restaurant showcases Japanese dishes prepared by guest chefs Matsuda and Yamashita from Swissôtel Nankai Osaka, who demonstrate their skills and creativity.

In addition to indulging in the cuisine, guests have the opportunity to explore the traditional art of origami with artist Lien Quoc Dat, who guides them in creating beautiful shapes and designs.

"A journey to Osaka" poster. Photo courtesy of Hôtel des Arts Saigon - MGallery

The event features two menus for guests to choose, including the Chic Buffet Lunch and Seafood Buffet Dinner. The Chic Buffet Lunch, available from July 13 to 16, is priced at VND728,000 ($30) per person, including tea and coffee. The Seafood Buffet Dinner, available from July 13 to 15, is priced at VND1,588,000 per person, including free-flow Sapporo and Sake, as well as tea and coffee.

The event will take place from July 13 to 16, at Saigon Kitchen. The restaurant is on the 2nd floor of Hôtel des Arts Saigon, at 76 - 78 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 3.

Expansions: a night of live funk, jazz, & fusion

Soma Saigon welcomes attendees to an evening filled with funk and jazz music, featuring two bands: the V-Funk Allstars and M(_Y_)A. The V-Funk Allstars brings a blend of funk and jazz, creating a distinctive sound.

"Expansions" poster. Photo courtesy of Soma Saigon

With uplifting melodies, they captivate audiences with both classic and modern funk tunes. M(_Y_)A offers a mix of funk and jazz vibes. Their music has an energy that entices listeners to hit the dance floor. The event will be supported by Stav, a British DJ, who will play a selection of funk and deep soul, all from vinyl.

The event will happen from 8 p.m. until late on July 15 at Soma Saigon, at 6 Le Van Mien Street, Thao Dien Ward, District 2. Visitors have the option to purchase an early-bird ticket for VND100,000. Alternatively, tickets will be available at the door for VND150,000.

Open art studio & concert

UOB (United Overseas Bank) presents the UOB Painting of the Year Art Competition & Celebration, a series of exciting activities for art lovers in Vietnam. The UOB Painting of the Year is an annual art competition that started in Singapore in 1982 and has expanded to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The competition aims to discover and support artists from Southeast Asia and to promote art appreciation in the region.

The main event of the celebration is the open art studio, which will take place this Sunday, featuring a community painting session, a talk show and a mini concert. The event is free and open to everyone who loves art. The event also includes the Traveling Art Studio workshops, which will help visitors explore their passions for art through different art materials.

UOB painting of the year art competition & celebration will take place on July 16 at The Ants Studio, located at No. 3, Dong Tay 1 Street, An Phu Ward, District 2.

Paws to park

All About Dogs and Laws For Paws Vietnam are teaming up to host a Paws To Park event, a charity dog walk and adoption day event that aims to help dogs in need.

Attendees are invited to join this event with their furry friends and meet other dog lovers. Attendees will also have the chance to adopt a dog from the event and give them a loving home.

"Paws to park" poster. Photo courtesy of Elizabeth Homfray

The event will be held on July 15, at All About Dogs D2, at 15 Nguyen Duy Hieu, Thao Dien Ward, Ho Chi Minh City. The dog walk will start at 8 a.m. and end at 9 a.m. The adoption session will follow and last until 11 a.m. Additionally, there will be a mini market with food, drinks, and other items.

To join the dog walk event, participants must register and pay a participation fee. The fees are VND75,000 ($3.15) for one dog, VND130,000 for two dogs, and VND190,000 for three dogs or more. Proceeds from the event will support Laws For Paws Vietnam, a non-profit organization dedicated to rescuing, rehabilitating, and finding new homes for abandoned, abused, or medically in-need dogs.