Saigon weekend: what to do and where to go

Exhibition "Sony World Photography Awards"

Ho Chi Minh Museum of Fine Arts will host a free photography exhibition by Sony, showcasing selected works of Vietnamese and international photographers.

The Sony World Photography Awards exhibition poster. Photo courtesy of Sony - Alpha Vietnam

The exhibition will display award-winning works from the past 10 years of Sony World Photography Awards, representing the diverse and creative visions of amateur and professional photographers. The visitors will have a chance to see the world through different lenses and perspectives, and to appreciate the beauty and meaning of life.

The exhibition will take place on July 21, from 1:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., and on July 22, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., at the Ho Chi Minh Museum of Fine Arts, at 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1.

Taste of Belgium Festival

Join the annual Taste of Belgium Festival in Saigon on July 22 for a celebration of Belgian culture. This date commemorates the Belgian National Day and the 192nd anniversary of the Kingdom of Belgium on July 21.

The festival, graced by the presence of Ambassador of Belgium to Vietnam, Karl Van den Bossche, promises a gathering with an array of Belgian delights, including refreshing Belgian beers, fries, and more. Visitors can indulge in over 40 famous types of beer and savor Belgian dishes.

"Taste of Belgium Festival" poster. Photo courtesy of Pullman Saigon Center

The Taste of Belgium Festival offers ticket deals such as "buy 10 get 1 free," "buy 20 get 3 free," and "buy 50 get 7 free." The regular entry price for adults is VND350,000 ($14.81), which includes two beers and one collector mug. Members of Accor Plus and Eurocham will receive a complimentary portion of fries.

The event is scheduled to take place on July 22, from noon to 9 p.m., at the Ballroom on Level 1 of Pullman Saigon Center, at 148 Tran Hung Dao Boulevard, District 1.

Celebrate Belgian national day with Belgo

Belgo, a Belgian restaurant and brewery in Ho Chi Minh City, invites everyone to join its celebration of Belgian National Day on July 21. The celebration at Belgo will feature live music, Belgian food, artisan beer, and exciting prizes.

A poster for a Belgian National Day celebration with Belgo. Photo courtesy of Belgo Belgian Craft Beer Brewery

Guests will enjoy a 20% discount on all Belgian signature dishes, such as mussels, fries, waffles, and chocolate. They will also be able to taste the Belgo Blonde beer for just VND50,000 ($2.12) per cup all day long. Guests will also have a chance to participate in a lottery and win beer-related prizes.

The event will start at 6 p.m. and continue until late, at Belgo Dakao, at 159A Nguyen Van Thu, Da Kao Ward, District 1.

Exhibition of Vietnamese glass folk paintings

The Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts will host an exhibition showcasing Vietnamese glass folk paintings, one of 30 lines of Vietnamese folk paintings that use glass as the material. They reflect the customs, practices, beliefs and religions of different regions in Vietnam.

Vietnamese glass folk paintings. Photo courtesy of Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts

While Vietnamese glass folk paintings are revered for their uniqueness and diversity, they also face challenges posed by time and modernization. The art form encounters limited attention from researchers and collectors, and certain aspects require further validation and elucidation. Through this exhibition, the true value of glass paintings in contributing to the development of national culture will be celebrated.

The exhibition will be held from July 21 to 26, between 10 a.m. and 5p.m. every day, at the Ho Chi Minh City Museum of Fine Arts, at 97A Pho Duc Chinh Street, Nguyen Thai Binh Ward, District 1. Entrance is free.

French movie "Manon des Sources" (Manon of the Spring)

French cinema rendez-vous is a new 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.

"Manon des Sources" poster. Photo courtesy of French Cinema Rendez-vous

"Manon des Sources" is a 1986 French film by Claude Berri. It is about Manon, who lost her father to the greed of her neighbors Ugolin and Cesar. After ten years, Manon is a beautiful and solitary shepherdess in the mountains. Ugolin is in love with her, but she loathes him for his part in her father’s death. She plots revenge against him and Cesar by cutting off the water supply to the entire village. The film explores the emotions and actions of people regarding love, deception, vengeance, and justice in a scenic rural setting. "Manon des Sources" received many awards, including the BAFTA Award for Best Film Not in the English Language.

"Manon des Sources" will be shown at DCiné Cinema, 6 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, on July 22 at 7 p.m. The ticket price is VND60,000 ($2.54) per person.