VietNam Life Style: Chao

Monday, December 20, 2010

Variety show restages history

Mythic: A scene from Xin Chao! that tells the story of Lac Long Quan and Aâu Co (Dragon Father and Fairy Mother). The interdisciplinary production is being staged at the September 23 Park in HCM City. – Photo courtesy Xin Chao Company

HCM CITY — A narration of Viet Nam's mythical origins and history through dance, circus performances and martial arts is being staged at the September 23 Park in HCM City.

Xin Chao! (Hello), a production of the Xin Chao Art Performance Company, aims to offer foreign tourists to HCM City glimpses into the nation's culture and history in a new form.

The show is directed by American Laura Burke, who has written scripts for Hollywood films for 30 years and has lived in Viet Nam for eight years.

The 90-minute work features Viet Nam's mythological origins expressed though the story of Lac Long Quan-Aâu Co (Dragon Father and Fairy Mother) as also the valiant acts of national heroins Hai Ba Trung (Two Trung Sisters).

Fifty performers, including the country's top acrobats, martial artists and traditional and contemporary dancers will perform in the show that is being staged every night at 2 Pham Ngu Lao Street, District 1. Tickets at VND200,000 (US$10) for Monday through Tuesday, and VND400,000 ($20) for the remaining days of the week are available at the park. Admission is free for children under five. — VNS

Sunday, October 24, 2010

New culture show to lure visitors to HCMC

Photo: Tuoi Tre " style="text-decoration:none" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> xin chao

Artists rehearse an act of the "Xin Chao" in Ho Chi Minh City Circus on October 20, 2010

Photo: Tuoi Tre

Starting this December, locals and tourists will have a chance to experience a cultural show organized by the Xin Chao Art performance Co. Ltd, featuring cultural traits of Vietnam to attract tourists.

Entitled “Xin Chao” (Hello), the premier with 50 artists will kick off on December 3 and will continue every night at 6.30pm at the Ho Chi Minh City Circus Theater at September 23 Park in District 1. Sunday shows are meant for kids and family with discount fares.

There will be three parts featuring the tale of Lac Long Quan and his wife Au Co, who are believed to be the first ancestors of Vietnam, heroines Trung Sisters and the contemporary life in Vietnam.

“Xin Chao” is the same genre as Cirque du Soleil, a dramatic mix of circus arts and performances originated from Canada that has been widely spread to Japan and Macau.

The script is written by Laura Burke, an American producer and director who have been living, working and researching on Vietnamese culture and history over the last 8 years. She has also participated in different art activities such as her recent staging a traditional musical show called Ho Xuan Huong at HCMC’s Opera House.

For this new project, Laura expects to employ Binh Dinh martial art and Vietnamese traditional and cultural habits into the show to attract international audience.

This is also a chance for young artists in different fields like circus, martial arts, aerobat and dancing to show off their talents in a big stage for long term.

“There are many tourists coming to HCMC every year. However, they are only hanging around bar, cinema or restaurant because there is no entertainment place with Vietnamese culture,” said Augustus Greaves, representative of the show.

“Vietnam is a beautiful country with a rich culture. We need to exploit the cultural traits to attract tourists and they will spend more and have more reasons to stay in Vietnam.”

VietNam Life Style