Cultural events to celebrate national day

To celebrate Viet Nam National Day on September 2 and the 40th anniversary of the implementation of President Ho Chi Minh’s testament, various art performances will be taking place in Ha Noi and HCM City.
The highlight of the celebrations will be a music gala to honour the life, career and service of President Ho Chi Minh at Ba Dinh Square on Saturday.
Entitled Ho Chi Minh – Mot Doi Vi Nuoc Vi Dan (Ho Chi Minh – A Life Devoted to the Country and People), the performance is being co-organised by the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum Management Board, Cong An Nhan Dan newspaper and HCM City Television.
Vietnamese pop singers will perform songs such as Ca Ngoi Ho Chu Tich (To Sing the Praises of President Ho), Tieng Hat Tu Thanh Pho Mang Ten Bac (Singing from the City that Bears the Name of Uncle Ho).
It is expected that thousands of local people and visitors will attend the event, which will start at 8pm in front of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.
The performance will be broadcast on VTV4 and HCM City’s HTV9 channels.
A drum performance with more than 100 musicians will open an art show entitled Trong Hoi Thang Long (Thang Long Festive Drums) at the National Convention Centre on Sunday night.
In harmony with other cultural events taking place in the city, the art show will celebrate the history of the capital and the country.
Another cultural highlight will be a concert organised by the Viet Nam National Orchestra and Ballet Theatre at Ha Noi Opera House on Tuesday.
Entitled Hon Thieng Song Nui (Holy Land Spirit), the concert will glorify the country’s past. Some 150 dancers and musicians will perform symphonies and ballets composed and choreographed by famous Vietnamese musicians and artists. The concert will be conducted by Nguyen Thien Dao and Dang Huu Phuc.
An exhibition about President Ho and General Vo Nguyen Giap will be held in the precinct of the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum next Wednesday.
On display will be 30 portraits in sand of President Ho and 23 portraits of General Giap by female artisan Y Lan. The exhibition will run until September 6.