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10 Things To Do In Saigon In July 2020, From Watching Ballet Performances To Sampling Craft Beer

Saigon events in July 2020


Vietnam has relaxed COVID-19 social distancing measures for nearly 2 months now, and many of us have freely roamed the streets and travelled domestically again.

Saigonese have even learned to embrace the rainy downpours and are entering the next phase of normalcy stronger than ever, with more plans for fun activities for well-deserved outings with friends and family. Check out our top picks of the most exciting things to do in Saigon in July 2020 to plan your next escapade around the city, from ballet performances to a craft beer festival.


Shopping in Saigon


1. Buy fresh produce from local farmers and sample craft beers


Saigon farmer market
Image credit: The Hive (Villa Saigon)

HCMC residents looking for alternatives from the usual supermarkets can come here for some new locally grown food options. A wide array of fresh, organic produce sold at an affordable price is what you can expect in the Urban Farm & Feast Market 2020. You can also walk around sampling craft beers and getting some tasty grub in the middle of your shopping spree.

Saigon farmer market
Image credit: The Hive (Villa Saigon)

Come here to unwind over the weekend and even exchange gardening tips with local farmers.

Saigon farmer market
Image credit: The Hive (Villa Saigon)

Vendors who wish to participate in the market can register here.

Date and time: 4th July 2020, 2PM-7PM
Venue: The Hive Villa – Outdoor Pool, 29 Nguyễn Bá Lân, Thảo Điền Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Price: Free

Website


Education and work talks in Saigon


2. Pick up skills to get into a cybersecurity career



Image credit: BAC – Business Analyst Training Center

Techies looking to learn about cybersecurity skills to add to your resume or complement your existing work knowledge should check out this learning course titled Information Security Awareness (Nhận Thức An Toàn An Ninh Thông Tin).

In this learning course, you’ll learn about the potential risks involving cybersecurity, from unauthorized access to a device’s data to a breach of corporate networks. The goal of the course is to help everyone become aware of the challenges in threat landscapes, tactics used by cyber attackers, and understand human risk behaviors – especially useful if you’ve ever worked in an IT department or become the go-to person to fix network or WiFi issues in the office.

cybersecurity course
Image credit: BAC – Business Analyst Training Center

This 3-hour course will be hosted by an instructor from BAC Training and Consultancy, a company specializing in business analysis training and consultancy.

Date and time: 5th July 2020, 9AM-12PM
Venue: 319 Lý Thường Kiệt, Ward 15, District 11, Ho Chi Minh City
Price: VND800,000 (~USD34.39)

Website


3. How to get into your dream US university with extracurricular activities


Now is about time for students who plan to go to college overseas to begin working on their college applications.

college application workshop
Image adapted from Crimson Education

To guide you through the process, Crimson Education Company will organize a workshop titled Strategize Extracurricular Activities To Crack Top US Colleges on how to improve your chances of getting into US colleges by using extracurriculars to your advantage.

college application workshop
Image adapted from: Crimson Education

In the workshop, Martin Walsh, a former Stanford University admission officer, will share tips on how to impress admission officers and explore your future career with your extracurriculars.

Both students and parents are welcomed to attend the workshop, where you’ll be given a one-on-one consulting session with educational experts from Crimson.

college application workshop
Image adapted from: Crimson Education

Register your attendance here.

Date and time: 5th July 2020, 9.30AM-11.30AM
Venue: Liberty Central Riverside, 17 Tôn Đức Thắng, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Price: Free

Website


4. Learn how to break into the product and UX design fields


college application workshop
Image credit: Wizeline Vietnam

Any software developer, UI/UX designer, data analyst hoping to learn more about product design, UX design, or how to conduct usability testing in the tech field should join this workshop.

In this workshop titled Tech Meetup #13: UX DESIGN v.s PRODUCT DESIGN, you’ll hear from experts about the theoretical concepts of design, a comparison between UX and Product Design, and how to engage in user-centered practices.

The speakers are Anna Nikitina, director of Majuna Design and Simon Kulkov, lead product designer at Ansarada Vietnam. Both have over 10 years of experience under their belts and extensive knowledge in the marketing and designing field.

Date and time: 30th July 2020, 6.30PM-9.30PM
Venue: 3rd Floor, Etown 1, 364 Cộng Hòa, Ward 13, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City
Price: Free

Website


Entertainment and arts events in Saigon



5. Art gallery opening


Art lovers in the area should not miss out on the exhibition of “Noirfoto Group Show: A Photographic Assembly”, where experimental and unconventional works are featured.

photo gallery
Image credit: Noirfoto Darkroom-Studio-Gallery

The exhibition will gather a good selection of works from promising as well as experienced photographers, guaranteeing a visual feast.

Some of the photographers whose work will be featured include Tom Hricko, Bạch Nam Hải, Trần Lê Quỳnh Anh, and Pham Tuấn Ngoc.

photo gallery
Image credit: Noirfoto Darkroom-Studio-Gallery

Noirfoto is the first photo darkroom in Vietnam, well fitted with modern equipment used to develop and print photographs shot with film cameras. Because of its innovative art space, Noirfoto is often trusted by many emerging talents to feature their artworks through exhibitions and workshops.

photo gallery
Image credit: Noirfoto Darkroom-Studio-Gallery

Noirfoto is situated inside Thảo Điền, Saigon’s most modern and bustling neighborhood with a plethora of riverside cafes and restaurants serving exotic cuisines. You can have your dinner in the area or shop in its many unique boutiques before dropping by the gallery.

Date and time: 3rd July 2020, 6PM-10PM
Venue: 199bis Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, Thảo Điền Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Price: Free

Website


6. Cho Lon’s Lantern Festival


the Lantern festival
Image credit: @tanbinh115

Colorful parades along major streets in District 5, Chinese musicals, and a great selection of Chinese food fairs are what we can always expect during The Lantern Festival (元宵節), or Tết Nguyên Tiêu in Vietnam. The festival usually takes place on the 15th day of the lunar month, immediately following the Lunar New Year, but was previously delayed due to COVID-19.

Fortunately, the parades and celebrations are back on 5th July, which is right around the corner.

the Lantern festival
Image credit: Tết Nguyên Tiêu Người Hoa ở Sài Gòn 2018

This year’s Lantern Festival festivities will be downsized to fewer activities and take place in only one day.

Parades and festivities will commence at 4.30PM on the same day in District 5, while Chinese-themed performances and engaging activities will be hosted at the Youth Center of District 5 on Trần Hưng Đạo Street.

Date and time: 5th July 2020, 4.30PM-10PM


7. Taste the best of local Vietnamese craft beers in one place


te te craft brewery
Image credit: Tê Tê Craft Beer

Wind down after a long week at the Craft Beer Festival 2020, that will showcase a wide variety of locally crafted beer from different parts of Vietnam, as well as ciders on tap.

Guests will also be treated to a night of live music with a DJ and get to pair their drinks with tasty food. Entry is VND60,000 (~USD2.58), including a souvenir beer glass you get to take home.

te te craft breweryImage credit: Tê Tê Craft Beer

Date and time: 11th and 12th July 2020, 12AM-11PM
Venue: Saigon Outcast, 188 Nguyễn Văn Hưởng, Thảo Điền Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Price: VND60,000 (~USD2.58)

Website


8. Listen to live music from movies played by a classical orchestra


the lion king
Image credit: Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera

Film lovers wouldn’t want to miss the Night of Film Music for anything in this world, where musical scores of famous films such as The Lion King, Frozen, the Harry Potter series, and Tom and Jerry will be performed live by an orchestra.

Soloists Phạm Khánh Ngọc, Hồ Trung Dũng, and Võ Hạ Trâm who are famous for their vocal ranges will also take to the stage.

fim music nightImage credit: Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera

These will be performed by professional musicians from the Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera and conducted by maestro Trần Nhật Minh.

Date and time: 11th and 12th July 2020, 8PM-10PM
Venue: Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera, 7 Công Trường Lam Sơn, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Price: VND450,000-VND900,000 (~USD19.34-USD38.68)

Website


9. Kiều-themed ballet performance


balletImage credit: Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera

Fusion dance fans at the Ballet Kiều show will be treated to a full evening of artful ballet and glorious music.

Ballet Kiều, directed by choreographers Nguyễn Phúc Hưng and Tuyết Minh, will be a combination between Western arts, ballet, and a Vietnamese traditional folk story titled The Tale Of Kiều.

dancer Tuyet Minh
Choreographer and ballerina Tuyết Minh
Image credit: Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera

The Tale Of Kiều is Vietnam’s most famous folk story written by Nguyễn Du in 1820, and passed down till today. It tells the story of Kiều, a beautiful and talented lady who sells her virginity for money to save her father and brother from prison.

This ballet production will feature 15 scenes from The Tale Of Kiều using modern ballet, hologram visual arts, and even underwater footage.

ballet Kieu
Image credit: Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera

Western symphonic music and Vietnam’s northern traditional music will also be deftly mixed for a unique experience.

The performance will also gather some of Vietnam’s most outstanding ballet dancers, such as Trần Hoàng Yến, Hồ Phi Điệp, and Đoàn Đức Nhuận.

Date and time: 23rd July 2020, 2PM-7PM
Venue: Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera, 7 Công Trường Lam Sơn, Bến Nghé Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Price: VND300,000-VND650,000 (~USD12.89-USD25.79)

Website


10. View a world-class film about the truth behind artificial fishing methods


artifishal
Image adapted from: Artifishal Trailer

Movie lovers, especially those who are interested in environmental issues, should watch the screening of Artifishal.

artifishal
Image credit: Outside Magazine

This Patagonia film addresses the challenges ecologists and conservationists face nowadays, the future of wild fishes, and how they have found problems in human-engineered fishing methods. The film explores the poor conditions of farms that breed genetically deficient fish, as well as underwater pollution caused by open-water farming.

The money earned from screening tickets will be donated to Earth.Org to support its efforts in tackling the climate crisis through data journalism and research.

artifishal
Image credit: Outside Magazine

Date and time: 21st May 2020, 8PM-11PM
Venue: The Hive Villa – Outdoor Pool, 29 Nguyễn Bá Lân, Thảo Điền Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City
Price: VND50,000 (~USD2.15)

Website


Things to do in Saigon in July 2020


For our pick of the most exciting and unique things to do in Saigon every month, check out our website regularly for updates on monthly happenings in the city.

Whether it’s a beer festival or a music night, there’s always something going on in Saigon.

Also check out:


Cover image adapted from: @tanbinh115, Tê Tê Craft Beer, Múa Việt Nam, and Ho Chi Minh City Ballet Symphony Orchestra and Opera

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