Lion, dragon dancers on show

HA NOI (VNS)— My Dinh Stadium Square will be a stage for dragon and lion dance groups tomorrow afternoon to celebrate Ha Noi's Liberation Day (October 10).

"The festival this year will be bigger than ever with the participation of at least 50 dragon and lion dance groups," said Nguyen Khac Loi, vice director of Ha Noi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. "The first of its kind was held in 2005 with only 16 groups."

"This year, 29 districts in urban and suburban Ha Noi registered to join," he said. "It's expected that the festival will be held regularly and will become a tourism product which lures visitors to the capital and promotes traditional cultural values."

Before performing at the square at 2.30pm, some groups will parade on the main streets of the capital to promote the festival and create an exciting atmosphere.

Gangnam style spices mass

My Dinh Stadium Square will also host a programme called Hay Cung Hat Vang (Let's Sing Together) on Sunday afternoon celebrating the capital's anniversary.

A record number of people including celebrities, foreigners and the disabled will sing and dance together in the name of peace and love. A series of street performances will start at 3pm at the square such as a flash mob, dance sports, beat box, pakour (free running), free style football, BMX (the sport of racing bicycles in motocross style on tracks) and skating. The recent smash hit Gangnam Style will be one of the dances performed.

In the most special part of the programme, participants will be given microphones and hold hands to form a large circle and sing. They will set a Vietnamese record for the largest number of people singing and dancing together. — VNS