Models in a fashion show in Đà Nẵng City. A number of art shows and cultural programmes will be held in Đà Nẵng and Hội An ancient town as year-end events. Photo courtesy of Đà Nẵng City's Department of Culture and Sports

CENTRAL REGION — A series of art shows and cultural programmes will be organised in the central city of Đà Nẵng and Hội An ancient town as celebrations of Christmas Day and New Year among local residents, expats and visitors.

The city’s culture, sports and tourism department said the Đà Nẵng International Big Day – Out 2023, a celebration of all the arts, music, food and fun from around the world, will be staged at the APEC Park in Đà Nẵng City’s downtown on December 16-17.

It said the expat community will share with tourists and the local community creative talents, workshops, performances and products at the event.

A foreign artist draws a painting in an exhibition at Đà Nẵng City's Fine Arts Museum. The city will host the Đà Nẵng International Big Day – Out 2023 on December 16-17. VNS Photo Công Thành

The festival will include art exhibitions, installations, live music, dance and performances, workshops and markets, and a selection of cuisine from the city's top international restaurants.

Artists from expat communities in Đà Nẵng and neighbouring cities will bring 100 art works including water colour paintings, animation, pixel art, Hologram and augmented reality to the ‘Đà Nẵng Tui’ installation from 9am to 9pm on December 14-17.

At the same time, a fine arts exhibition of paintings – Vết dầu loang, or Oil Slick – from local artists focusing in sea environment protection will also open from 7.30am to 9pm on the second floor of APEC Park.

A long dress fashion show, The Colour of Đà Nẵng, will show traditional collections of long dress designs with the performance of models and artists from VKStar Áo Dài Show Đà Nẵng company, and Việt Nam Idol 2023 singer Xuân Định.

A painting created by an expat artist living in Đà Nẵng will go on display at the city's APEC Park on December 16-17. Photo courtesy of Đà Nẵng City's Department of Sports and Culture

The fashion show will hit the stage at 7.30pm on December 15.

Expat bands and artists will light up the event with their amazing performances from 5.30pm on December 16.

Foreigners living in Đà Nẵng and central Việt Nam will jointly create a painting – the colour of Đà Nẵng – to express their love to the city, the second home of some expats living so long in the city.

Kids and visitors will join art experiences at a workshop at the park from 9am to 9pm on December 14-17.

Participants will be invited to paint on sport shoes, canvas, stone and face, digital painting, wooden toy decorations and hand-bags, as well as enjoy a check-in space from morning to the evening on the three-day event.

Heritage town

Two sculptors create art on wood in Kim Bồng carpentry village, Hội An town. Many events will be organised in Hội An celebrating Việt Nam's Heritage Day and the UNESCO-recognised world heritage Hội An ancient town. Photo courtesy of Hội An City's information and culture centre

In the ancient town of Hội An, celebrations of the Việt Nam Heritage Day, the 24th anniversary of the town’s UNESCO world heritage recognition, and being newly named in UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2023, will include art installations, craft demonstrations and folk art performances to take place in An Hội Park and the Old Quarter.

The Korean Cultural Day Festival will trigger day and night art performance and exhibition events in Hội An in December.

Korean singer Jingju, B-Boy band, and an art troupe from Seoul National University will get together with Unwreckable – a K-Pop dance group from Việt Nam – SDG dance crew, Pha Lê Xanh band in a night performance at An Hội Park’s stage in the evening of December 9.

The festival will offer a cultural experience space of Hội An and South Korea, displaying local and Korean hand-made products and cuisine.

Visitors will enjoy trying on Hanbok, tasting Kimchi – a traditional spicy and sour Korean dish made of vegetables, and exploring crafts and tourism at Korean pavilions.

A woman makes a hammock from tree bark on Chàm Island, off the coast of Hội An town. The craft was listed in the city's UNESCO Creative Cities Network. Photo courtesy of Cù Lao Chàm Islands eco-tour Co-operative

Hội An also introduced its newly promoted brand as the ancient town officially joined the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2023, with craft and folk art performances.

An art photography exhibition ‘Hội An - Creativity and Development’ will be staged in the town along with demonstration and display from craft villages in Hội An on December 31.

The Quảng Nam Province's Culture and Cuisine Association will host the Quảng Nam Food Festival promoting local cuisine and specialities in Hội An from December 30 to January 1.

The festival will be displaying favourite foods of Quảng Nam including mỳ quảng (flat noodle with chicken or beef), cao lầu (a Hội An-based noodle dish), Cầu Mống smoked veal, cassava starch noodle and Đèo Le chicken, and the other food from Đà Nẵng, Bình Định, Khánh Hoà, Thừa Thiên Huế and central highlands provinces.

A 50-pavilion exhibition area will be a rendezvous of hand-made and OCOP (One Commune One Product) products from 18 communes, districts and villages in Quảng Nam and other provinces.

A photo of a model showing a new fashion collection of Yaly Couture in Hội An. The Yaly fashion show 2023 will be organised in Hội An on December 10. Photo courtesy of Hội An city's information and culture centre

Chefs will host a cooking class tour for all arrivals visiting food courts at the festival from day to night time.

In boosting the value of the UNESCO-recognised heritage, fashion designer Trịnh Diễm Quỳnh, director of Yaly Couture brand in Hội An, in co-operation with South African fashion designer Casper Bosman will debut a new collection at the Yaly Fashion 2023 – the Edge of Elegance – on December 10. VNS