BOOK SMARTS - Images of the pedestrian-only Book Street on Nguyễn Văn Bình Street in HCM City’s District 1 will be highlighted in the new TV programme called Thành Phố Tình Ca (City of Love) by HCM City Television. Photo courtesy of the producer.

HCM CITY— Hồ Chí Minh Television (HTV) will offer a new TV programme about HCM City and its people this weekend. 

The programme, called Thành Phố Tình Ca (City of Love), features a series of songs, music pieces, and dances, by famous artists who played a role in the city’s music and theatre developments. 

The works portray southern culture and lifestyles. 

Excerpts from dramas, cải lương (reformed opera) and tuồng (classical drama), are included. 

The event also features talks by veteran artists, including pop stars Cẩm Vân and Tạ Minh Tâm, and cải lương guru and People’s Artist Bạch Tuyết. 

SOUTHERN STYLE - Famous songs, dances, music pieces, and theatre performances in a southern style are part of a new drama programme called Thành Phố Tình Ca (City of Love) produced and aired by Hồ Chí Minh City Television. Photo courtesy of the producer.

The first 30-minute show, featuring images of HCM City and its historical sites and tourist destinations, will be aired on January 6. 

The pedestrian-only Book Street on Nguyễn Văn Bình Street in District 1 will be highlighted. After seven years of development, the street has a new task of introducing HCM City to visitors from all around the world.

Several hundred cultural activities, book fairs, and photo exhibitions have been organised every weekend to attract millions of local and foreign visitors. 

The show features young singers and dancers from local art schools. They will perform contemporary folk music and dance. 

“Our programme, Thành Phố Tình Ca, will offer quality shows in a southern style, a style that requires specific performance skills,” said musician Đỗ Anh Hùng, a TV producer of HTV. 

Each 30-minute show of the programme, Thành Phố Tình Ca, will broadcast on channel HTV9 at 10pm every Saturday. A special show is scheduled to celebrate the Lunar New Year or Tết Festival on February 9. — VNS