HCM CITY— Streets and parks in HCM City will be alive with festivities in celebration of the 41^st anniversary of the country’s Reunification Day (April 30) and Labour Day (May 1).

A cultural programme called Tổ Quốc (Homeland) will open tomorrow night and take place every night until May 1.  

It is organised by the HCM City School of Dance (HSD), in co-operation with its partners, Hồng Hạc Entertainment and HCM City Youth Cultural House.

Revolutionary music will be highlighted.

Songs in praise of the country written by famous composers such as Hoàng Việt, Hoàng Hiệp and Phan Huỳnh Điểu, will be performed by opera artists of the city’s Music Conservatory.

A series of dances choreographed by Hà Thế Dũng, Tạ Thùy Chi and Lương Xuân Thành will be highlighted.

The dances portray the victory of Vietnamese under the French and American wars,  featuring 40 young dancers of the city’s ballet (with the HCM City Ballet and Symphony Orchestra) and HSD.

“Our art brings a message of life, love and peace,” said female choreographer Chi, one of the city’s young dance talents.   

Another special music and song programme at the Âu Lạc Stage located in Đầm Sen Park in District 11 will kick off the city-wide festivities this weekend.

The two-day event will open on Saturday night and feature more than 50 singers, dancers and pop bands in electronic dance music.

Pop stars Đàm Vĩnh Hưng and Thu Minh will perform to music played by DJs Bjorn Akesso of Sweden. 

The event will also include a fireworks performance.

Two new exhibitions, located at the Reunification Palace on Nam Kỳ Khởi Nghĩa Street, will feature objects and photographs of President Hồ Chí Minh during historic events and the country’s revolutionary process.

The showcase aims to encourage children and young people to learn more about the country’s heroic history.     

The exhibitions will begin on Thursday and run through May.

As in previous years, Vietnamese film screenings will be organised at cinemas and cultural houses in the rural districts of Củ Chi, Bình Chánh and Cần Giờ from April 29 to May 23.     

Local people will be treated to outdoor performances staged by professional artists from art troupes, which will take place on main streets.

“We will host an outdoor music and theatre concert on Saturday night to service more than 3,000 students and young labourers,” said Bùi Thanh Liêm, director of the Youth Cultural House.

Suối Tiên and 23/9 parks are now preparing for their programmes, which are expected to attract several hundred thousand rural youth from southern provinces on the holiday.

Hồ Chí Minh Television will broadcast documentaries and reports  featuring the city’s developments in culture and economy over the past 41 years.

To attract young customers, shopping centres and supermarkets are offering promotional programmes.

The Co.opMart chain offers domestically made products of cloth, shoes and accessories at prices with a discount of 10-50 per cent.

Tourist agencies, meanwhile, offer new tours to famous destinations in remote provinces such as Lào Cai, Hà Giang and Ninh Bình.— VNS