HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s largest expatriate women’s group, the Hanoi International Women’s Club (HIWC) will hold its Annual Charity Bazaar later this month. It will be the group’s 25th Bazaar and it takes place in HIWC’s 30th birthday year.

Renowned particularly throughout Hà Nội capital, HIWC’s Bazaar has become a much-anticipated annual community event, international food fair and family fun day.  This year’s event, with the theme Winter Wonderland, is taking place on Sunday 27th November at St Paul American School - Splendora, Hoài Đức from 10am - 4pm.

Participating in the festive event, 43 embassies and community groups will be serving up delicious cultural dishes and their typical traditional handicrafts. Visitors can also treat themselves to great shopping: spectacular clothes, candles, organic cosmetic, homeware, crafts, fair trade and gift items will be on sale from more than 50 different retailers.

Furthermore, there will be musical entertainment par excellence with performances from Korean Opera star Sung Min Park and famous Vietnamese concert pianist, Trang Trịnh, the Hanoi Brass Band, all-women string quartet Apaixonado, rockers The Electric Yard Dogs and the African Band.

“We work hard to bring together the Hà Nội community - expatriate and Vietnamese - for friendship, fun and cultural exchange” says Gill Lever, the President of HIWC. “And we put so much effort into our bazaar because we are passionate about raising funds to help improve the lives of Hà Nội’s most vulnerable women and children.”

Lever continues, “The HIWC is a group of 450 expatriate women and men from nearly 70 different nations. We meet regularly to socialise, exchange experiences and explore the city we are privileged to live in. But in addition, our members feel strongly that we should support women and children less fortunate than ourselves and raising funds at the bazaar is how we realise this ambition.”

This year’s Bazaar Coordinator, Mrs Phan Hoàng Hà added, “We are inviting everybody in Hà Nội to join us at HIWC’s 25th Annual Charity Bazaar. We really have worked hard to ensure we have something that will delight everyone - young or old, male or female, foreign or Vietnamese. It’s an event not to be missed!”

Ticket prices are as follows:

Adults: VNĐ150,000 (US$6.80) pre-sale or VNĐ200,000 ($9) at the gate and for children (aged 3- 12 years): VNĐ50,000 ($2.20).

Tickets can be purchased online via Ticketbox or from The Moose and Roo, Emporium, Oasis, J.A.F.A., ClickSpace, St Paul American School, British International School, Concordia International School, Hanoi International School, Starfish International Kindergarten, Hanoi International Kindergarten and UMA’s Quán Thánh store.

Last year, HIWC’s Bazaar attracted over 8,000 visitors and raised $107,000 for charity organisations supporting Việt Nam’s women and children. Many activities that promote women and children’s rights have been implemented by HIWC in the past few years like granting Vision awards to honour Vietnamese women with significant contributions to society.

Members of HIWV have also conducted many charity programmes, like financially supporting 258 children’s ear operations, and opening café The Optimistic in Hà Nội’s Gia Lâm District – a forum for HIV/AIDS patients. — VNS