the big five
2.
APOCALAUGHS NOW
On Tuesday, Aug. 19 the jokes are back in town, courtesy of a couple of schlemiels coming all the way from wackier climes to tickle our funny bones at Cargo Bar. This time we have the dubious honour of greeting Messrs. Nick Page (UK) and Peter Berner (AUS) with our Saigonese eyebrow raises and smokers’ coughs. A former estate agent and the presenter of BBC TV series Escape to the Country, Nick Page got into comedy as the result of a bet — he’s still not sure he’s won. Described alternately as “the funniest thing I’ve seen all year” and “a very fine man”, this acclaimed Comedy Store regular has obviously got something right. Peter Berner is also a bit of a TV hit, presenting the ABC series The Einstein Factor from 2004 to 2009. To add to this he hosts You Have Been Watching on The Comedy Channel. A regular on the Australian comedy scene since the 1990s, so accomplished is he that he’s even got a whole Wikipedia page dedicated to himself. Now that’s success, right? Presented by Magners Irish Cider, doors for Apocalaughs Now will open at Cargo Bar — 7 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Q4, HCMC — at 8pm on Aug. 19. The entrance surcharge is VND250,000 — for advance table bookings, email saigoncomedynights@gmail.com. Apocalaughs Now is organised in conjunction with Comedy Club Asia
1.
THE SAIGON SOUND
The emerging Saigon sound is a temperamental, much-debated thing — just see our feature about it on page 98. But just because it can’t be pinned down doesn’t mean it can’t be turned up, as the volume knobs will be at Cargo Bar twice in August, on Aug. 9 and Aug. 29. Aug. 9 is the third edition of the original music showcase Don’t Feed the Monkey — this time pulling in 11 bands. In addition, there will be street artists, art installations, body painters and live visuals. March’s edition was great, and this thing is close to
approaching festival status. Aug. 29 is an EP release party and concert at Cargo, featuring The Love Below, The Magic Pinions, Space Panther and James and the Van Der Beeks. It’s a rare, interesting event in the context of the Saigon scene, and an indication that these bands might be moving beyond the territory they’ve so far claimed. Don’t Feed the Monkey is at Cargo Bar — 7 Nguyen Tat Thanh, Q4, HCMC — on Aug. 9, starting at 5pm. The four-band EP release party and showcase is happening at Cargo on Aug. 29
4. THE HO TRAM OCEAN RACE
3.
TICKLING TAY HO
It’s not just Saigon that is getting its regular comedy nights, but courtesy of The House of Son Tinh and the Hanoi Comedy Collective, so is Hanoi. With the latest Tee Hee in Tay Ho installment set for Friday Aug. 8 and with acclaimed gagmeister Gary Jackson flying in from Hong Kong to support the growing roster of Hanoi homegrown comics, this show is set to make you laugh, giggle, crack up and even wet yourself. The show kicks off at 8pm at The House of Son Tinh, 31 Xuan Dieu, Tay Ho, Hanoi
May’s Le Fruit Triathlon got you used to the idea of Ho Tram as a place not just about relaxation, and now Ho Tram Water Safety and Water Safety Vietnam want to build on that momentum with a charity swim this Aug. 10. Ho Tram Beach Resort is the site of this ocean swim, with competitions in 500m ocean swimming and 500m beach running, and a 1km beach swim and 1km beach run. All proceeds go to charities training the next generation of young swimmers — death by drowning is the biggest killer of children in Vietnam — and prizes from The Grand — Ho Tram Strip, California Fitness, Boomarang and other sponsors will be awarded to the top racers. The Ho Tram Ocean Race is on Aug. 10 at 8am, at Ho Tram Beach Resort in Ho Tram Village. Entry to the 500m swim/500m run is VND750,000, entry to the 1km/1km is VND950,000. For more info, go to hotramoceanrace.weebly.com
5.
SUMMER LUVIN’
Hanoi likes its outdoor, let’s-get-outof-the-city shindigs, and the 24-hour Vibration Hanoi Summer Party on Saturday Aug. 9 is set to yet again help the city satiate its cravings for a good party. Located at Minh Hai Resort, just next to Bat Trang Pottery Village on the Gia Lam side of the Red River, a lakeside BBQ, plenty of bia hoi, cocktails, DJs and copious amounts of dancing will take the party into the early hours and way, way beyond. Bus services to Minh Hai Resort will run from Spy Bar — 12 Nguyen Huu Huan, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi — and advanced tickets are VND100,000 including two free drinks. For more info, email vibrationhanoi@gmail.com or call 0978 101429
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