HCM CITY (VNS) – Several cultural events, offering a wide range of entertainment activities for the people, are being held across the country during the five-day holiday beginning on April 30.

In HCM City, the Phuong Nam (Southern) Art Theatre will present two free performances on a temporary stage in Gia Dinh Park on Hoang Minh Giam Street in Go Vap District.

Featuring a vaudeville repertoire of dancing, singing, and circus performances, the event will begin at 8.00 pm, both tonight, April 30, and tomorrow, May 1.

Popular singers such as Phuong Thanh Minh Thuan and Nguyen Phi Hung will perform at these shows.

Free music shows will also be held at the Sen Hong Stage in 23/9 Park at 7.30 pm tonight and tomorrow, with performances by young singers Tieu Chau Nhu Quynh, Minh Thu and Phu Luan.

For people who are keen to watch circus shows, the Festival of Street Circus 2014 that is taking place at Dam Sen Cultural Park will be an attraction.

Along with several international award-winning acts, the festival will also organise classes on magic tricks and juggling for visitors.

The event was launched this morning (April 30) and will run till Sunday, May 4.

A special exhibition entitled Sai Gon Xua va Nay (Sai Gon in the Past and Nowadays), showcasing vintage cars and motorbikes as well as the traditional female dress ao dai, has been inaugurated at the Union Square Trade Centre, 72 Le Thanh Ton Street, District 1.

A special-edition luxury Rolls-Royce Phantom, featuring hand-embroidered dragon patterns on its headrests, to celebrate the Year of Dragon in 2012; a 1902 Citroen, the oldest in Viet Nam; the motorbikes Motobecane Pony and Motobecane AB produced in 1936; and ao dai creations by designer Lien Huong are among the exhibits.

A fashion show featuring Huong's latest ao dai creations will be held at the same venue tonight.

In Ha Noi, the Museum of Ethnology has kicked off a programme featuring folk games of different ethnic groups in the country, such as Si La, Gia Rai, Ba Na and E De. Children can not only have fun playing the games but also learn about ethnic culture.

In addition, visitors can enjoy the water puppet shows that will be held at 10am, 11.30am, 2.30pm and 4pm every day from today (April 30) till Sunday at the museum.

During the five-day holiday, a Reading Day – jointly organised by the Thai Ha Bookstore and the Kim Dong Publishing House – will take place at the Savico MegaMall in Long Bien District. More than 20,000 books will be presented during the event that will run until Sunday.

The National Circus will also present a special performance featuring animal acts and acrobatics. – VNS