Tuoitrenews recommends some entertainment events you might want to take a look at for you days off.

In Hanoi, at 8pm on August 16, L’Espace is offering a screening of the movie titled “La Fille de Monaco” (The girl from Monaco) in French with Vietnamese subtitle. The 2008 film directed by Anne Fontaine tells a story about a middle-aged and highly successful lawyer who is hired by a Monaco businessman to defend his mother after she killed her former lover.

As usual, ticket costs VND20,000 (US$1) for general public and VND10,000 for members of L’Espace and students. Tickets are available at L’Espace at 24 Trang Tien Street.

Also this weekend, this exhibition in the capital city will bring Japan’s best-selling collection of photos of Mirai-chan, a little girl with chubby red cheeks, which were taken by Kotori Kawashima in one year, to art and children lovers.

The event, which celebrates the Japan – Vietnam Friendship Year 2013, is set to run at the Japan Foundation Center for Cultural Exchange in Vietnam at 27 Quang Trung, Hoan Kiem District from August 18 to September 15. Admission is free. “Mirai” in the title means “future” in Japanese and “chan” is a Japanese suffix added to the end of one’s name to indicate intimacy and the little with that name has been known as an extremely adorable girl who conveys robust vitality and energy. The photograph book “Mirai-chan” has sold remarkably well, with over 100,000 copies sold out since March 2011.

In addition, one of the highlights of this weekend’s activities in Hanoi is the Free Traditional Music Concert at 34 Hoang Cau Street. The event, to be held every Saturday features Vietnamese traditional instrumental music and ca tru to be performed by local well-known singers.

On August 17, Hanoians also have a chance to visit the Calligraphy Demonstration and Workshop by Japanese famous Calligrapher Takeda Souun, entitled “The Power of Calligraphy” at the historical site Literature Temple. The event is organized by the Embassy of Japan in Vietnam on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of Japan-Vietnam Diplomatic relationship. Artist Takeda Souun will have exchanges with Vietnamese Excellent Actor Mr. Trung Hieu and members of Vietnam UNESCO Calligraphy Club.

After Hanoi, the event will move to the Japan - Hoi An Festival to be held at Song Hoai Square on August 24 and 25.

Meanwhile, in Ho Chi Minh City, 11 French movies are continued to be screened at a low price of VND40,000 (US$1.9) until September 27.

The films including Un Plan Parfait, Le Petit Nicolas, Une Vie De Chat, Intouchables, The Artist, L’illusionniste, Mauvaise Foi, Le Tableau, De Vrais Mensonges, Liberté and Le Chat Du Rabbin, will be shown by MegaStar Cineplex as part of the audiovisual cooperation program between France and Vietnam. All of them will be shown with French with Vietnamese subtitles. There will be one session only on a specific day for each film.

Moreover, the exhibition featuring 30 best works of the photo contest titled “The environment prism” will end on August 18 at the Saigon University’s Applied Arts Center. The competition attracted 700 entries from local students, workers and expats with the champion going to Nguyen Thanh Nam, a student from Sai Gon University with his photo "Dem Trang” (A white night) capturing a sanitation worker surrounded by garbage.

Biennial art festival “Giai dieu mua thu” (Autumn Melodies) will also be back to town this weekend, with a growth in scale and professionalism.

The show at the HCMC Opera House at 8:30pm from Aug 16 to 22 will showcase seven performances including symphony, musicals, operas and ballets performed by hundreds of young local classical music talents and foreign artists and troupes.

Moreover, a free “Giai dieu tre” (Youthful melodies) concert for students will also take place at the same venue on Aug 25.

In the central city of Da Nang, an exhibition called “The quintessence of Vietnamese Buddhist-themed antiques” at Da Nang Museum until September 16 will offer a place to visit for locals as well as tourists who want to learn about local cultures.

The one-month exhibit will showcase some 150 antiques which have significant historical and aesthetic values, including paintings, statues, woodblocks of Buddhist prayer books, worshiping wares and musical instruments dating back to the 7th to the early 20th centuries.