Renowned musical ensemble Pink Martini will make their debut appearance in Vietnam early next month to raise funds for street kids.

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The American band’s tour is undertaken at the invitation of Poussières de Vie (Dust of Life), an independent non-profit organization dedicated to helping Vietnam’s most disadvantaged people by funding and running a variety of projects in Ho Chi Minh City and the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum.

Pink Martini will offer two special events – a gala dinner and a live performance – to raise money for and greater awareness of underprivileged street children in Vietnam, according to Poussières de Vie.

The gala dinner with the ensemble will be organized at GEM Center, 8 Nguyen Binh Khiem Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City at 7:00 pm on April 2.

Apart from relishing fine dishes and wine, participants will have the chance to join an auction of Pink Martini’s valued items and a host of many other surprises.

A ticket to the gala dinner is available for VND4 million (US$186) while a table for 10 people costs VND35 million ($1,631).  

Meanwhile, the Pink Martini Live in Charity Concert is set to take place at Ben Thanh Theater, 6 Mac Dinh Chi Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City at 8:00 pm on April 3.

Tickets to the concert cost between VND500,000 ($23) and VND3 million ($140).

The band is scheduled to arrive in the city on April 1 and pay visits to two Poussières de Vie centers the following morning.

Proceeds from the gala dinner and concert will be donated to Poussières de Vie.

Patrick Desir, Poussières de Vie director, told a Monday meeting that inviting the ensemble, who are on an Asian performing tour, was not the hard part, but looking for sponsors has been difficult.

Though the ensemble does not request payment, it is not easy to cover the expenses for its 11 members and three technicians during their stay, Desir added.

Formed in 1994 and featuring a dozen musicians, Pink Martini performs its multilingual repertoire on concert stages and with symphony orchestras across the globe, according to the ensemble’s website.

Its debut album, “Sympathique,” was released independently in 1997 on the band’s own label, Heinz Records, and quickly became an international phenomenon, earning the group nominations for “Song of the Year” and “Best New Artist” at France’s “Victoires de la Musique Awards” in 2000.

In November 2010 the band released “Joy to the World” – an enthusiastically embraced festive holiday album featuring songs from countries around the world.

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