The Saigon Urban Street Fest has unfolded with a captivating array of contemporary circus, comedy, and free street dancing in front of the Saigon Central Post Office in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. 

The festival, officially launched on Friday morning, hosts various performances and street art activities daily from 8:00 am to 9:00 pm through Sunday.

Noteworthy performances included live music by the Whee! band and a moving art presentation by Felix Nguyen. 

Each evening, the German dance group The Funky Monkeys collaborates with Vietnamese artists to deliver engaging performances that feature contemporary circus, comedy, and street dance in a harmonious fusion of cultures.

Children contribute to a collaborative painting at the Saigon Urban Street Fest in front of the Saigon Central Post Office in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, December 8, 2023. Photo: Supplied

Trang Duong, a representative of the organizing committee, highlighted the collaboration between the Goethe Institute in Ho Chi Minh City and the virtual art campus artLIVE in bringing the German artists to the Saigon Urban Street Fest. 

The Funky Monkeys dance group spent over 20 days in Ho Chi Minh City practicing and collaborating with local artists for their performances.

Beyond the stage performances, the festival offers attendees the opportunity to engage in various street art activities. 

Artist Thao Xeko created three works depicting Ho Chi Minh City’s architectural marks, street food culture, and various street art forms like graffiti, skateboarding, hip-hop, and circus. 

Additionally, attendees can collectively contribute to a fourth work centered around the theme of Saigon Urban Street Fest.

Miss Peace Vietnam 2022 Tran Thi Ban Mai contributes to a collaborative painting at the Saigon Urban Street Fest in front of the Saigon Central Post Office in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, December 8, 2023. Photo: Supplied

In collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism, the organizers initiated the creation of the largest doodle about Ho Chi Minh City tourism in Vietnam. 

This collaborative painting, assembled from 22 pieces measuring 2x1.5m each, showcases images and tourism values of Thu Duc City and the 21 districts of Ho Chi Minh City. 

Participants have displayed their artistic talents in completing these paintings.

The event’s organizers anticipate recognizing the collaborative painting as a Vietnamese record during the closing ceremony of the Saigon Urban Street Fest, coinciding with the conclusion of Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Week 2023. 

They also announced that a portion of the revenue generated from the festival would contribute to the Draw Your Dream fund, benefiting children across the country, especially those from impoverished backgrounds, ethnic minorities, and pediatric cancer patients facing financial difficulties. 

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