3000. It wasn't that long ago that we marvelled at passing the big 1,000 review mark. Now, less than one year later, you've just flown past three times that. I think a round of applause it due to all of you. You've truly put together an amazing collection of experiences and insights. The coming months and years are sure to offer even more opportunities the hear your unique views on this ever-changing city. We plan on continuing to offer you more and more tools to get it done, and put together all sorts of good times to reward you for it. Last weekend's big night at Fusion is the sort of thing that you'll have coming your way. It was a big night with nearly 200 party goers enjoying a full range of food, shisha, beer, cocktails, and bellydance. It was great to get a chance to hang with all of you and put some more faces to the usernames. Next month's gathering is already in the works. Be looking out for its upcoming announcement next week. Until then, we felt the mass of American Club events on the horizon (the next four Saturdays) warranted an extra heads up here via the newsletter.

The 2008 Dawali Night, A Night of Indian Culture

Things kick off this weekend with the Indian Festival of Lights better known as Diwali. INCHAM Hanoi is organizing Diwali Night '08 in Hanoi on the 1st of November, 2008 at the American Club from 5:30pm till late. A cultural extravaganza featuring Indian dances, musical performances by Indians and Vietnamese, games, a jumping castle, painting and a circus for kids, theme stalls, as well as Indian, Vietnamese, and international cuisine & drinks. Later in the evening, dance on Bollywood disco beats till the end. Numerous raffle prizes will be given out during the event. Tickets are 280,000VND (adults) and 150,000VND (children) in advance, or 350,000 and 200,000 at the gate. The ticket price includes: food and drink vouchers worth 100,000VND, a 50USD voucher from Star Dust Casino, Melia (for foreign nationals only, not Vietnamese nationals), a free trial voucher for Slim Package from Mary France Bodyline, and many others. Getting advanced tickets is highly recommended, and can by arranged by calling Mac at 0903 427 721.

HSCV's Big Day of Family Fun

The following Saturday, one of Hanoi's biggest fundraising events hits the same (increasingly active) space. Be a part of the HSCV 2008 Annual Fundraiser on November 8th at the American Club for a family friendly event of entertainment. The day's fun includes: children’s competitions, performances, activities and games, the judging of the HSCV Hanoi Kid’s Art Competition, entertainment from school drama teams, breakdancers, live bands and DJs, food and drink from Hanoi bars and restaurants, and endless Raffle and Silent Auction prizes to be won. Additionally, the HSCV Fundraiser is putting together its first Penalty Kick Shootout Contest. Five players per team with 300,000VND entrance fee per team and a 10 team maximum. The shootout starts at 4pm. Register your team or for more information contact Manu at: hscv.soccer.shootout@gmail.com or 094 371 1292. Enter Early. Only 10 teams can play. Humanitarian Services for Children of Vietnam (HSCV) is a grassroots NGO dedicated to serving orphans, homeless children and other children in need in Vietnam. HSCV works directly in each community and in most cases directly with the families in our programs. The money raised will support HSCV programs which provide relief to impoverished children and families in Northern Vietnam. Get out, enjoy a family friendly day, and support a great cause.

The Annual Italian Food Festival Hits Hanoi.

Next up is another big day of food and drink. On the 15th of November, 2008, one of the most highly anticipated events of Hanoi’s autumn will take place at the American Club: the Italian Food Festival, organized by the Italian Embassy in Hanoi in collaboration with the restaurants Leone d'oro, Luna d'autunno and Mediterraneo. Besides numerous Italian and Vietnamese sponsors some of the larger producers of Italian wine will also participate, offering tastes of the best wines from the wine-producing house Santa Margherita. A delightful evening beneath the stars immersed in countless Italian flavours is promised, with a lottery rich in prizes and musical entertainment: a party in the open air, where together with the family you will be able to experience an authentic Italian atmosphere in the garden of the American Club. The 250.000VND entrance ticket will allow you to enjoy as much as you like the diverse regional Italian dishes prepared by the Italian restaurants of Hanoi as well as authentic Italian coffee and cappuccino.

The International Music Festival Returns to Hanoi

Finally, the hugely successful Hanoi Music Festival put on by the Minsk Club this last spring has inspired a repeat performance for this November. Once again there will be a spectacular line up of bands on the main stage throughout the day with acts from Australia, China, Thailand and Vietnam. Meanwhile over at the C.A.M.A. tent, where you will also conveniently find a fully stocked bar serving tasty cocktails, there will be bopping tunes with guest turntablists from Hong Kong and the UK as well as plenty of tunes from C.A.M.A.'s very own posse of djs. All day long you will be able to enjoy a vibrant festival atmosphere with tug-of-war battles, table football matches, face painting, a bouncy castle, a beat the goalie competition and even egg and spoon races. There will be an international food court with a mixture of Indian, Ukranian, Vietnamese and western grub provided by Highway4, R&R Tavern, Tandoor, Budmo and Al Fresco's restaurants respectively and to wash it all down there will also be ample amounts of beer provided by the festival's Gold sponsor Tiger Beer and a wide range of wines available from The Warehouse. Doors open shortly after noon on Saturday November 22nd at the American Club, 19 Hai Ba Trung street and the music will finish up at 11pm. So come early, grab a cold beer, stretch out on the grass and enjoy a whole day of live music in the heart of Hanoi.

Tickets (including one free drink) cost 350,000VND at the gate or you can pick up tickets in advance or before 2pm on the day for just 300,000VND. Advance tickets are on sale from 10th November at Puku (Hang Trong), Highway4 (Hang Tre), R&R Tavern (Lo Su), The Cheeky Quarter (Ta Hien), or Jaspas (Hanoi Towers). Musical acts will include: The Emergency (an electro jazz funk ensemble from Melbourne, Australia), Girl Kill Girl (A rollicking rock and roll band fronted by one of the biggest rockstars of Beijing, China), Bertie Blackman (an indie-rocker from Sydney, Australia), Ollo (an electronica outfit also from Sydney, Australia), Redtwenty (a pop act out of Bangkok, Thailand), 7 Days (one of our own humble city's best known rock bands), as well as the omnipresent Digital Offensive and The Van Ho Ba. In addition, there will be a relentless and eclectic flow of party jams playing all day and all evening at the C.A.M.A. Tent. The tent sounds will be brought to you by Grum (electro, disco house, and breakbeat - of Leeds, UK), Metal Postcard Sound System (eclectic and genre free and will feature nu disco, dubstep, re-edits and the odd surprise from 1955 all the way through to 2008 as well as bizarre house, glorious disco and cinematic glory - of Hong Kong), as well as all the crew of the C.A.M.A. Sound System. Do Not Miss It.



Four big Saturdays. More to come.

The Staff of the New Hanoian