Show «Gánh Show – Chuyện Sài Gòn» (Saigon told through dance and live music)

   Seventy-five minutes threading through a city's memory, told with zither, bamboo flute, percussion and the language of the body, with a humble carrying pole as the main character. This live-scene show returns to the heart of Saigon for two more dates after its August premiere.

   The piece is directed by Thịnh Tiêu, with Cao Bá Hưng as music director and Phạm Thiên Vũ as writer. Every note is played live, blending traditional Vietnamese instruments with percussion and electronic textures, while the story moves through southern folk dance, ballet, contemporary dance and street dance in a single flow.

   On the programme:
— Coco Quyên on đàn tranh, Ngọc Khôi on đàn tứ, Bảo Toàn on bamboo flute, Quốc Huy on scalloped-fret guitar
— Dru Nam on drums, Nguyễn Hoàng Đình Lâm on handpan, Phạm Trần Phương on vocals
— Ten movement artists: LânT, Tường Haru, Trung Võ, Trịnh Đồng, Anh Trần, Trần Phước Trung, Esme Triệu Ân, Pu Lee, Ling Cam, Thu Thuyên
— The carrying pole as a running image: the rhythm of making a living, balance, support and connection

   It suits residents who want to understand the city they live in, younger audiences who like stage work built from many materials, and anyone hosting visitors who want a Vietnamese performance that needs no translation to land.

   The two ticket tiers differ in vantage point, not only in price. Bến Thành is the front block closest to the stage, where the raw acoustic sound and every breath of the performers reach you first. Chợ Lớn sits higher and wider, taking in the whole stage picture, or on the side angles near the stage for a more intimate view.

   This run covers two days, 26 September and 4 October, with two performances each day: 14:30 – 16:00 and 19:30 – 21:00. The stage is inside the university campus, in the third-floor auditorium.

   If you are looking for one more reason to love this city, «Gánh» opens a door of its own.