Quyen Van Minh is Vietnam‘s best-known jazz saxophonist, having fallen in love with the music some 30 years ago and developing his own style of Vietnamese jazz. Now he teaches young musicians at the Hanoi Conservatory and runs a popular jazz club in Hanoi. For years, Minh’s Jazz Club was on Luong Van Can Street … read the full post

After a few nights out on the Saigon club scene, you may grow tired of the recycled house beats and ringing in your ears. An alternative? Checking out one of the many live music venues the city has to offer. Live bands, classical music, jazz: Ho Chi Minh has something for everybody. If you’re in … read the full post

It may not be Glastonbury, Exit or BDO but as far as Hanoi’s concerned, the C.A.M.A. festival is the musical date for diaries. Held at the American Club on May 28, the Festival brings together bands from Vietnam, Australia, America, Thailand (though half the band are British), Japan and China for 10 hours of “full blown musical … read the full post

For those itching to to show off their vocal talents beyond a karaoke performance, L’Espace, the French Cultural Centre in Hanoi, is giving you just that chance. On 12th February and 5th March at 8.30pm they are having ‘Cabaret Nights‘ when song-writers and singers are invited to perform on stage. Anyone can participate but the organisers … read the full post

The live music scene in Hanoi has been looking up recently. I don’t want to over claim — it’s certainly not London or Singapore — but it’s good to see new venues opening and the occasional visiting band. I was tempted along to Hanoi Rock City for the first time on Saturday night by the promise … read the full post