VietNamNet Bridge – Young singers are celebrating the Christmas and New Year holiday season with the release of new albums and music videos, while cultural centres and major parks are putting on spectacular shows and offering free events to the public.

Lullaby time: To celebrate the festive season, dozens of fashion models, pop stars and actors will entertain the audience on an imposing stage with spectacular light and sound effects.

HCM City-based singer Quoc Thien in co-operation with colleagues Si Thanh and Nukan Tung Anh have issued Lien Khuc Giang Sinh (A Potpourri of Christmas Songs) that features beautiful images of Sai Gon and its people during the festive season.

"We hope our energy and the passion that we invested in this project will cheer up our fans," said Thien, who was winner of Viet Nam Idol in 2008.

Phan Hung's sweet melodies on Christmas Eve are also guaranteed to put a smile on the face of holiday revellers. His CD, Ron Rang Mua Noel (Jingle Bells), contains 11 songs performed by singers Thanh Ngoc, Xuan Phu and Hien Thuc.

Fashion model Ha Anh is hoping for a warm response to her music video My First Christmas Medley, which includes film actor Ho Trung Dung.

The band V. Music's Giang Sinh Ron Rang (A Noisy Christmas) has made a music video featuring pop and dance, and another popular band, Minh Vuong 4U, has sung songs in English and Vietnamese on their video called Giang Sinh Cuoi Cung (Last Christmas).

The holiday season is also being celebrated with open – air art exhibitions and concerts this weekend at two cultural centres, one on Pham Ngoc Thach Street and the other on Nam Ky Khoi Nghia Street.

At a gala event at the Youth Cultural House, dozens of fashion models, pop stars and actors will entertain the audience on an imposing stage with spectacular light and sound effects.

The Women's Cultural House will host a special concert The Best of The Wish on Christmas Eve, encouraging young participants to sing together. Music and theatrical performances will be staged by talented amateurs who are members of the cultural house.

For those who are content to just walk the city streets and soak up the holiday atmosphere, the city government and its partners have put up thousands of coloured lights and lanterns along major streets like Dong Khoi and Le Loi as well as Notre Dame Cathedral.

Many organisations are offering special prog-rammes, including Dam Sen Park in District 11 and Suoi Tien Park in District 9, two of the city's biggest parks.

Dam Sen Park is offering free tickets, candies and toys to disadvantaged children from shelters and open houses around the city.

At Suoi Tien Park, children and their parents can enjoy for free a programme of music, dance, comedy, circus and puppet shows.

Source: VNS