little treasures

Good morning/afternoon/evening :D

As always, the hobby is to trawl the internet and find little goodies - collectables i say!

I've found a few little treasures:

http://www.honeyhoney.com.au/shop/59/product/332/717/

Crimson Trinsee clutch

Then of course, Richie's line, CC Skye:

http://www.ccskye.com/shop.php?id=944&pag=3

CC Skye La La Ring

Last one for now:

http://www.honeyhoney.com.au/shop/60/product/358/761/

Karen Walker Bell Earrings

More to come - gotta rush to the studio to do some writing.

So many pretty things <3

Love love,

Van-Anh

The trail of fantastic food in HCMC

As i promised, I would put pictures to my food expeditions, finds, and adventures across HCMC during this month of being in VN online so others who are travelling through this beautiful city can try. (all the addresses are in my previous post)

Not in any particular order:

1. CUC GAT RESTAURANT - i'd call it kitschy cute traditional viet cuisine with style and kookiness :D

fish with fresh green mangoes

tofu with passionfruit sauce.

freshly squeezed orange and carrot juice

anyone for some popcorn? :D

beautiful view outside the window into the central courtyard

2. MON HUE - for good Bun Bo Hue 

3. ANNAM GOURMET MARKET - for some amazing organic and gourmet groceries, bread, and specialities - e.g. olive oil.

4. The Factory - bar, club.

5. Din Ky Restaurant - for some cheap traditional vietnamese food. Morning glory, thit kho to, wonton noodles, soup - THE BEST!

the various addresses of Din Ky Restaurant - District 1 is most popular. Also a popular shopping street :)

A few other treasures to come :)

Love Heart 2010

[The Diamond for the silent auction, won by Cuong Dollar for $3000USD]

So a big weekend passed by and I have to say it was super successful.
Firstly, our thanks to:
GIV (Gems International Vietnam: www.giv.com.vn) - David, Satish, Saurahb and of course Abhishek (we missed you and thank you for your hard work!!!)
New World Hotel and all their amazing staff, organisers and chefs (for the amazing theatre-in-the-round transformation and also after party bash!!)
DJ Justin Murta (a guaranteed good time and good music!)
Early Risers Music (for their continual support)
Chris O'Dempsey (our amazing HRA director, without him, there would be no Heart Reach Australia)
Cuong Dollar (for being the winning bidder of the diamond heart pendant - all of the $3000USD will go to Heart Reach Australia).

[centre stage - theatre-in-the-round]

[With DJ Justin Murta! Thanks dude! You're awesome]

[After-party food stations]

[singing and playing our hearts out for Love Heart 2010]

More to come ...

more on eating and ... eating..?

It seems like all i do in Vietnam is drift from one cafe to the next restaurant .. and of course write music and practice piano (that's regardless anyways!).
So a few more places I would recommend:
1. Traditional style Vietnamese - Din Ky Restaurant - 137C Nguyen Trai St. This is also a shopping strip with quite a few nice stores such as Schu (for shoes) and Valenciani (a bit of a hit and miss with dresses and accessories but some real gems in there). Zen plaza is also on Nguyen Trai st but i never seem to find anything in there.
2. cafe-style food/drinks - Cafe Terrace - beautiful decor, also partnered with the Paris Deli for cakes/bread related stuff. Cafe Terrace is either 65 Le Loi St, District 1 in the Saigon Centre Building or out in District 7 on the main strip.

Annnywayyysss, 4 days til Love Heart 2010 show and we're practicing/tweeking the show. Super excited - i have my dresses, can't wait to see what GIV have installed for me with the jewellery.

Shout out to Gems International Vietnam for their support towards Heart Reach Australia and towards us!

It's an early night for me - photos to be uploaded soon :)
au revoir for now
xx
V-A

Places to go and things to do in Vietnam ...

Today was our press conference for 'Love Heart' 2010 - Heart Reach Australia show for July 31st at the New World Hotel, Saigon. I have to say it was gruelling and frustrating at the same time because as much as i tried to speak in Vietnamese, there are still holes in my expression and couldn't get enough across. Of course we had a translator but i want to be able to do it without assistance (something to strive for eh? :D)
Amidst recording and writing music, I've been able to eat and do a few things so I thought i'd share for people who are wanting to go to vietnam:
1. For beef jerky, dried jackfruit and other dried fruits etc: Hieu Keo Mut 751, Cua Dong, Cho Ben Thanh (It's in the Ben Thanh markets but go to store 751 - they have the best tasting ones!!)
2. For Pho: Pho Hung - it's better than any other that i've tasted in Vietnam
3. Tailor - there's quite a few including at 744/6E Nguyen Kiem, P.Go Vap - it is the tailor who does the major brands of NinoMaxx and N&M (big brands in VN)
4. For Bun Bo Hue: Mon An Hue Restaurant - it's a chain but awesome awesome Bun Bo Hue - on Hai Ba Trung St P.Tan Dinh and also in District 7 (Phu My Hung)
5. For kitschy quirky traditional vietnamese cuisine: 10 Dang Tat, P. Tan Dinh (a MAJOR hidden treasure and you will walk past it without knowing) - the BEST fried tofu with lemongrass and chilli.
6. For traditional vietnamese cuisine, simple but perfect: Hoang Yen Restaurant (also a chain - about 4 stores around HCMC, the main one is on Ngo Duc Ke, District 1.
7. Mediteranean cuisine: I know, why would you want to eat that in Vietnam but sometimes, you just need a change :D It's on Mac Thi Buoi St, District 1 down an alleyway across the road from The Factory Bar (I will write the name of it soon- slipped my mind for the time being).

More will come :D
xx
Much love,
V-A

Vietnam in July!

Hellooooo everyone!
It's beeen aggessss since i've written a blog entry. Of course, the excuse is always things have been so hectic .. but i really should reflect sometimes. Like how people go to church and reflect. I use to write a hell of a lot more and miss it actually!
So i'm in Vietnam right now for the 2nd time this year. An almost 1 month stint this time and wow, i'm soaking in more of the vietnamese culture.
The crazy clashes and juxtaposition of the poor and rich is much more inherent. You see Audi Q7s, S class Mercedes, BMW coupes, even Porsche Cayennes pretty much everywhere ... amidst bicycles, motorbikes, and of course the beloved taxis (let me tell you it's a love-hate relationship with them...so handy but so expensive after taking taxis EVERYWHERE during the day).

Food culture is amazingggggggg, some beautiful hidden treasures that i'm finding here and I'll post up my findings really soon - food, tailors, fruit markets and DIAMONDS :)

All things aside, Im here to do a charity show 'Love Heart 2010' for Heart Reach Australia July 31st 2010 at the NEw World Hotel, HCMC. if anyone is interested, please go to www.newworldsaigon.com or tickets are available from the front desk ($1,500,000VND a ticket).
It's all going to an amazing cause and the concert features myself and Thanh Bui in an intimate theatre-in-the-round style concert. It includes the after-party, unlimited drinks and food afterwards and features DJ Justin Murta who has kindly offered his time for us.
Our aim is to reach our $10,000AUD target to finish building the medical clinic in the Tan Thach district for the children of the area.

Gotta run... this Gloria Jeans latte in VN has not been all that bad but time to run to work.
Lots of new friends, old friends, and a bloody good time :)

Much love and grace,
Van-Anh xx

Cold winter sydney days

It's a chilly Thursday and my brain feels fried! The past few
Days have been really hectic and with only a few days in Sydney before leaving for queensland tomorrow for the Annual Heart Reach Australia Benefit Concert. Another concert will be held at the New World Saigon July 31st which will be amazing! Hopefully il be able to travel down to the Mekong to visit the other schools we are sponsoring kids at as well.
Stop in the interim .......

Anyways now it's Friday and in the waiting lounge ready to go to the sunny north :) looking forward to noosa!! Yay!!
Much much love to u all,


XXXXXXX
Van-Anh


- smiling at life from my iPhone :)
Signing out,
Van-Anh