Young local, foreign artists gather at street art fest in HCMC

A festival recently held in Ho Chi Minh City attracts some 3,000 visitors who came to join numerous street art performances.

The festival, which took place at Nha Ga 3A (3A station), a contemporary art space in the Vietnam southern hub’s District 1 on February 7, featured many street art categories including graffiti, fire dancing, parkour, and skateboarding.

The event, opened from 1:00 pm to 11:00 pm, attracted some 3,000 visitors. They are Vietnamese and foreigners who have a profound passion for street arts but still lack of a real environment where they can show off their inner talent and exchange their creative ideas.

“We want to create a playground where youngsters, especially potential, talented artists can gather to promote street art performances. This is the first time we’ve organized this event and it is based on some similar festivals previously held in other countries,” Duong Tuong Linh, manager of Unlimited Saigon Entertainment, one of the organizers, shared.

Besides amateur and professional street art visitors, the festival also welcomed familiar faces who often join or organize art events including Dang Thanh Long, founder of Saigon Artbook, a free art party that features artworks of local and expat artists living in HCMC, and Kristopher Kotcher, a U.S. self-taught illustrator who often draws cartoon characters.

“I started joining street art since 2001 in the US. This festival is fun as it brings a new culture to Vietnam. I think street art is now appreciated more in the country,” said Kotcher.

Young local, foreign artists gather at street art fest in HCMC Releated Image(s)