A photo exhibition featuring women recently opened at Tu Do Gallery in Ho Chi Minh City on the occasion of International Women's Day (March 8).

The show includes more than 30 lacquer and oil paintings by five artists: Xuan Chieu, Phu Nam, Duong Tuan Kiet, Vo Xuan Huy, and Nguyen Xuan Anh.

Pink and purple are used in many of the works as they are "the colours that mean love, compassion and sharing", said Vo Xuan Huy.

He believes that Women's Day is the time for people, especially youth, to look back and remember the sacrifices that women make and the love they give.

As in previous years, dozens of professional art troupes around the city have also been presenting special programmes on topics about people's gratitude and appreciation of women.

For music fans, traditional performers from Dam Sen and Suoi Tien tourist parks will offer cai luong (reformed theatre) shows highlighting mothers who sacrificed their lives for their children's future.

Young couples will enjoy the music and dance programme put on by pop stars Dong Nhi and Minh Hang at the Lan Anh Club.

In Hanoi, the first night of the music programme Hoa Cuc Vang Thang Ba (Yellow Daisy in March) will open on March 6 at the Opera House. It will feature romantic songs in praise of love and women by talented songwriter and composer Thanh Tung.

The event's remaining nights will begin at 8pm on March 7 and 8, featuring pop singers like Thanh Lam and Tung Duong.

Veteran singer Anh Tuyet, one of the industry's very few singers involved in opera and classical music, will return in a live show at the Nguyen Hien Dinh Theatre in Hue city.

She has invited younger colleagues, singers Quy Binh and Ngoc Quy, to join her show which will open in the evening on Saturday, March 8.

Tuyet began her professional career in 1990 after leaving her native province of Quang Tri to live in Ho Chi Minh City.

Three years later, the soprano became a star after singing songs by the late musician Van Cao, one of the country's leading composers.-VNA