Over 300 artists from 12 national drama troupes will perform at the "Gala Dinner" to be held at the National Convention Centre on November 18.

The three-part show due to last two hours will include performances of chamber music, and folk songs and dances, according to the head of the programme Le Ngoc Cuong, Director of the Performing Arts Department under the Ministry of Culture and Information.

In the first part, leaders of the APEC economies will be warmly welcomed by drum beats and a dance performance by 100 artists from the Central Theatre of Classic Drama. At the main hall, a "Quan Ho" singing show will be performed by 25 singers from the Central Threatre of Traditional Opera.

In the second part, Vietnam Television will coordinate with the APEC Secretariat to screen documentaries on the APEC member economies' socio-economic achievements.

Artists from the Hanoi Conservatoire, the Vietnam Music and Dance Theatre, and the Viet Bac Folk Dance will participate in a folk song and dance programme in the third part, which will continue with classic works by world famous composers and the "Hand in Hand" singing and dancing performance.

The international music show to welcome APEC Vietnam 2006 will take place at the Friendship Cultural Palace on November 18 with the participation of artists from England, Russia, China, France, Japan, Australia, the Philippines and Vietnam. The show will be jointly organised by the Hanoi Department of Culture and Information, the Thang Long Cultural and Information Joint Stock Co. and several embassies and will be broadcast live on VTV1.

Foreign artists will also take part in the "Friendship Bridge" music programme at the Van Ho Exhibition Centre on November 19. The show is part of an exhibition entitled "APEC Image and Vietnam's Cultural Heritage" to be held here from November 14-23.

The Hanoi Conservatoire has planned to give two special art performances at banquets for Chinese President Hu Jintao and his wife on November 16, and Russian President Vladimir Putin and his wife on November 20.

A classical music show will be performed at a banquet given by Deputy PM cum Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem and Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen to honour foreign ministers from the APEC member economies on November 15.

The Vietnam Music and Dance Theatre has arranged three performances at banquets to greet US President Bush and his wife on November 17, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife on November 19 and Chilean President Michelle Bachelet on November 17.