HBO and 626 Night Market are teaming up in Santa Monica to bring people a little taste of Vietnam to mark the premiere of the new series “The Sympathizer.”
The series premieres April 14 on Max and is based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name. It’s an espionage thriller about a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his new life as a refugee in Los Angeles.
The 626 Night Market, which is named after the San Gabriel Valley area code and is modeled after the night markets in Asia, will aim to take people back to Vietnam with a handful of Vietnamese food vendors such as All Dat Dumpling, All Dat Noodle, Café 949, Ridges Churro Bar, and The Ugly Bao serving their grub April 13 and 14.
HBO and 626 Night Market are teaming up in Santa Monica April 13-14 to bring people a little taste of Vietnam to mark the premiere of the new series “The Sympathizer.” (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
“We hope people will come through the weekend of our show premiere and celebrate Vietnamese and AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) stories and food and culture,” said JR Tungol, a marketing official for the series.
The weekend will include Vietnamese-American DJs Demonslayer and Annalog spinning tunes both days and a performance by Vietnamese-American artist Dolly Ave from 7-10 p.m. on Saturday, April 13. There will also be “The Sympathizer” photo booths recreating the streets of Vietnam and the world of the series.
“The purpose really with this is to get Vietnamese people, AAPI audiences really excited about seeing themselves on the screen and seeing themselves reflected in our show,” Tungol said.
The 626 Night Market is at 1324 5th Street, Santa Monica. It’s free and open from 1-10 p.m. April 13-14. Free tickets can be reserved at 626nightmarket.com
Related Articles
Community meetings in the San Fernando Valley, April 8-15
‘Puppy Pals’ brings canine comedy stunt show to Norris Theater on April 13
Things to do in the San Fernando Valley, LA area, April 4-11
Torrance’s Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival returns on April 7
Community meetings in the San Fernando Valley, April 1-8
