In anticipation of the HBO Original limited series The Sympathizer premiere debuting on Sunday, April 14,  Max is teaming up with 626 Night Market to bring the show to life in downtown Santa Monica.  The event will celebrate the intersection of culture, community, and storytelling on Saturday, April 13, and Sunday, April 14 from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m. 

The immersive night market will be free and open to the public, filled with Vietnamese cuisine, art, entertainment and live sounds by Vietnamese DJs Demonslayer and Annalog with a special performance by Vietnamese artist Dolly Ave from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on  Saturday, April 13 at 1324 5th Street, lot 27.

Based on Viet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name, the series is an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of 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 show stars Hoa Xuande, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Phanxine, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, Kieu Chinh, Duy Nguyen, Alan Trong, Emmy winner Sandra Oh and Academy Award winner Robert Downey Jr., who plays multiple roles.

The market will feature  Vietnamese food vendors including  All Dat Dumpling, All Dat Noodle, Café 949, Ridges Churro Bar, and The Ugly Bao, and merchandise vendors  Steve Minty, as well as The Sympathizer branded elements and photo moments inspired by the series and traditional night markets found in Asia.  

The 626 Night Market, the largest Asian-inspired night market in the United States returns for its twelfth year, featuring more than  200 vendors,  offering a variety of food and merchandise from traditional Asian street food to fusion cuisine. The 626 Night Market will take place over ten weekends, starting from the first weekend of April until the end of September,  starting in San Diego, with a larger space and stops in Pleasanton, Arcadia, and Costa Mesa.