By Ciara Mina
With massive performances by worldwide musicians like BLACKPINK, Westlife, and G-Dragon drawing tens of thousands of fans in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam is emerging as a destination for international music tours.
Music and entertainment-based tourism has been acknowledged by the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) as a strategic product to increase visitor spending and lengthen stays.
VNAT’s Director-General, Nguyen Trung Khanh, stated that music is a potent instrument for establishing an emotional bond between travellers and places, improving the overall experience and making Vietnam stand out as a cultural destination.
Global artists and tourism
In late July 2023, South Korean girl band BLACKPINK performed two nights in Hanoi, attracting over 170,000 tourists and generating over VND600 billion ($23.5 million) for the city’s tourism industry.
This resulted in a two- to three-fold increase in hotel reservations.
Furthermore, a huge crowd attended the 8Wonder music festival in Khanh Hoa province in July 2023, which included international pop sensation Charlie Puth.
In June 2024, 15,000 people saw the iconic Irish pop group Westlife perform live in Hanoi as part of their Hits Tour.
The band “Arrival From Sweden” entertained thousands of local and international fans during their “The Music of ABBA” performances in Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Ninh Binh, and Hanoi in October 2024.
YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: ‘Squid Game’ enters its final era
Local music and tourism
Additionally, local music projects are becoming more popular.
These include “Anh Trai Say Hi” (Say Hi Never Say Goodbye) and “Anh Trai Vuot Ngan Chong Gai” (Call Me By Fire Vietnam), which drew in 50,000-70,000 visitors at each event.
Additionally, luxury offers are particularly contributing to the growth of a more individualised and private type of music tourism in the nation.
For example, Paradise Vietnam has included live music performances on their opulent Ha Long Bay cruises.
For both domestic and foreign passengers, their “Paradise Elegance” and “Paradise Grand” cruises feature nightly musical performances that add a level of refinement and emotional impact.
Ha Long Bay’s tourism reputation has been enhanced by this special fusion of natural beauty and live music, which has raised hotel and ship occupancy rates in the area.
Despite being a relatively new idea in Vietnam, many travellers are now prepared to pay for a trip that incorporates music and leaves them with priceless memories.
READ NEXT: Malaysia’s agricultural sector at risk as farmer population ages
Adam Peaker 
Hyacinth Estrada 
Ian Trinidad