Concerts - a new impetus for building a 'City of Music'.

Hai Phong is promoting the development of concerts with the aim of building a 'City of Music'.

With numerous major art programs, Hai Phong has many advantages and experience to become a venue for music concerts (Photo provided by the venue).

Concerts – live music events – are creating a "wave" of economic development and experiential tourism in many localities. Capitalizing on this trend, Hai Phong is promoting the development of concerts with the aim of building a "City of Music".

Many favorable conditions

Hai Phong is a major port city in the northern coastal region, a crossroads of economy, culture, and tourism with a well-developed transportation infrastructure. Hai Phong is also known for its hotels, entertainment areas, convention centers, and outdoor venues. The Do Son beach resort and the Cat Ba archipelago, with their expansive spaces, are also suitable for hosting large-scale music events. Hai Phong also boasts two World Heritage sites: the Cat Ba archipelago and the heritage sites belonging to the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac complex. These heritage sites, along with the free-spirited lifestyle of the people of Hai Phong, create a unique cultural fabric, contributing to the city's image as a city rich in emotion, historical depth, and the ability to connect music with local identity. These factors enable Hai Phong not only to host concerts but also to develop music programs with "unique messages," linking music with tourism experiences.

“According to research from recent events, music concerts have a strong ripple effect on the local economy. In the host city, hotels around the event area often achieve very high occupancy rates, even completely full. Transportation services, restaurants, cafes, and souvenir shops have seen a significant increase in customers,” said Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Phuong Anh, Faculty of Tourism Studies, University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi). The event not only generates direct revenue from ticket sales but also promotes increased consumption by attendees throughout their stay. This shows that music concerts are not just an emotional experience, but a real economic driver.

Many young people say that attending concerts is not simply about listening to music, but about embarking on a journey. Nguyen Hong Nhung (22 years old, An Bien ward) shared that whenever her favorite music concert is scheduled, she combines it with sightseeing, enjoying the local cuisine, and exploring the local lifestyle. She believes that if Hai Phong were to host a music concert, it would be fantastic, as young people would prefer to stay in the city rather than travel to other locations.

This is also what the locals expect. Mr. Tran Van Manh (56 years old, Gia Vien ward) believes that large music events will help local service areas, accommodations, and restaurants have more opportunities to attract tourists, especially during the off-season.

In reality, many localities have been successful in organizing concerts and creating a significant tourism impact. In Hanoi, BlackPink's two concerts at My Dinh Stadium generated over 630 billion VND in tourism revenue, with approximately 170,000 visitors flocking to the capital during the event. The "Brother Overcoming a Thousand Obstacles" concert series, held in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hung Yen, attracted a total of over 220,000 visitors... Music concerts can become a core element in tourism development strategies if they are organized strategically and linked to local products.

Aiming for the goal of becoming a "City of Music"

Music concerts will contribute to promoting Hai Phong's development into a "City of Music" ( Photo courtesy).

Hai Phong is currently implementing a project to build a "City of Music," aiming to create a vibrant artistic environment, enhance community cultural life, and build an image of a youthful and dynamic city. This means that developing concerts is not only about increasing tourism revenue, but also about achieving a higher goal: building a lifestyle, cultural space, and artistic environment for the people.

Associate Professor Bui Hoai Son, a full-time member of the National Assembly's Committee on Culture and Society, commented: Hai Phong has all the necessary conditions to build a music city. Hai Phong has a rich musical ecosystem and many open music spaces. With these conditions, Hai Phong can become a music paradise of Vietnam.

According to Dr. Pham Huu Thu, Vice President of the Union of Science and Technology Associations of Hai Phong City, Hai Phong is a land of many musical forms, and the flow of modern music is also present here. Hai Phong also has cultural institutions such as the City Theater, the Vietnam-Czech Friendship Labor Cultural Palace, the Conference and Performance Center... Several new cultural and artistic spaces are also being developed in the city, such as Royal Island (Vu Yen) and Cat Ba Green...

Developing concerts in Hai Phong goes beyond mere entertainment. It's an opportunity for the city to make breakthroughs in developing its night-time economy, tourism services, and building a modern, creative cultural environment. Hai Phong possesses all the necessary infrastructure, scenic beauty, cultural identity, and a vibrant, youthful community to become a destination for large-scale music events.

However, according to Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Phuong Anh, the city needs to encourage the participation of professional event organizing businesses, while also creating opportunities for young local artists to perform, explore local cultural elements, and create music programs with their own unique characteristics.

When concerts are organized professionally, harmoniously combining art and tourism, Hai Phong not only increases revenue but also creates an image of a vibrant, open, and experience-rich city, truly embodying the spirit of "The City of Music".

DUC HUY

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/concert-dong-luc-moi-xay-dung-thanh-pho-am-nhac-526501.html