Born Pink Hanoi concert lures foreign audiences' admiration

At My Dinh National Stadium, Black Pink's performances drew more than 60,000 people. It is also the final performance of Black Pink's Born Pink World Tour.

Dazzling performance

Ollie Arci, a British national, has been living in Hanoi since 2015. He and his wife showed up at My Dinh Stadium very early in the evening of July 29. Although it rained a bit before the show, they enjoyed the time with other Blinks (Black Pink) fans.

Four girls from BlackPink caused a stir at My Dinh National Stadium. Photo: The Hanoi Times

“The group displayed their linguistic prowess by greeting the audience with a warm ‘xin chao,’ much to the crowd's delight. What followed was an electrifying performance of Lovesick Girls and Don’t Know What to Do, with thousands of fans screaming and jumping for joy,” said Ollie.

Then, in a series of solo performances, each member of BlackPink gives a standout performance that leaves a lasting personal imprint on the concert.

He was also particularly impressed by BlackPink's cuteness when they danced to the Vietnamese hit See Tinh by Hoang Thuy Linh, wearing conical hats.

No BlackPink performance is complete without a stunning lighting display, and this one was no exception. Shades of blue, purple and pink seemed to light up the sky. Ollie enthusiastically pointed out how every musical note, phrase, and dance step is punctuated by intricately orchestrated pyrotechnics that completely mesmerize the audience.

"The climactic fireworks, accompanied by the hit song Kill This Love, transformed the stadium into a colorful kaleidoscope. It was a sight that even the most discerning audience couldn't help but admire," said Ollie.

Hanoi - an attractive destination

Pingu Zaxi, a Blink from Thailand, had a great time in Vietnam. Pingu said he was surprised at how much the Vietnamese fan base adored the idol.

"If there is another concert in Hanoi, I would love to come and celebrate. You guys exuded power and enthusiasm to make the night really explosive so that everyone could enjoy the great emotions to the fullest," Pingu said.

V-Blinks (Vietnamese fans of BlackPink) welcome their idols. Photo: The Hanoi Times

This fan and her friend spent about VND17 million (US$740) to stay in Vietnam for three days. Except for the expensive night tickets, all other expenses, such as accommodation, transportation and shopping in Vietnam are cheap.

Pingu rented a hotel room in  Hoan Kiem District so she could take advantage of its location to explore the Old Quarter, walk along the pedestrian street, and taste Vietnamese dishes. She said pho (noodle soup), Vietnamese baguette and bun cha (noodles with grilled pork) were all very delectable.

"Our hotel room rates include a breakfast buffet. When we looked at the food stalls, we even asked each other if it was profitable for them because the food was plentiful and delicious," Pingu said with a smile.

This girl had been to Vietnam before, but Hanoi was just a stopover before cruising Ha Long Bay. She assured that she would return soon to explore Hanoi.

Joseph Kwon, a Korean singer and songwriter working in Vietnam, said that the BlackPink concert had brought a great experience to Vietnamese fans because they could get closer to their idols and enjoy the fantastic performances firsthand.

According to Joseph Kwon, BlackPink is one of the most famous and successful K-pop groups in the world, with a huge fan base in many different countries. Since its debut in 2016, BlackPink has made incredible achievements and has become a popular girl band around the world.

"Their singing and choreography are also impressive, and their talent and charisma stand out. BlackPink has also brought their colors to Vietnam, going far beyond what all idol groups should do," he said.

Joseph said that the Born Pink World Tour in Hanoi was a phenomenal event for the local entertainment industry. It must have been a memorable and enjoyable experience for fans and artists alike. It will also be a cultural exchange between Vietnam and Korea, as fans will get closer to the music, style and language of other countries.

"Culture plays a key role in the development of nations and societies. BlackPink's successful performances give impetus to Vietnam's music industry, instill dreams and a sense of participation in young artists, and leave motivation and evidence for better cultural development in the future," he said.

My Dinh National Stadium was lit up with fireworks and light sticks. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times.

According to Joseph, BlackPink's concerts in Hanoi have directly or indirectly contributed to the growth of other industries in Vietnam. First, the group's fans come from many countries to attend their performances. This allows Vietnam's hotels, airlines, restaurants and shops to benefit from the roaring tourism fever.

The concert also made Vietnam internationally recognized as one of the important cultural destinations.

"BlackPink has gone beyond being an idol group and has become a pop culture phenomenon, inspiring and influencing the fashion and beauty industries. With this BlackPink concert as an opportunity, I hope that harmony and reciprocity between countries can be achieved through many pop culture exchanges in the future," said the artist.

The Korean media has been very positive about the concert. Opinion News ran an article under the title: Concert Born Pink Hanoi caused a stir in Southeast Asia. Their correspondent Choi In Chul said that BlackPink's concert raised the cost of traveling to Hanoi. A round-trip ticket between South Korea and Vietnam rose to VND9 million ($380), and tickets for the show also increased to VND9.8 million ($400).

The newspaper also reported that the number of visitors to Hanoi also skyrocketed. Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism estimated that 2.38 million tourists visited the city in July, up 21.4% year-on-year, including 380,000 foreigners. Searches for accommodation related to the concert in Hanoi increased tenfold, showing the impact of BlackPink.