Swedish band wows audience in traditional Vietnamese ao dai

The one-and-a-half hour concert in August Revolution Square in Hanoi on October 12 was performed by the music band "Arrival from Sweden", which covered the immortal songs of the legendary Swedish band ABBA, taking the audience back in time almost 50 years ago with the wonderful songs, namely "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!", "Money, Money, Money", "Fernando", "Mamma Mia" and others.

Swedish singers wear Vietnamese ao dai on the stage. Photo: Swedish Embassy in Vietnam

Notably, the final song of the program, “Dancing Queen,” was performed by foreign singers in ao dai costumes, complemented by a performance by the Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club. The performance was enthusiastically applauded by a large audience, especially the capital's youth.

According to local musician Giang Son, ABBA's music has been an integral part of the youth experience for many generations of Vietnamese music lovers. "I am excited to dance and sing along to ABBA's music. The Swedish artists appreciate Vietnamese culture; by wearing ao dai for the last song, they offered a charming farewell to the audience," she said.

The Swedish band gave ABBA fans in Hanoi an unforgettable night of music. Photo: Nguyen My Trang

The Vietnam Ao Dai Heritage Club had previously held an exchange and given the band unique gifts of traditional Vietnamese ao dai. To encourage friends abroad to try Vietnamese ao dai, the club also has a branch in Sweden.

The "The Music of ABBA" tour was brought to Vietnamese audiences by Arrival From Sweden, with four concerts in Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, Ninh Binh, and a final concert in Hanoi.

The band has performed with more than 100 symphony orchestras in more than 70 countries and will present more than 80 shows in 2024 alone.

The music of ABBA is part of the celebration of the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Sweden, further strengthening bilateral ties and promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two nations.