The K-Pop world is abuzz, and Vietnam’s travel industry is bracing for an exhilarating “BIGBANG windfall.” The iconic K-Pop boy band, a global phenomenon that significantly propelled the Korean Wave in Vietnam, is set to ignite Hanoi with their much-anticipated world tour.
Members of K-pop boy band BIGBANG perform during the 2024 MAMA AWARDS JAPAN at Kyocera Dome Osaka in Osaka, Japan, Nov. 23, 2024. Courtesy of Mnet
BIGBANG will grace My Dinh National Stadium for two spectacular nights on October 24 and 25. While official ticket reservations are scheduled to commence on Thursday, the ripple effect of this announcement has already sent shockwaves through the aviation and hotel industries. Local media reports indicate that demand for flights and hotel rooms began skyrocketing as early as Tuesday.
A Concert Catalyst: The Travel Boom Begins
The impact on travel is undeniable. Round-trip domestic flights from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi for the concert weekend have already surged to 5 million dong, a staggering 1.5 times their usual price. Experts anticipate these fares will climb even higher as the concert dates draw nearer. This trend mirrors past K-Pop events, notably BLACKPINK’s Hanoi concert in July 2023, which saw one-way flights on the same route peak at an astounding 9 million dong.
Hotels are experiencing an unprecedented booking frenzy. The prestigious Sheraton Hanoi Hotel, for instance, has reported that approximately 80 percent of its rooms are already booked for the concert weekend. A hotel representative noted, “Considering the high proportion of individual room bookings rather than group-tour reservations, the pattern is believed to reflect early bookings by fans planning to attend the BIGBANG concerts.” This highlights the immense dedication of individual fans traveling specifically for the event.
A teaser image for K-pop boy band BIGBANG’s digital single “biiig” / Courtesy of YG Entertainment
Fandom Power: Vietnam’s K-Pop Connection
Travel platforms have confirmed this escalating demand. Global platform Klook reported a remarkable surge in Hanoi hotel searches in July – a 50 percent jump among Vietnamese users and a 30 percent increase among international users compared to last year. Similarly, Traveloka saw searches for October trips to Hanoi more than quadruple. Recognizing this fervent interest, tour operators have also begun offering enticing package deals that include concert tickets, flights, hotel accommodations, transfer services, and even meals.
Vietnam has long been a powerhouse market for Korean pop culture, consistently drawing massive crowds for K-Pop acts. BLACKPINK’s 2023 concerts in Hanoi captivated 70,000 concertgoers, while BIGBANG’s own G-Dragon pulled in an astounding 100,000 fans over two days in Hung Yen Province in November 2025. To put this in perspective, Vietnam’s attendance record for a domestic artist stands at 40,000 spectators, set by My Tam at My Dinh National Stadium in December 2025.
Ticket booking page for K-pop group BIGBANG’s Hanoi concert / Captured from CTicket’s website
Vietnamese media outlets are keenly monitoring BIGBANG’s return, underscoring the potential economic impact. Lao Dong newspaper posed a critical question: “The question is whether this BIGBANG concert can surpass the impact of BLACKPINK, whose two-day performance in 2023 generated an economic effect of about 630 billion dong.” VietnamVN further emphasized that selecting Hanoi as a concert venue is a testament to the group’s immense fandom scale and influence. The outlet predicted, “During the concert period, audiences will gather from across Vietnam and overseas, driving increased demand for flights, accommodation, dining and tourism services.”
As the countdown to October begins, Hanoi is poised to welcome thousands of dedicated V.I.P.s (BIGBANG’s official fandom name), ready to witness their idols perform and contribute significantly to the local economy. The stage is set for an unforgettable K-Pop spectacle and a massive boost for Vietnam’s tourism sector.
