Music Bank Hanoi: Have the "die-hard fans" stopped being so obsessed?

Unlike the scenes of people hugging and crying, crowds pushing and shoving, and fainting, Music Bank Hanoi 2015 presented a more civilized and respectful atmosphere.

This year, Vietnam is the ninth location for the Music Bank world tour, following Tokyo, Paris, Hong Kong, Viña del Mar, Jakarta, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro, and Mexico City.

With extensive experience in organizing events, the Music Bank Hanoi 2015 stage was grandly designed in a Y-shape extending to the audience area, making it easy for fans to see the artists. In addition, security was tightened around the stands, especially at the ticket check area, to prevent any chaos.

Music Bank stage

I remember that in 2012, when KBS Television first held Music Bank in Vietnam, because tickets were given out by invitation only (not for sale) and held at a location with limited audience capacity like the National Convention Center (Hanoi), thousands of fans without tickets gathered and caused chaos outside the National Convention Center. This year, Music Bank learned from that experience, holding the event at My Dinh National Stadium and distributing tickets in advance with prices ranging from 300,000 VND to 1,900,000 VND, dividing the venue into sections with security barriers, thus minimizing instances of fans pushing and shoving.

Furthermore, although the show was scheduled to start at 6 PM, the organizers extended it to 7:30 PM to allow fans to settle into their seats. For those standing near the stage, the organizers specifically requested that fans move back and space out. If any group's fans cause a disturbance, that group will not be allowed to perform at Music Bank.

Thanks to the organizers' decisive actions, there was almost no crowding or pushing that led to fainting, unlike previous shows featuring Korean stars in Vietnam. On the stage, the organizers provided specific directions for hanging banners and signs for each group. In addition, the organizers distributed light-up watches that could change color continuously according to the songs, allowing fans to cheer.

Fans with banners and glowing watches.

For two hours, seven Korean groups—Sistar, SHINee, GOT7, EXO, Block B, Teen Top, and A Pink—delivered spectacular performances for the audience. Regardless of the artist, fans cheered enthusiastically and sang along to the songs they knew.

The artists were also very enthusiastic about speaking Vietnamese and always expressed gratitude for the opportunity to come to Vietnam and interact with the audience. Many groups even plan to return in the near future because they felt the warm welcome from the Vietnamese audience.

Many foreign fans who toured Vietnam with Music Bank, including those from South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines, were also impressed with the stability of the audience seating. One fan from Thailand said she received a lot of help from Vietnamese people when she wanted to buy tickets to see the show. She hopes to return to Vietnam to learn more about the people and culture here.

Even after the show ended, fans remained seated in the audience area for over half an hour. Many tears were shed out of regret, but there was no longer any heart-wrenching hugging and crying, even though this was the first time fans of some groups like EXO and GOT7 had met their idols.

Like many other events, My Dinh Stadium was littered with trash, posters, water bottles, and other debris on the pitch after the show ended. However, instead of leaving or seeing their idols off at the airport, many K-pop fans stayed at My Dinh Stadium to pick up the trash.

Fans stayed at My Dinh Stadium to pick up trash.

This heartwarming image reveals another side of the fans, showing how they transform from obsessive "fanatics" into conscientious individuals who want to make a good impression on their idols. Fans hope that, through their enthusiastic support, civilized behavior, and politeness, their idols will one day return to Vietnam.

According to VOV