BIGBANG's 2026-2027 World Tour, titled XX: Cosmos, initially announced by YG Entertainment, is scheduled to cover 19 cities with 33 performances.

The group has already performed in Goyang, South Korea; Oakland and East Rutherford in the United States; Paris, France; London, the United Kingdom; Taipei, Taiwan; and Singapore.

Hanoi's inclusion as an official stop on the global tour highlights Vietnam's growing importance as a market for international entertainment, particularly following the success of G-Dragon's concert last year.

BIGBANG ticket frenzy spreads across Hanoi before the concerts

Nearly 70,000 people were recorded waiting online within minutes of additional tickets going on sale on October 5, 2026. Thousands of fans have also flocked to merchandise outlets, while ticket resale activity has intensified ahead of the group's two performances at My Dinh National Stadium.

BIGBANG's appeal in Hanoi has extended beyond music, becoming a consumer phenomenon closely linked to nostalgia and fan culture.

In the weeks leading up to the October 24 and 25 concerts, fans have competed fiercely for tickets, from high-pressure online sales to lengthy queues for official lightsticks and other merchandise.

The secondary ticket market has also become increasingly active on social media. After official tickets sold out quickly, numerous accounts began offering tickets at premiums of VND500,000 to VND1 million above their original prices.

Some particularly sought-after ticket categories have reportedly been resold for 1.5 to twice their face value.

According to a VietNamNet survey, the concerts have driven up demand for flights and accommodation in Hanoi, with hotel rooms selling out and airline seats becoming increasingly scarce.

Scammers have also sought to exploit the surge in demand through intermediary accounts and inflated ticket offers, with some asking prices reaching tens of millions of dong.

For fans, securing a ticket involves more than simply being able to afford one. Limited availability means they must also consider seating positions, accompanying benefits and the risks associated with buying from resellers.

The fear of missing a rare opportunity to see their idols after years of waiting has encouraged some concertgoers to accept prices considerably higher than they originally planned.

From ticket battles to long queues for lightsticks

Merchandise and official lightsticks are integral to K-pop fan culture, particularly at live concerts.

On October 16, hundreds of fans queued at a merchandise outlet inside a Hanoi shopping mall, hoping to purchase 20th-anniversary lightsticks and other official souvenirs.

Images of the lengthy queues circulated widely on Threads, quickly attracting attention.

However, the initial excitement turned to disappointment when customers discovered that lightsticks and keychains, two of the most sought-after items, were not available for immediate purchase.

Instead, customers were instructed to place pre-orders, without a clearly confirmed delivery date. The situation prompted criticism of the sales arrangements, especially from those who had spent hours waiting.

Despite the controversy, demand remained strong.

On October 17, thousands of fans continued arriving at merchandise outlets from early morning. Some began queuing at 5am, while others flew from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi specifically to purchase concert souvenirs.

According to published information, the tour's merchandise collection includes nearly 70 products.

Official lightsticks cost VND1.7 million, crown-shaped keychains VND700,000, and T-shirts range from VND1.3 million to VND3.5 million. Other items carry higher prices depending on their type and design.

At these prices, merchandise represents a significant additional expense beyond concert tickets.

A fan hoping to purchase a lightstick, a Hanoi-exclusive T-shirt and several accessories may need to budget several million dong, excluding transportation, accommodation, meals and other concert-related expenses.

Nevertheless, many fans remain willing to spend.

For them, a lightstick is more than an illuminated accessory. Thousands of synchronized lights across a stadium create one of the defining images of K-pop concert culture, strengthening the sense of connection between performers and their audience.

Hanoi-themed merchandise also carries sentimental value.

Long after the concerts end, a T-shirt bearing the city's name or a tour accessory can serve as a personal reminder of the occasion.

Fans are therefore purchasing more than physical products. They are investing in memories of an experience they may have waited years to enjoy.

BIGBANG's legendary status and the nostalgia of a generation

Debuting in 2006, BIGBANG became one of the most influential acts of K-pop's second generation, helping introduce the genre to international audiences through enduring hits such as Haru Haru, Fantastic Baby and Bang Bang Bang.

For many V.I.Ps, as BIGBANG's fan community is known, the group represents their earliest experiences with K-pop.

After nearly two decades, seeing the band perform live carries a different emotional significance from attending a concert by an emerging artist.

For longtime supporters, it is an opportunity to reconnect with memories of their youth and reflect on the years they have spent following the group through different stages of their lives.

The timing is particularly significant because the Hanoi concerts form part of BIGBANG's 20th-anniversary world tour.

Milestone tours often generate exceptional demand for tickets, limited-edition merchandise and products associated with individual concert destinations.

For fans, owning an item featuring the name Hanoi means preserving a tangible reminder of a specific stop on the tour, rather than simply purchasing another product bearing the group's name.

This emotional attachment helps explain why the excitement extends beyond those who have secured tickets.

Fans who were unsuccessful in ticket sales are still participating through merchandise purchases, fan community activities and online discussions.

Meanwhile, photographs of queues, advice on purchasing official products and updates about merchandise availability have kept the concerts prominent across social media platforms.

Social media has both reflected and amplified the excitement.

Images of fans waiting for lightsticks can attract the curiosity of people who were previously less interested in the event, while reports of rising ticket prices have sparked broader discussions about the cost of attending major concerts.

As a result, the anticipation surrounding BIGBANG's Hanoi performances has evolved into a wider conversation about consumer spending, personal identity, nostalgia and the role of fan communities in contemporary youth culture.

My Anh - Vy Uyen