The overwhelming crowds at recent large-scale music concerts have made one thing clear: Vietnam urgently needs modern, multi-purpose stadiums. Improving infrastructure for live performances would not only meet audience demand but also create new revenue streams for the entertainment industry.

Shortage of large-scale stadiums

Vietnam currently lacks stadiums capable of hosting major cultural and entertainment events. My Dinh National Stadium, with a capacity of over 40,000, is the largest venue available but has repeatedly reached capacity during high-profile music festivals and large-scale shows. In 2025 alone, My Dinh was chosen to host massive events like Anh trai say hi and the National Concert, with tens of thousands in attendance each night.

Once the premier venue for national football matches, My Dinh has been increasingly sidelined by the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) due to deteriorating infrastructure and high maintenance costs. Instead, local stadiums are being prioritized for matches.

My Dinh was originally built for sports and lacks the versatility needed for smooth transitions between sports and entertainment uses.

In 2023, Ho Chi Minh City missed out on hosting BLACKPINK’s concert due to infrastructure not meeting international standards. This highlighted the city’s struggle to provide venues large and modern enough for world-class performances.

For the Anh trai vuot ngan chong gai tour, the organizers built temporary stages across eight nights in Ho Chi Minh City and Hung Yen, each attracting tens of thousands. According to Ngo Thi Van Hanh, CEO of Yeah1, those were the only two localities with infrastructure that could meet the concert’s requirements. They had considered Ninh Binh as well, given its spacious grounds and capacity to accommodate large crowds with supporting services.

Media expert Le Minh Tam stated that Vietnam’s live event market is evolving rapidly and increasingly forming a viable entertainment industry. While companies were once hesitant about the financial risks, public interest - especially from younger audiences - has proven the market’s potential.

“This is a prime opportunity to build modern performance spaces that can serve tens of thousands of people and position Vietnam as a destination for global entertainment,” Tam said.

One compelling example is singer Ha Anh Tuan’s concert series in Ninh Binh, which not only created a cultural buzz but also boosted local tourism and economic activity. This case illustrates the positive ripple effects that professional performance infrastructure can generate.

Experts believe a coordinated support mechanism between government departments is necessary to facilitate investment and make it easier for private companies to develop large-scale cultural-sports facilities. Such projects would not only enhance audience experiences but also generate consistent revenue and reduce the financial burden of facility maintenance.

Performance infrastructure as a cultural catalyst

Vietnam is not alone in confronting this challenge. In South Korea, President Lee Jae Myung emphasized on Kpop: The next chapter (Arirang TV) that maintaining Kpop’s global position requires expanded performance infrastructure and balanced development across artistic sectors.

President Lee acknowledged that South Korea still trails Japan in the number of modern venues. While serving as Gyeonggi Governor, he proposed the Ilsan Arena project, which ultimately stalled. “If we can’t build new facilities, we must at least renovate and optimize existing ones,” he said. His stance: the government should be a facilitator, not a market controller, allowing culture to flourish independently and sustainably.

Japan is considered a role model for its network of multi-functional stadiums, such as Tokyo Dome, Fukuoka PayPay Dome, and Nissan Stadium. These venues regularly host both major sporting events and concerts by global superstars. Their flexibility ensures both high utilization and long-term preservation.

Europe also offers notable examples. Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu is a textbook case. With its retractable roof and removable turf, the stadium can transition between football matches, concerts, exhibitions, and conferences. During Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour in May 2024, she performed two sold-out nights there, generating 13 million euros - of which Real Madrid earned approximately 9.1 million euros (70% of the event’s total profit).

Many experts argue that Vietnam should pursue similar multifunctional stadiums - venues that serve both sports and entertainment. These projects would meet growing audience demand while generating stable income and easing the financial burden of infrastructure maintenance.

Advanced technologies around the world have enabled existing stadiums to be converted into multi-use venues, even if they weren’t originally designed that way. At Santiago Bernabeu, grass turf can be lowered into an underground chamber called the Hypogeum, inspired by the Roman Colosseum. The system features lighting, ventilation, and irrigation, ensuring the turf stays healthy even during non-sporting events like concerts or conferences.

“In today’s entertainment-driven economy, the key is collaboration between corporate investors and supportive government policies,” experts concluded. “These venues go beyond just stages - they stimulate tourism and promote Vietnam’s image and culture globally.”

Three large stadium projects have been introduced in Vietnam that could redefine the country’s entertainment landscape. Ho Chi Minh City has proposed a 20-30 hectare stadium with 80,000 seats, designed to meet FIFA World Cup and major concert standards. In Thu Duc City, a 50,000-seat stadium is planned in the Rach Chiec sports complex, with an estimated cost of 7 trillion VND (approximately 286 million USD). Hanoi is planning a 60,000-seat stadium within a 330-hectare sports-entertainment complex in Dong Anh, with an investment of 4.5 billion USD, including a Disneyland-style theme park.

These developments mark Vietnam’s preparations to host major international events.

Tien Phong