HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s biggest music festival is back.

After a hiatus in 2018, Monsoon Music Festival will return in November, its organisers announced on Tuesday.

In November 2017, they said that that year could be the festival's last as local authorities didn't want the festival to take place again at the former Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long due to its historical significance.

Head of Monsoon Music Festival, music producer Quốc Trung at a press conference in Hà Nội yesterday. The Việt Nam’s biggest music festival will be back this year in November after one year of interruption. — Photo courtesy of Thanh Việt Production

However, the festival’s founder and head of its organising board, composer and music producer Quốc Trung, has persuaded local cultural authorities and other relevant bodies to let the party go ahead at the 10,000-capacity venue.

“The vast grass grounds of the Imperial Citadel on Hoàng Diệu Street are just for non-commercial events. I have to reiterate that the festival is not profitable and for the community. We run this festival without profit in mind. My wish is to develop it to become one of most prestigious international music festivals of the region,” said Trung.

According to him, over four editions since its debut in 2013, the festival has received more than 200 artists from 20 countries and territories, and 125,000 attendees.

The event was nominated at the ‘Vietnamese Grammy’ Devotion Awards for four consecutive years and won the award for Music Show/Festival of the Year in 2015.

The festival has also been celebrated as part of Hà Nội’s long-term cultural development plan, which was approved by the city’s People’s Committee Chairman Nguyễn Đức Chung.

“We got approval to continue the festival last year, but, due to a time crunch, we could not handle everything. Normally, to ensure every step of the festival can be perfect, we have to start the preparation a year in advance,” Trung said.

This year, the festival will take place from November 1 to 3, with no details announced on performers as yet.  

The organisers have also launched an appreciation programme 'Super Fans Wanted' which will expire on June 11, with 100 people who attended all previous editions set to receive free tickets to Monsoon in 2019.

Previous editions of the festival have featured performances by Grammy-winning soul singer Joss Stone, best-selling string quartet Bond and the world-famous rock band Scorpions. — VNS