Police arrest company director after abrupt cancelation of major music show in Hanoi

The Investigation Police Agency, under the municipal police department, issued decisions to press charges against Nguyen Thi Thu Ha, 46, for alleged fraud and misappropriation of property under Article 174 of Vietnam’s Penal Code.

Investigators said Ha is the director and legal representative of Ngoc Viet Education Co. Ltd., which operates in artistic creation and entertainment.

The firm is headquartered on the fourth floor of the M5 office building at 91 Nguyen Chi Thanh Street, Giang Vo Ward, Hanoi.

Beginning around June 2025, Ngoc Viet Education prepared and promoted the live music program scheduled to take place at 08:00 pm on December 28 at the Hanoi Indoor Games Gymnasium on Tran Huu Duc Street, Tu Liem Ward, Hanoi.

The concert program was slated to feature works by celebrated late composers Van Cao, Trinh Cong Son, and Pham Duy, as well as composer Tran Tien.

The show attracted significant public attention due to the participation of well-known Vietnamese singers and performers, including Tran Thu Ha, Hong Nhung, Doan Trang, Pham Thu Ha, Lam Bao Ngoc, Huynh Tan Minh, Le Hieu, Vu Thang Loi, and Thanh Thuy.

Contracts with these artists were reportedly signed directly by Ngoc Viet Education.

Ticket sales began on October 11 through multiple channels, including direct sales and distribution via partner companies and collaborators.

Police said the event drew strong interest from audiences in Vietnam and overseas.

However, investigators alleged that during the preparation process, Ha was fully aware that the concert did not meet the necessary conditions to be staged.

Despite this, she allegedly instructed staff to continue informing the public that the show would proceed as planned and to keep selling tickets and collecting money from customers.

On the day of the scheduled performance, audiences were allowed to enter the venue and were told to wait until 08:30 pm.

Shortly afterward, a representative of Ngoc Viet Education announced that the concert had been scrapped.

The sudden cancelation sparked anger among ticket holders, many of whom demanded refunds and subsequently filed complaints with police officers, leading to Ha's arrest.