Vietnam Morning Monitor: Da Nang announces events in Hoi An through Tet, BigBang concert generates $29mn in tourism revenue

| SOCIETY 

-- Jennifer Wicks, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam, and her delegation visited Vietnam Maritime University in Hai Phong City, northern Vietnam, on Tuesday evening to discuss ways to promote cooperation in maritime education and training, scientific research, and human resource development. Vietnam Maritime University expressed its hope for continued connections and support from the U.S. Embassy to strengthen ties with U.S. universities, research institutes, and organizations, particularly members of the International Association of Maritime Universities.

-- A smart food-wrap project made from lotus byproducts by students from Foreign Trade University’s Ho Chi Minh City campus won first prize at the Student Innovation Showcase 2026, beating nearly 300 entries from universities worldwide. The award was presented during the fifth Trans-Pacific Sustainability Dialogue, held in Singapore on October 25 and 26. The project aims to make use of agricultural byproducts, help preserve food, and reduce packaging waste.

-- Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang on Tuesday asked Vietnam Electricity Group to urgently develop a plan to reduce the average retail electricity price, effective from November 1 to March 31, 2027. The Ministry of Finance was tasked with working with other ministries and agencies to review the legal basis and assess the impacts and feasibility of reducing the special consumption tax rate on all types of gasoline to zero percent for the same period.

| TRAVEL

-- Da Nang will host cultural events and festivals in Hoi An and other heritage sites through early 2027, including the Hoi An International Lantern Festival from December 3 to 6, 2026, under the theme “Hoi An – Colors of Heritage.” The festival will take place at Hoai River Square, An Hoi Sculpture Garden, along the Hoai River, and on streets in Hoi An Ancient Town. Other events will include activities marking Vietnam Cultural Heritage Day and New Year celebrations.

-- Hanoi’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has reviewed the work involved in organizing the BigBang 2026-2027 – XX: COSMOS concert, held on October 24 and 25 at My Dinh Stadium, which attracted around 90,000 local and international fans. The department reported that Hanoi welcomed approximately 220,000 tourist arrivals on October 23 and 24 alone, up 15.6 percent from the previous week, including around 67,900 international arrivals.

Tourism revenue during the event was estimated at VND750 billion ($29 million). The concert helped promote Hanoi as a safe destination for international tourists, boost spending on services, and enhance the capital’s image through domestic and international media channels.

| LIFESTYLE

-- The Miss Globe 2026 brings together 49 contestants from around the world, with Nguyen Thu Thao, the reigning Miss Tourism Vietnam 2026, representing Vietnam. The organizers of The Miss Globe 2026 have presented sashes to 49 contestants from countries and territories, officially launching the pageant’s activities. The pageant runs from October 24 to November 7 in Phuket, Thailand, featuring several subsidiary competitions. The final is scheduled for November 6 in Bangkok.

-- More than 38,000 concert tickets will be distributed free of charge for Hanoi’s 2026 Vietnam Culture Day celebration, according to a plan issued by the Hanoi People’s Committee. Of these, 10,500 tickets will be allocated to residents of wards bordering or adjacent to My Dinh Stadium, while another 7,000 invitation tickets will be distributed to residents through online platforms. The concert is expected to draw 50,000 people and take place at 8:00 pm on November 24, Vietnam Culture Day, at My Dinh Stadium. The 120-minute event will combine traditional and contemporary arts with modern stage technology. It will also feature 15 minutes of fireworks interspersed with performances.

Flooding caused by high tides in Ho Chi Minh City