Vietnamese promoters have been facing difficulties in attracting foreign acts while Vietnamese performers draw lesser crowds.

The Backstreet Boys in HCM City 

Rumours of possible performances by musicians including Kelly Clarkson, Celine Dion, Linkin Park, Maroon 5,  Rihanna and a number of South Korean stars performing in Vietnam have stirred the attention of fans. But, as one promoter said, it is impossible to tell whether or not these shows will actually happen because of all the factors involved in the process.

Lack of confidence

After several attempts, Minh Hoang, Director of Viet Vision, got a chance to have an official meeting with the company that manages US singer, Kelly Clarkson. Viet Vision has been trying to entice Clarkson to perform in Vietnam for some time, but even after accepting all the requirements of her managers, her tour bill, which includes countries such as Thailand and Japan, does not list Vietnam.

According to Minh Hoang, the negotiation process between Vietnamese promoters and managers of big foreign acts can last from six months to one year to complete. He said that this time was needed for domestic promoters to prove that they were capable of staging quality shows with costs that may reach millions of USD.

Many Vietnamese promoters have had a hard time convincing foreign management that they are capable of putting on a show up to international standards.

Hoang admitted, "We were shocked at the demands for Celine Dion for performing here."

According to many domestic promoters, putting on foreign acts is a risk for them, adding that patience is a must in the negotiation process. "Most foreign performers would not think about coming to Vietnam, as it would not add to their fame. So, when we speak to their handlers, we have to keep in mind that the burden of proof is on us to show that we are professional and able to stage a good performance," said Thai Huan, Director of Star Touch.

Even though there has been a recent increase in foreign performers in Vietnam, with the likes of the Backstreet Boys, Westlife, Super Junior and 2NE1, the demand for foreign acts remains higher than promoters' ability to attract.

Hoang added that, “The big problem Vietnamese promoters is that foreign performers don't care much about the market. On top of that, enforcement of copyright law here is still weak. Performers prefer places where they can promote and sell their products. And in the end, even if we can convince them that this is a worthwhile place to put on a show, it is hard to prove the reliability of promoters and producers here."