Bob Dylan to perform in Vietnam for the first time... but will fans be able to afford a ticket?

 

The Times They Are a-Changin': Folk legend Bob Dylan will play in Vietnam next month for the very first time

His songs were considered anthems for the anti-Vietnam war era of the Sixties.
But it wasn't just the Americans who were inspired by him but he also gained a legion fans in the communist country.
And next month they will finally get the chance to see him play live when he performs there for the very first time.
However, there may be some concerns that many will struggle to afford a ticket, with general admission entry costing 900,000 dong (£26) - which is slightly higher than Vietnam's monthly minimum wage.
VIP tickets cost 2.5 million dong (£75), and will include food and drinks as well as parking, VIP entrance, exclusive access to a VIP bar and tents, and executive washrooms.

The gig will take place on April 10 at the 8,000-plus-capacity RMIT University in Ho Chi Minh City, which used to be known as Saigon.
But despite the ticket prices, Rod Quinton, general manager of promoters Saigon Sound System said this will be a once-in-a-lifetime event because of the cultural and historical significance of Dylan playing in the country for the first time.
He said: 'We are bringing him here because Bob Dylan is a very important legend of music and we think it's important that Vietnamese people, particularly the younger generation, are exposed to his legacy and what he's done for music.
'It will be something very special when Dylan and his band takes to the stage in Vietnam.'
And he said despite what the Vietnamese may consider high prices for the tickets, he expected that all 8,250 will sell out.
However, he added that they were currently only taking ticket reservations because they were still working out details with the tax department.
Dylan's 1960s songs 'Blowin' in the Wind' and 'The Times They Are a-Changin' were inspirations for the American civil rights and anti-war movements.

War-torn: Dylan was inspired by the conflict in Vietnam to write anti-war song Blowin' In The Wind

His trip to Vietnam is part of his Asia tour which will also take in a concert in China, his first there too.
Chinese officials allowed the concert in Beijing to go ahead after initially refusing permission last year when plans for the tour were first put in place.
He will become among a handful of western music artists who have performed in the country including Bjork, Beyonce, Eric Clapton and Wham!, who were the first Western pop group to play there.