La Lumière - With nothing more than a handheld microphone, a modest-sized space, and a budget-friendly approach, Vietnamese music enthusiasts can now turn their dreams into reality.
It's a mini but more than enough
Ms. Hanh Dung, a customer of a karaoke mini in Hanoi, says that the tiny space of the karaoke mini-room makes it “an ideal place for groups of friends when they want to spend their weekends.”
Karaoke is not just an entertainment activity but an indispensable part of Vietnamese daily life. Lately, the young in Vietnam prefer a new karaoke model called the karaoke mini room to the traditional one.
Traditional karaoke is gradually losing its position due to significant challenges. Owing to the rapid increase in numbers, these venues have competed fiercely, leading to each establishment losing its uniqueness and attraction. Pressure from the COVID-19 pandemic and fire safety regulations after the 2022 Binh Duong karaoke fire, which killed at least 33 people, have also directly impacted the operations of these traditional karaoke venues.
With the position of traditional karaoke bars in Vietnam gradually being shaken, mini karaoke bars emerged as a new competitor. The Vietnamese mini karaoke bars draw inspiration from countries like South Korea and Japan, where personal entertainment is an integral part of daily life.
Many business owners chose this model due to its recent emergence, promising good career opportunities.
Karaoke mini-rooms target the young generation. They differ from traditional ones in terms of space and decoration. According to Mrs. Mai, the owner of a five-month-old karaoke mini-bar in Hanoi, “Karaoke mini-bars offer customers medium-sized rooms, which give them a better sense of intimacy and privacy. The space is also elaborately decorated to suit the customers’ needs for birthday parties, friend gatherings, or other special occasions.”
Mrs. Mai also mentions that her karaoke mini-bar has strict regulations to ensure smooth operation and elimination of social evils such as smoking, alcohol, and harassment.
People usually come to karaoke mini-rooms to relax and hang out. They frequently go in groups of more than 3 people, mainly with family and friends.
Only 50,000 VND per hour
Prices are the first reason why many people look for karaoke mini-bars.
Thanks to reasonable prices, Ms. Hanh Dung, a university student with a small budget, usually spends her free time in the karaoke mini-room with friends on weekends.
“Prices for the services are inexpensive, and they are even cheaper during weekdays mornings and afternoons, charging only 50,000 VND per hour. There are also numerous combos and discounts on holidays for customers going in groups.” Mrs. Mai shares.
Besides more affordable prices as well as better preferential services than traditional venues, modern technologies are also another reason for people’s choices. Specifically, the karaoke mini-room provides customers with touchscreen interfaces and diverse song catalogs.
Ms. Hong, another customer of Z-space says, “This is the first time I have experienced such a karaoke room model with various high-quality facilities and services. I think it’s very suitable for small groups of music enthusiasts. The price is also within students’ reach.”
In line with the cultural significance of karaoke in Vietnam, these establishments have successfully tapped into the youthful and social preferences of the population, creating spaces that are not only affordable and convenient but also culturally relevant and technologically advanced.
Small space, big passion
After experiencing the service several times, Ms. Hong hopes these karaoke mini-rooms can have better soundproofing. She also mentions the need to make reservations in advance due to regular overcrowding.
The business operation also encounters some problems. Like other business owners, karaoke mini-room starters have difficulty finding suitable premises and raising investment capital for good facilities, installation as well as decoration. Besides, they also encounter other problems. Since this type of service has been introduced to Vietnam recently, the owners of this service have a limited amount of experience operating it.
Acknowledging customers’ needs, Mrs. Mai is trying to improve service quality, giving customers more opportunities to experience this interesting model. She also intends to open more branches to reach more potential customers and increase profits.
Which one do you prefer?
Traditional Karaoke
Karaoke mini-room
At home
Others
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