Page 30 - Zone Magazine Issue 021

eventreview
VIBE NATION BEACHFEST @ COCO BEACH, VIETNAM
eventreview
ietnam is experiencing the EDM boom that hit Asia a few years ago, it's taken the country by storm seemingly swallowing up a generation of ravers into gigantic festivals with monster production crews. Small underground vibez festivals are not so common
so when they do happen it feels like a refreshing change....so it was great to experience Vibe Nation at Coco Beach-camp. Over 1000 revelers, mostly ex pats and travelers joined together for one weekend to laugh and dance in the soft sand, under a clear open sky on Lagi beach in Binh Thuan province with its pristine beach with clear waters. The location is a quite sophisticated camp style beach-tel that hosted bungalows, beach shacks and camping. This was the second edition of the event, a collective of musicians, artists, DJs, and performers, Vibe Nation brings people together for an unforgettable experience. It’s a weekend that dives deep into worlds of music, creativity, and flavors all on the stunning backdrop of the Lagi Beach.
Vibe Nation is organized by Saigon Dub Station, a French/ European company that specializes in Dub, Reggae and Drum & Bass. The organizers of Vibe Nation stated that it’s designed to be a village-style musical exploration. During the day, you can sample different styles of music at 5 stages around Coco
Beach. After dark, 3 smaller stages allow for more intimate performances. (It also allows for people staying on-site to sleep!) Vibe is designed to be a festival in the truest sense of the word: people coming together to discover new sounds and new people. Unlike other festivals its size, Vibe Nation cares less about securing high-profile artists and more about creating an inclusive environment that feels like a family. Stages won’t be divided by genre, and festival goers will be encouraged to journey around the village to discover the soundscape. The line-up includes well- known Saigon-based artists and expands to include those from around Vietnam and throughout Southeast Asia.
The food market was a sight to be seen, Vibe Nation is a food
festival in its own right, party goers could indulge in a range of taste delights from a range of stalls, you can enjoy local food, pizza, BBQ, Lagi’s fresh-caught seafood, smoothies and yes! There was even vegan options. The bar areas featured all the main spirits, a range of Cocktails, local beers and craft beers on draught. What I found very interesting was the “digital payment” system, customers bought digital tokens which were stored on a wrist band to pay for food and drinks, the wrist bands were scanned by mobile phones to collect the virtual payment. Taking advantage of new cryptographic technology definitely shows forward thinking and an ability to move with the times. And the “buy your own cup” system showed an intelligent sense of ecological mindfulness which ensured that there was minimal litter on the beach, participants are incentivized to re-use their cups and can receive free drinks for collecting waste. For those who like to enjoy a relaxing beach weekend, or for overeager music lovers who want to benefit from some stress relief, an entire wellness center is sponsored by Home Yoga Saigon. Featuring bodywork, energy healing, Tarot readings, and mindfulness courses, guests were be able to rest and rejuvenate during the day so that they could enjoy a full evening of festivities.
DJ's performances from international DJs from all corners of the globe from Reggae to Dubstep, from Hip Hop to Grime, from Techno to Electro, from Trance to Hardtek and from Disco to Funk and even live M.C.s and band performances, so it's safe to say there is something for everyone at this event. I was lucky enough tobeonthelineupanditwasagreathonorformetoplayonthe beach on the Chillgressive stage for sunrise on Sunday morning and that was an emotionally breathtaking experience which I will remember for the rest of my life, the sky was full of beautiful shades of red pink and orange, local people were traveling to work on 'bull and cart' along the beach which was a beautiful cultural experience and the “giant squid” kites in the sky definitely added a more than trippy element for day time sky gazers.
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