Karaoke or torture? In Vietnam, loud singing becomes public enemy No 1
- Vietnam has been praised for containing the coronavirus, but stopping the scourge of noisy karaoke is proving impossible
- In some cases, loud karaoke parties have led to violent reactions, with some now calling for a clampdown on the pastime
Nguyen Minh Giang is not a big fan of singing but enjoys listening to others showing off – just not when the warbling is coming from karaoke gatherings near her home in Ho Chi Minh City.
‘’When people sing on the other side of the river at night, people in my apartment building on this side curse,’’ said the 33-year-old footwear company employee, adding that the karaoke singing in her own neighbourhood is so frequent she now knows her neighbours’ favourite songs and musical genres.
The singing occurs both during the day and at night, typically from about 2:30pm to 6pm during weekdays and for longer on weekends, she said.
The entire situation, which she has endured for two years now, is sorely trying her patience. ‘’Many times when they play, the music is too loud, it is difficult for me to talk to people in my house and to rest,” she said.
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