If my child wants money to attend an idol's concert, so be it

They do not cry and whine and beg for their parents to break their backs to be able to afford concert tickets.

People have been talking about K-pop group Blackpink's concert in Hanoi. I saw on the Internet people debating whether it is worth spending millions of dong just to see your idols on stage.

Some said young Vietnamese wasting large sums of money, either from their own income or getting it from their parents, to satisfy their personal hobbies serves no purpose.

I have even seen people saying that asking parents money for concert tickets is a disservice to them.

I am not someone from the younger generations, I am not a fan of that K-pop group, but I do not agree with many people's negative conceptions about our youngsters, especially those of Gen Z.

Our society is so different from what it was in the past. There is just so much pressure and annoyance in so many aspects of life, from work to home. People have to shoulder more responsibilities nowadays to support themselves and those dear to them. It means that our need for enjoyment and relaxation should also be reevaluated.

I think it is easy to understand why young people want to enjoy themselves today rather than just go to work and save up like those before them. I think it is necessary. People are now willing to spend millions of dong on trips every year or even month, to eat out and shop for expensive electronics. This is an inevitable trend. It is one way for us to feel happier and more fulfilled in our lives.

I know some people born in the 1980s and 90s whose hobbies are collecting cruiser motorcycles, loudspeakers, koi fish, ornamental plants and antiques... all expensive hobbies. Everyone has the right to chase their passion as long as it is within the law. You cannot criticize someone who eats instant noodles for entire months to save up for an expensive toy model that costs half their salaries. The same goes for concert tickets.

I have a younger sibling who is an office worker with a monthly salary of around VND10 million ($420). All that money is gone within the month. When news of Blackpink coming to Vietnam broke, my sibling began to eat less and stopped shopping. They told me about their plan so I could lend them some money, and I happily agreed. A person willing to live true to their passion is always someone worthy of support.

And then there are others who say that while it is fine to spend their own money on concert tickets, it is unacceptable to ask their parents for the money. I completely disagree. If my child does not have enough money to go to a concert by their favorite idols, who rarely perform in Vietnam either, I am willing to give them the money for the tickets.

Firstly, I respect my child's legitimate hobbies. Don't tell me that music serves no purpose; everyone knows how much joy it brings to those who love it. Secondly, children asking their parents for things is very normal. It is not like they whine and beg their parents for tickets. And since it is my decision as to whether I will give them the money, there is no cause to say my child does a disservice to me by asking me for money.

Loving an idol is something that anyone at any age can relate to. I myself am willing to spend millions of dong to go watch my favorite soccer team play a match if they ever come to Vietnam. That will not be a wasteful investment. So to any youngster out there, if you love an artist or a band, that is normal. And to people who do not like idols, please take your opinions elsewhere; don't direct your biases and criticisms towards the fans. You cannot live somebody else's life, and if everyone gets that, society will be a much better place.

If everyone can learn to put themselves in others' shoes and expand their worldview a little bit, life will be much more enjoyable.