Monster Quest – A Celebration of Music, Arts and Freedom
Quest returns for its 5th season with the theme “Monster”, uniting more than 2000 local and regional festival enthusiasts.
Quest Festival returned home to Son Tinh Camp, Ba Vi for its 5th edition. After 3 years in action, the festival has not only doubled in size after each season, but its program has also become even more diverse. This November, Quest attracted more than 2000 goers, many of whom came from cities all over Vietnam and even nearby countries.
The beautiful mix of local expats, Vietnamese, regional and Western travelers turned Quest into a cultural melting “hot spot” for one weekend in celebration of music, arts and freedom of expression. It was the place to connect, make new friends, freely express oneself, all in the background of a full 60-hour program of music, showcases and workshops. Themed “Monster”, this Quest was the biggest one so far. With 4 different stages: Quest Embassy, Monster Stage, Rec Room and Eerie Altar, Quest aimed to satisfy every music taste. Quest Embassy with its upbeat tunes kept audience dancing ’til 7AM. Monster Stage presented a varied mix of hip hop, punk, hard rock and alternatives. Numerous workshops such as contemporary dance, yoga, tarot reading, belly dance, magic and hypnosis, cinema were also available for those who wanted an alternative to the all-day music program.
Arts was everywhere. One didn’t have to be an artist to leave his marks on the Quest’s graffiti walls. A mini flea market was also brought into place for those who wanted to experience this urban weekend trend. The surrounding lake created a beautiful romantic setting when the sun set. A wedding proposal was even made here, in fond attention and cheers of all festival attendees. At night, mysterious lighting boxes filled with nostalgic pictures dropped down from the trees.
Compared to Mystery Quest, Monster Quest is much more organized. The team worked hard to bring in decent food stalls, offering a good selection of local delights, Indian cuisine and more. The camping site was kept tidy throughout despite the intermittent rain to ensure the best comfort for participants. It was no 5-star vacation, but those who came had such a blast, they were already talking about the next Quest.
This 3-day music and art extravaganza is undoubtedly gaining popularity among local and regional festival fans. If you’re looking for a place to freely express yourself, enjoy music or simply chill in good company, and you don’t mind dancing in the rain, Quest is the place to be.
Words and photos by Dao Trang.
