Straight from a New Year's Eve DJ Set to Vietnam! A Report on My Experience at EPIZODE, Asia's Largest Festival

[Prologue] A Journey That Begins Right After My New Year's Eve DJ Set

At the end of 2020, I was playing a New Year's Eve DJ set at a nightclub in Osaka.
I packed up immediately as we closed at 4:00 AM and dashed to the airport without even a moment to wipe off the sweat.

That's because EPIZODE, one of Asia's largest music festivals, was waiting for me.

・Kansai Airport to Singapore via Singapore Airlines
・From there, through Ho Chi Minh City to Phu Quoc Island in Vietnam

A little secret: traveling right after the New Year is surprisingly cheap, and I highly recommend it.

[Departure] Aiming for Asia's Largest Music Festival

I relaxed with movies and beer during the flight. Singapore Airlines is as comfortable as ever.
Once I arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, I had some pho to greet my stomach.
That clear beef bone broth... it was a luxury of gentleness to eat in the middle of the night.

From there, I took a domestic VietJet flight.
It was my first time, but it was comfortable and even included an in-flight meal!

・I mostly used GRAB to get around from the airport
・Once I reached Phu Quoc, I headed straight to the hotel
・Then, starving, I went to the night market

Honestly, I was so sleepy I don't remember what I ate. Haha

[Festival Day 1] Beats Echoing Through the Tropical Night and the Mysterious Token Culture

I splurged a bit on my accommodation and stayed at the InterContinental Phu Quoc.
It was amazing. Truly a tropical paradise.

Night fell, and I finally headed to EPIZODE!
The festival venue, which appeared on the beach along the coast, felt like another world.

・The genres were laid-back Minimal and Afro House
・Waves of sound that seemed to melt into the tropical night breeze
・Artistic objects appeared everywhere

What was interesting was the "token system" for drinks.
1 drink = 2 tokens, and you get 1 token back when you return the cup—a mysterious system.

So, I spent my time dancing around the venue looking for cups.
In the end, I got 6 of them, a small victory that saved me the cost of 2 drinks.

[Relaxed Day 2] Coconut Juice, Crab, and Loco Dice

I was in chill mode from the daytime on this day.
I lounged on the beach, looking up at the sky with a coconut juice in hand.

At night, I went to the night market for a seafood feast.
The crab I ate at the clubhouse was so exquisite that I was left speechless.

And of course, the night was for EPIZODE.
Loco Dice actually appeared on this day!

The energy at the venue was on a completely different level than yesterday.
The beats echoing on the sandy beach, the heat of the crowd, and the starry sky. This is the magic of music.

[Day 3] Luxury at a Resort Hotel and a Superb Sunset

After consecutive nights of partying, I dedicated this day entirely to hotel life.

・A luxurious buffet at the InterContinental in the morning
・Chill time by the poolside with a drink in hand
・Strolling through the grounds and soaking up the tropical air

In the evening, I watched the sunset from a scenic cafe by the sea.
This sunset was at a level that would make an iPhone camera weep with joy.

At night, it was back to EPIZODE.
The main focus this day was Afro House, and the slow beats were very comfortable.

[Day 4] Beach Hopping and the Meat Cravings I Finally Couldn't Resist

Since I'm in Phu Quoc, I have to hit the beaches!

・Long Beach
・Sao Beach
・Ong Lang Beach

Everywhere had pure white sand and clear water. It was a dream-like place.

When I returned to the hotel, I just had to have some meat, so I dashed to a steak restaurant.
Honestly, it was so delicious I almost cried.
At night, of course, it was EPIZODE.

The music was mostly slower tempos, but I was starting to crave some hard-hitting 130 BPM tracks. Haha

[Day 5] Maximum excitement at the urban contrast

This day was the final sprint of the trip.
Leaving Phu Quoc and heading back to Ho Chi Minh City.

The moment I stepped out of the airport into the city,
it was so urban I almost shouted, "Wow, civilization!"

・Refueling with sugar at a bubble tea specialty shop called "Xing Fu Tang?!"
・My excitement skyrocketed at a sky bar with the night view and upbeat music.

It was a completely different world from the local vibe of the past few days.

[Final Day] Wrapping up in Singapore, a slightly more mature trip

Before heading home, I spent a few hours in Singapore.
Soaking in the memories of the trip while having dinner around Marina Bay.

I wanted to go to a nightclub too, but... my energy was at its limit. lol
I went straight to the hotel and slept like a log, then made it home safely the next morning!

[Summary] I want to experience EPIZODE again!

A six-day trip that I powered through during the busiest time of the year, the New Year holidays.
Asia's biggest music festival, luxury hotels, beaches, seafood, laughter, and sweat.

To be honest...
It was so amazing that I thought, "Is this the peak of my life?"

But, this trip is probably still just the "prologue."
There are still so many places in the world to dance, and unknown sunsets and parties waiting for me.

By the way, this EPIZODE festival hasn't been held since COVID.
That chaotic energy, the artistic space, the days spent dancing with tokens in hand...
My heart races every time I remember it.

That is exactly why I wish for it so strongly.
Someday, I want to return to that beach and surrender myself to that sound again.

I am waiting for the day when the beats echoing in the tropical night begin once more.

That's all for now!
Look forward to the next one ^ ^