The 2nd ASEAN Golden Voice Festival will take place at the Ho Chi Minh City Television Theater on January 5, 7 and 8.

Singers Thu Minh (L) and Kasim Hoang Vu

The contest has attracted nearly 20 singers from Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Special invitees from Japan will also join them.

Every country is allowed to send four participants. Representing Viet Nam will be singers Thu Minh, Kasim Hoang Vu, H’Zina Bya and Do Tung Lam.

They will go up against well-known singers including FIQ and Moon (Brunei); Plengpraphun Kingthong and Wongloung Sirilux (Thailand); Khim Su Su Naing and Mr.Kyaw Zin Min (Myanmar); Iqwal Hafiz and Katherine Chan (Malaysia); Netta Kusumah Dewi and Hershon (Indonesia); Uela Basco (Philippines); and finally, Samsann Annda and Vannika (Cambodia).

The competition consists of two categories -- traditional and contemporary folk music, and pop. In the pop category, singers will have to perform in English, but folk songs can be in their mother tongues.

The jury will comprise famous Vietnamese musicians such as Tran Long An, Nguyen Ngoc Thien and Duong Thu; Japanese leading music producer Keitaro Kamo; Indonesian music teacher and choreographer Indira Sotyawati.

There will be two categories, each offering four gold medals, four silver medals, four bronze medals, and a prize nominated by audiences. 

The contest is jointly organized by Ho Chi Minh City Television and Cat Tien Sa Advertising Company. The contest will be broadcast live on HTV9 channel and other regional channels.

Vietnam hosted the ASEAN Golden Voice Festival for the first time in 2008.