HCM CITY -- Nearly 500 youth across the country took part in a contest featuring traditional songs native to southern Viet Nam this month.
The Vong Co (Nostalgic Tunes) Golden Bell Contest event, organised by HCM City Television (HTV) and its partners, aims to preserve and expand vong co, an art form that is part of cai luong (reformed opera) theatre.
Vong co is a set of sad and languorous tunes depicting the hopes, dreams and laments of farmers living in the Cuu Long (Mekong) River Delta region.
"We hope to encourage young people, aged 16-35, particularly urban youth, to learn and love the traditional vong coå," HTV's deputy director Nguyen Quy Hoa, head of the contest's organising board, said.
The contest's selective rounds began early this month in Ha Noi, HCM City and southern provinces of Tay Ninh, Can Tho, Bac Lieu and Dong Thap.
"I faced challenges during the early and semi-final rounds because my competitors had excellent voice and performance skills," said Le Thi Huyen Tran, a Long An Province worker who was one of the contest's 10 finalists.
Tran said she began singing vong co at an early age. "I like the music because through it rural women like me can learn a lot about the country's history and culture," said the 28-year-old.
She promised that she would show off quality performances in the final rounds, which will begin on September 4.
"I'm thirsty for victory," said Tran. "But the most important thing is that I can encourage youngsters' appreciation for the traditional Vietnamese music."
Tran's family and friends are among several thousand audience members who have enjoyed weekly vong co programmes on HTV channels that have been aired weekly.
They will vote for three finalists who will compete for top prizes called Golden Bell, Silver Bell and Bronze Bell, which will be judged by veteran artists and music researchers.
The organisers will offer the Golden Bell winners opportunities to develop their professional career on stage after the competition.
The contest's five final rounds will be broadcast on HTV9 on September 4, 8, 15, 22 and 29. The final gala will take place on October 2 at HTV Theatre on Dinh Tien Hoang Street, District 1. - VNS