Heart and soul: Huyen Chi Binh from HCM City won the Tieng Hat Mai Xanh (Forever Young Voice) contest on his fourth try. — Photo vnexpress.net

HCM CITY (VNS) — Fifty-eight year old Huyen Chi Binh from HCM City won the fourth season of Tieng Hat Mai Xanh (Forever Young Voice) held in HCM City's Hoa Binh Theatre on Friday.

With 32.63 per cent of the audience vote, he received was just 0.67 per cent vote ahead of the runner-up, and triumphed over 21,000 contestants from throughout the country on his fourth attempt.

On the final night, the last four performed solos, duos with a professional singer and duos with overseas Vietnamese guest-singer Luu Bich.

Binh chose love ballad Ban Tinh Ca Cho Em (Love Song for You) by composer Ngo Thuy Mien to show off his voice. Many of the audience commented that although he did not possess a perfect voice, Binh won the audience's hearts with his soulful voice and touching performance.

He walked away with a cash prize of VND50 million (US$2,400), and will be sponsored to record and release an album of five songs online.

The other three finalists included Nguyen Thi Thanh Ha, 69, from northern province of Nam Dinh, Nguyen Kim Phung, 52, from HCM City and Dinh Phu Vinh, 35, also from HCM City.

Binh sang with a group from his workplace at HCM City's East Bus Station for 26 years before he retired. He now runs a small shop with his wife during the day, and at night he works at a karaoke club.

He took part in the previous Forever Young Voice contests, but failed to get further than the quarter finals. — VNS