Raising her voice: Nguyen Thien Nhan started the first of three performances with her solo version of Co Doi Thuong Ngan, a religious song that is tough even for professional singers. — Photo vietnamplus.vn

HCM CITY (VNS) — Nguyen Thien Nhan, a 12-year-old girl from the south-central province of Binh Dinh, was crowned champion of The VoiceKids Vietnam 2014 here on Saturday night.

Nhan received an overwhelming 49.47 per cent of votes from the television audience during the finale, showcasing her strength in folk singing through all three of her performances which were seen as better than those of competitors Nguyen Hoang Anh and Tran Kayon Thien Nham.

The champion began with a solo of Co Doi Thuong Ngan, a song of Chau Van - a religious and ceremonial form of art that combines singing and dancing.

The genre aims to praise the merits of beneficent deities or national heroes. Music and poetry in Chau Van are mixed with a variety of rhythms and tempos.

The song Co Doi Thuong Ngan is reportedly a hard act to follow even among a number of professional singers.

Nhan later moved the audience as she sang Den Khuya (Late Night Light) with senior male singer Quang Linh.

In her final performance of a potpourri of songs with her instructor, singer Cam Ly, who disguised herself as "a grandma", Nhan won the audience's heart with ao ba ba, a silk costume that is popular in the south. A sweet and emotive voice, expressive face and effective stage performance made Nhan stand out.

Before the finale, Nguyen Hoang Anh, known as the curly haired prince, seemed favoured because of his "little star" voice and his skillful stage performances and flexibility. Unfortunately, Anh's performances in the finale were apparently too focused on dancing and made his voice weaker than expected.

The VoiceKids Vietnam 2014, the Vietnamese version of the American singing reality show The VoiceKids, has just wrapped up its second season. — VNS