Better with age: Finalists of HCM City Television's (HTV) annual singing contest for people aged 35 and above, Tieng Hat Mai Xanh (Evergreen Singing). — File Photo

HCM CITY — The final round of HCM City Television (HTV)'s annual singing contest for people aged 35 and above, Tieng Hat Mai Xanh (Evergreen Singing), will kick off on Friday.

Nine finalists, including three contestants each from three groups – between 35 and 50, between 51 and 65 and above 70 – will perform romantic, folk and revolutionary songs, as well as songs of their own choice at the HTV Theatre every Friday until April 6.

The jury will choose the winners in each group for the grand finale at the Hoa Binh Theatre in District 10 on April 20.

At the last show, audiences will vote for the grand winner after performances by the three final contestants.

The grand winner will receive VND40 million (US$1,900) in prize money, while the winners from each group will get VND20 million each.

HTV will also organise a special concert featuring this year's finalists and last year's winners – 36-year-old Tran Kim Loan from Dong Nai Province and 51-year-old Nguyen Thanh Van from HCM City – at the White Palace in Phu Nhuan District on April 13.

All five shows in the final round will be broadcast live on HTV7.

This year's contest has attracted more than 3,500 participants from all parts of the country. — VNS