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HCM CITY (VNS)  — More than 400 amateur artists took part in HCM City's annual Tai Tu Music Festival, which wrapped up on Sunday at the 23/9 Park in District 1.

One of the city's top troupes, the District 3 Cultural Centre, was the favourite with both the jury and audience and ended up winning the Golden Lotus.

The Silver Lotus was shared by the Tan Binh Cultural Centre and HCM City Cultural House for Students.

More than 1,000 songs and musical works were performed at the four-month event, where organisers awarded special prizes to a young talented singer, best singer, music player, and composer.

Tai tu is unique to southern Viet Nam and often associated with farmers and workers singing in the field or relaxing at the end of a hard day's work.

It is considered the forerunner of both vong co (traditional tunes) and cai luong (reformed opera).

One of the most popular tai tu songs is Da Co Hoai Lang, composed in 1919 by well-known author Cao Van Lau of Bac Lieu Province.

The HCM City festival, organised by the Voice of HCM City People in partnership with others, celebrated the coming together of stalwarts, young talents, music researchers, and fans of tai tu.— VNS