HỘI AN  — Choirs from Việt Nam and other countries joined in the opening ceremony of the fifth International Choir Competition at Hội An Theatre yesterday.

Local singers and dancers performed the Vietnamese hospitality song Hello Việt Nam to welcome the guests.

The competition, which has drawn more than 1,000 artists in 32 teams, will compete at Hội An Beach Resort near Cửa Đại Beach from 1.30pm till 10.30pm on June 8-9.

Participating teams will also join friendship concerts at 106 Bạch Đằng street; Kazik Park at 138 Trần Phú and in the old quarter from 5pm to 10pm on June 8 and 9.

The awards ceremony will be held on June 10 before a parade by all the participants throughout the old quarter on Saturday.

High notes: A children’s choir stages the curtain-raiser of the fifth Việt Nam International Choir Competition in Hội An. VNS Photo Công Thành

Hội An, a UNESCO-recognised world heritage site was picked to host the choir event by the world’s leading organiser of international choir competitions and festivals, Interkultur. Since the success of the first event in 2011, the event has become an inherent part of international choir tours.

Việt Nam sent nine teams to compete in the event, while Indonesia took part with seven teams.

Singapore joined the event with four teams, while the Philippines and Malaysia sent three teams each.

China competed with two teams along with teams from Australia, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Thailand and the US.

The fifth International Choir competition is part of the 6th Quảng Nam Heritage Festival, being held in Hội An, Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary and Tam Kỳ City from June 9 to 14. — VNS