HÀ NỘI — Pop singers from ASEAN countries and China, South Korea and Japan will attend the ASEAN+3 Song Contest which will take place from August 19-20 in Thanh Hóa Province.

Voice of Việt Nam (VOV) will act as host for the cultural exchange event on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of ASEAN.

A number of young performers will take to the stage, including Thu Lan, Tiến Mạnh and Kiên Trung from Việt Nam; The Ball from Japan; Bilyana Lathisya from Indonesia; Aung Htet and Ni Ni Khin Zaw from Myanmar; and Wu Jiang from China.

“We want to strengthen friendship and co-operation among countries, promote cultural co-operation and exchange among ASEAN countries through music, help the people in the region and all over the world to better understand the cultural values of each ASEAN member, and promote artistic creativity and musical talent in the ASEAN community,” said Vũ Hải, deputy diretor of VOV.

“We strongly believe the event will serve as a platform for young singers to both showcase and nurture their talents as well as contribute to peaceful, stable and secure relations among ASEAN+3 countries.”  

The finale will be broadcast live on VOV’s radio and TV channels. The jury includes veteran musicians and singers from Việt Nam, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. Contestants are allowed to perform in their mother tongues or in English.  

Prior to the grand finale, the contestants will visit Tràng An Complex in the northern province of Ninh Bình, which is recognised by UNESCO as a world natural and cultural heritage. — VNS