After three weeks of competing on stage, Tran Thi Kim Loan and Nguyen Thanh Van
have won the Tieng Hat Mai Xanh (Evergreen Singing) award, the first ever
singing contest for people aged 35 and above in the country.

She’s a winner: Tran Thi Kim Loan takes home a first prize award. (Photo: VNS)

They won among the contest’s eight
finalists, thanks to their successful performances of pop music in a soulful
style that proved popular with fans.

The 36-year-old Loan managed to
step out from her background, a fruit dealer at Dong Nai Province’s Thong Nhat
District,

singing with passion and confidence to show off her talent in
compositions by Truong Quy Hai, Truong Sa and Nguyen Cuong.

She brought home the first prize
for contestants between 35 and 50, which was voted on by the jury, which
included singers like Mang Thi Hoi and Quoc Tru.

Loan also won the Most Favourite
Singer with 11,000 votes from the viewing audience.

The 51-year-old Van, a tourist
guide at the HCM City-based travel agency Saigontourist, won the first prize for
contestants above 50.

His strong voice was perfect in
revolutionary songs composed by Quach Tuan Du and Pham Minh Tuan.

Not surprisingly, Van was also
named the best singer in performing folk and revolutionary music.

Winners from each group received
VND20 million each in prize money.

“They are all amateurs but with
their love for music, they left a very strong impression on our professional
artists,” said veteran singer Cam Van, one of the contest’s guest singers.

The jury’s Special Prize was given
to Le Thi Nhung, 74, whose style was new to many fans.

Tieng Hat Mai Xanh was held by HCM
City Television (HTV) and broadcast live on HTV9 channel.

Contestants competed in different
styles of music, including pop, rock, folk and revolutionary music, as well as
songs of their own choice.

The contest attracted more than
2,000 participants from HCM City, Tra Vinh, Can Tho, Ca Mau, Quang Ninh, Da Nang
and Lam Dong.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News