VietNamNet Bridge – Anh Thu leads us into the world of young performers willing to do anything for national fame and glory.

Vietnamese dreamz: Young contestants at the Television Singing Stars 2008 programme launched by HTV.

Mo has travelled more than the geographical distance between her native village in the southernmost province of Ca Mau and Can Tho City – a place she is visiting for the first time, to participate in the national music contest’s selection rounds this month.

For this rural girl is riding against many odds to make her ardent dream of becoming a pop star come true.

She has plenty of company. As many as 10,000 young people from both rural and urban areas have signed up for the selection rounds.

Like many of her peers, Mo’s singing failed to impress the judges.

“The judges told me that I’m a good girl and I should study to become a teacher or a doctor instead of dreaming of being a pop star, but I love music. Becoming a pop star is my greatest dream,” cries the distraught 17-year-old.

Organised by Ho Chi Minh Television (HTV) and its partner Dat Viet Advertising Agency, Viet Nam Idol is broadcast on seven TV stations, attracting a nationwide audience of several millions.

“I was surprised by the passion youngsters have for music. We enjoy music but they love music,” says Dao Van Su, a veteran musician-song writer in HCM City.

Whatever the motivation, many young people are taking their chances very seriously. They are spending considerable time and money to take vocal and dance training classes offered by cultural centres and skilled artists in Ha Noi and HCM City – recognised as the promised land for entertainers.

“The most important goal in my life is to become a top singer in the future,” says Nguyen Thuy Thi, a student in the vocal class taught by People’s Artist Mang Thi Hoi.

Before embarking on her music career, Thi worked for a foreign company in HCM City where she received a good salary and had many opportunities. But a good job could not hold her back.

“My idol is pop star Ho Ngoc Ha. I decided to devote myself to following in my idol’s footsteps,” says Thi.

Younger than Thi, at 18, Tran Van Thang, has travelled from the outlying Cu Chi District to HCM City in order to work hard for his singing career.

Thanks to financial support from his parents, Thang attends vocal classes at the Youth Cultural House three nights every week, and works hard to develop his singing and dancing skills.

Thi and Thang both failed the annual Television Singing Stars Contest 2008 early this month, organised by HTV aiming at searching new faces for the industry.

Despite the setbacks, both the amateur singers say they will never give up although they are still a long way from their goal.

(Source: Viet Nam News)