Seventeen singers from ASEAN member countries are participating in the ASEAN Golden Voice Contest 2011 in Ho Chi Minh City from January 5 to 8.

The singing contest opened with traditional and folk songs sung in the contestants’ native languages on January 5 at the HCMC Television Theater.

The second show on January 7 will see competitors battle it out with English-language pop songs. The award ceremony will be held at the final gala on January 8. All the shows will be broadcast live on HTV9.

According to organizer, Ho Chi Minh City Television and Cat Tien Sa Company, among the more famous singers participating in the event this year are Brunei’s FIQ and Moon, winners of Brunei Talent Competition, Iqwal Hafiz and Katherine Chan, winners of Popstar 2008 in Malaysia, and Thai guitarists-singers Plengpraphun Kingthong and Wongloung Sirilux.

Famous Indonesian singers Netta Kusumah Dewi and Hershon, and Filipino Uela Basco are also going to vie for the crown at the contest.

Kasim Hoang Vu, Thu Minh, Do Tung Lam and H’Zina Bya, winners of the TV Singer Star Contest in 2008 and 2010 will represent the host country.

Judges include Keitaro Kamo, director of Japanese music company Toshiba Emi, Indira Sotyawati, dance director at the Jakarta Music School, and Vietnamese musicians Tran Long An, Nguyen Ngoc Thien and Duong Thu.

This is the second festival of its kind to be held in Vietnam. The event was launched in 2008.