AsemconnectVietnam - The ASEAN+3 singing contest 2019, the second of its kind, has been officially launched, open to professional pop singers aged 18-35 from 10 Southeast Asian nations with a view to promoting cultural exchanges in the bloc.

The organising board will receive applications from March 1 until May 3. 

Contestants should register on the website www.aseansongcontest.com or send two song records enclosed with English subtitles and registration forms to the email aseansongcontest@gmail.com. 

Organised by Radio “The Voice of Vietnam”, the contest will take place in Ha Long city, in the northern province of Quang Ninh from July 26-29. The semi-final and final rounds are scheduled for July 27 and July 28, respectively. 

Guest singers from China, the Republic of Korea and Japan will perform on the final night. 

The contest will be live broadcast on the VTC3 and Vietnam Journey television channels, VOV3 and VOV5 radio channels, and the VTC Now application. 

On the sidelines of the event, contestants and invitees will have a chance to enjoy the beauty of UNESCO World Natural Heritage site Ha Long Bay and visit Quang Ninh’s modern museum where Vietnam’s history, culture and nature are on display. 

The first event of this kind was held in the central province of Thanh Hoa in 2017, with 19 contestants and invited guests taking part. 

Darlin Joy Baje from the Philippines won first prize, while Ni Ni Khin Zaw from Myanmar and Thu Lan from Vietnam took second place. 

Two third prizes went to Pham Tien Manh from Vietnam and Alvir Anthony Subrado from the Philippines.

Source:VNA