For the first time, there will be a "Talented Beauty in Traditional Vietnamese Music" contest.

The first National Traditional Southern Vietnamese Music Festival, taking place from April 20-25, 2014 in Bac Lieu, will feature the first-ever "Talented Southern Vietnamese Music Beauty Contest".

On the afternoon of January 9, 2014, in Hanoi, the Organizing Committee of the First National Traditional Music Festival - Bac Lieu 2014 officially announced the program and content of the Festival.

The first National Southern Traditional Music Festival took place in Bac Lieu City (Bac Lieu province) from April 20-25, 2014, with the theme "Southern Traditional Music, Love of People and Land," comprising 21 activities such as: a Trade and Tourism Fair, a Southern Food Festival, an art program honoring composers Trong Nguyen and Yen Lang, a classic car show, the opening of an art photography exhibition, the closing ceremony and awarding of prizes for the songwriting competition for traditional Southern folk songs and new lyrics for 20 traditional Southern traditional music pieces, the "Colors of Southern Melodies" grand music festival, the inauguration of the expansion project of the Southern Traditional Music and Cao Van Lau Memorial Area, and the final round of the "Talented Southern Traditional Music Beauty Contest"...

The "Traditional Southern Vietnamese Music Beauty Contest" took place within the framework of the first National Traditional Southern Vietnamese Music Festival (Photo: VNA)

Ms. Le Thi Ai Nam, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Bac Lieu province and Deputy Head of the Organizing Committee of the First National Traditional Music Festival - Bac Lieu 2014, stated that the criteria for the "Talented Traditional Music Beauty Contest" regarding physical appearance are similar to other beauty contests, but the difference is that contestants are required to have knowledge of and be able to sing or play traditional musical instruments.

“We have prepared and invited beauties aged 18-25 from all 63 provinces and cities. Anyone interested in, loving, and knowledgeable about, traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music (Đờn ca tài tử) can participate,” said Ms. Le Thi Ai Nam. The final round of the competition will take place at the Bac Lieu City Multi-Purpose Gymnasium on the evening of April 23rd and will be broadcast live.

Also at the press conference announcing the first National Traditional Southern Vietnamese Music Festival - Bac Lieu 2014, Ms. Le Thi Ai Nam stated that there are approximately 21 provinces and cities with traditional Southern Vietnamese music in the East and Southwest regions, as well as some invited provinces.

The opening art program of the Festival, featuring the ceremony to receive the UNESCO certificate recognizing Southern Vietnamese folk music (Don ca tai tu) as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity, will take place on the evening of April 21, 2014, at Hung Vuong Square, Bac Lieu City.

“The Traditional Southern Vietnamese Music Festival is a major cultural event of national and international significance, both to honor this unique art form and as a unique opportunity for Bac Lieu to introduce and promote its economy, culture, image, and people, and to attract investment,” affirmed Mr. Vo Van Dung, Secretary of the Bac Lieu Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Steering Committee for the 1st National Traditional Southern Vietnamese Music Festival - Bac Lieu 2014.

Mr. Vo Van Dung said that Bac Lieu province is currently accelerating the construction of the Southern Traditional Music and Cao Van Lau Memorial Area, a theater, Hung Vuong Square, etc., to serve the Festival.

According to Dan Tri