First prize winner Do Phuong Quynh (left) and VOV's Vice President Vu Hai at the finale

The event was attended by VOV's Vice President Vu Hai and representatives of the University of Languages and International Studies (ULIS), Hanoi University, and Francophone organizations in Vietnam.

Through the contest, which coincided with Vietnam's first hosting of the High-level Francophone conference 20 years ago, Vietnamese participants expressed their love of French people and culture. Nguyen Tien Long, Director of VOVworld, one of the organizers of the contest, said: “Today, we are witnessing an event that connects Asian and European cultures. The Francophone singing contest is one of the meaningful cooperation activities between VOV and ULIS, which has trained generations of students to become the core force of Vietnam’s integration and development.”

The contest ran from June to October this year, attracting 41 contestants from Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ninh Thuan, Da Nang, Hue, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho. Their songs will be broadcast on VOV5’s French section and posted on the website vovworld.vn. Contestant Do Phuong Quynh was the first prize winner.

Dinh Hong Van, Head of the French Language and Culture Department of ULIS, said: “We want to encourage more students to learn French and participate in the contest, to show that they can learn French not only in school but also from French songs.”

VOV hosted “Francophone singing” contests in 2007 and 2012.