Beating other talented contestants, Ho Van Cuong from the southern Tien Giang Province has won the first season of Vietnam Idol Kids 2016.

His performance of Còn Thương Rau Đắng Mọc Sau Hè and Bà Năm, songs with traditional tunes from south-west Vietnam, which is also the kind of music that Cuong has consistently pursued since the beginning of the competition, won more than 50 per cent of the audience vote, helping him to claim the VNĐ200-million (US$8,968) award.

The three judges and many people in the audience were moved by Cuong’s finale night performance, his beautiful voice and modest appearance, even though he has never received any professional music training.

“On hearing his singing, I forgot all technical errors and was overwhelmed by emotions that might move many people to tears,” Singer Van Mai Hương, one of the three judges, said.

The runner-up position went to 10-year-old Nguyen Pham Bao Tran, with her performance of the songs entitled Con Cò (The Stork) and Born This Way. The young singer also received a lot of praise from the judges and the audience for her impressive performance with good musical techniques.

Two other contestants who had a chance to shine on finale night and won the third prize were 10-year-old Luong Gia Khiem from Hanoi and 12-year-old Jayden Trinh Jedushass, an overseas Vietnamese based in New Zealand.

VNS