Mao Jia Le performs 'What Could Be More Beautiful' on the Ho Guom Theater stage. *Video provided by organizers*.

Jia Le performed his piece in the final of the Hanoi Singing Contest on 9/12, earning the Inspiration Award. On the program's fanpage, the song's video garnered over 4,000 likes. Many viewers praised the contestant for his excellent and expressive Vietnamese singing. He stated his fondness for the song due to its beautiful and meaningful lyrics.

‘What Could Be More Beautiful’ is a song inspired by the film ‘Mua do’, which recently generated significant buzz. Musician Nguyen Van Chung previously remarked that the work was excellent from its title and melody to its content. Each lyric is rich in imagery, making it easy for listeners to envision the life of a patriotic youth. The song won the Inspirational Music Award at the Vietnam iContent Awards 2025.

Jia Le, 19, hails from Hunan, China, and is currently a student in the Vietnamese Studies department at Hanoi University. At the university, he actively participates in various extracurricular activities, cultural exchange workshops, and Vietnamese speaking competitions.

He was one of the international contestants to reach the semi-finals of the Hanoi Singing Contest, alongside Elena Yugay from Russia. This year marked the first time the competition organizers accepted foreign vocalists.

Mao Jia Le on the final stage. *Photo provided by organizers*.

During the performance on 9/12, Elena Yugay also made an impression with the Russian folk song ‘Oi troi chua toi’. The 35-year-old is the wife of a diplomat from the Russian Embassy in Vietnam. Previously, she worked on a nuclear project in Ninh Thuan. In the light music style final, she performed ‘Nhung giac mo dai’ by musician Huy Tuan.

Elena Yugay performs 'Nhung giac mo dai'. *Video provided by organizers*.

This year's competition attracted over 700 contestants, both domestic and international. The competition featured content divided by style: light music, classical, and folk. The grand prize went to Dao Le Phuong Chi, a student at the Vietnam National Academy of Music.

The judging panel and professional advisors included: People's Artist Quang Vinh, Chairman of the Hanoi Music Association (head of the board); Artist Quoc Hung, Director of the Vietnam National Academy of Music; artists Ha Thuy, Mai Hoa, Thanh Lam, Tan Minh, Anh Tho, Ho Quynh Huong; and musician Le Minh Son.

Hanoi Radio and Television established the Hanoi Singing Contest, formerly known as the Hanoi Television Singing Contest, in 1994. The competition has launched the careers of many singers, including Mai Hoa, Anh Tho, Hong Hanh, Phuong Anh, Minh Thu, Ho Quynh Huong, Khanh Linh, and Hoang Quyen. Last year, Nguyen Moc An, 23, won the top prize.

Ha Thu