His victory attracted significant attention from the host country’s media, appearing on news agencies like Ria Novosti, Regnum, and Lenta. According to Vz, People's Artist of Russia Igor Matviyenko, one of the judges, described the Vietnamese representative's performance as "excellent". Rossiyskaya Gazeta (RG) praised Duc Phuc's high and beautiful voice, as well as his passionate performance style. Journalist Alexander Alekseev wrote: "The artist's performance was unique, from his use of ethnic melodies to his choice of stage costumes. Everything exuded the distinct colors and beauty of Vietnamese tradition."

Duc Phuc

In September, the singer won the Intervision competition in Russia, a prestigious music contest returning after years of hiatus. He triumphed over 21 contestants from various countries and territories, securing the trophy and a prize of 30 million rubles (over 9.5 billion VND).

Duc Phuc performed "Phu Dong Thien Vuong" (composed by Ho Hoai Anh), a song inspired by Nguyen Duy’s poem "Tre Viet Nam" (Vietnamese Bamboo) and the legend of Thanh Giong. The arrangement blended traditional and contemporary styles. The singer and his team of nearly 20 people staged the performance with smoke effects, images of bamboo, and sedge mats. He also incorporated dance and rap into his act.

For his achievement, Duc Phuc received several domestic commendations, including a congratulatory letter from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh. He views this as motivation to strive harder in his career. The singer previously donated over one billion VND from his prize money to support residents in areas affected by storms and floods.

The singer, whose full name is Nguyen Duc Phuc, is 28 years old and from Hanoi. In 2015, he won "The Voice of Vietnam" under the mentorship of My Tam. His hit songs include "Anh nang cua anh", "Ta con yeu nhau", "Con yeu dau ai roi di", "Hon ca yeu", "Nguoi oi nguoi o dung ve", and "Ngay dau sau chia tay". In 2024, Duc Phuc gained attention on the first season of "Anh trai say hi", making it into the final Best Five lineup.

Phuong My Chi

The Gen Z singer captivated Asian media, especially in Trung Quoc, by participating in "Sing! Asia" and securing 3rd place. During the show, Phuong My Chi delivered several performances that garnered millions of views, such as the mashup "Ly Bac Bo - Day xe bo", "Bong phu hoa", "Tuy am", "Vu tru co anh", and "Chopsticks". Her "Buon trang" performance left a lasting impression and was nominated for the "Inspiring Music" award at the Vietnam iContent Awards 2025.

Trung Quoc media published numerous articles praising the Vietnamese contestant's vocals and style. China Daily noted: "Phuong My Chi blended traditional folk songs with modern arrangements, along with martial arts performances and unique costume changes, illuminating local culture."

Sina commented: "Phuong My Chi broke musical boundaries by combining the song 'Vu tru co anh' with rap music, breathing new life into Vietnamese folk melodies."

Many contestants in the competition acknowledged My Chi's talent. After the contest, "Chi Bay" (Phuong My Chi's nickname) made new friends, including Miyuna (Japan) and Kha Lau (Trung Quoc, right). Malaysian singer Amsyar Leee wrote on his personal page: "The first time I learned to sing 'Bong phu hoa' because I loved Phuong My Chi's voice so much. Thank you for inspiring me with your music."

Phuong My Chi stated that the competition experience honed her stage presence. The singer dedicated nearly half a year to the contest after accepting the organizers' invitation. She cherishes the regional media's praise and the feedback from judges like To Huu Bang, Truong Luong Dinh, and Au Dinh Ngoc.

She gained fame at 12 years old after becoming the runner-up in the first season of "The Voice Kids of Vietnam", captivating audiences with her performance of "Que em mua nuoc lu". Phuong My Chi has released many successful music videos and albums, such as "Thuong ve mien Trung" (2017), "16 xuan trang" (2019), and "Bat nha thuyen" (2020). In 2023, she released the album "Vu tru co bay", inspired by Vietnamese literary works. In August, she won "Em xinh say hi".

Hoa Minzy

Released in March, "Bac Bling" by Hoa Minzy became a sensation in the domestic music scene and spread internationally. The music video reached 200 million views faster than any other Vpop release. After nine months, the song achieved nearly 300 million views on YouTube.

According to Google statistics, "Bac Bling" was the most searched Vietnamese song of the year, announced on 5/12. At the Vietnam iContent Awards 2025 gala in late November, Hoa Minzy won the "Inspiring Music" trophy for the song.

She stated that she initially only wanted to create a musical product to express her love for her hometown, Bac Ninh, and felt fortunate that the song could resonate with a large audience. The singer is proud to hear children in the Central and Southwestern regions sing "Bac Bling" proficiently. "I have never performed a song continuously from the beginning of the year until now," the singer said.

She is 30 years old, with the real name Nguyen Thi Hoa, and won the "Hoc vien Ngoi sao" competition in 2014. The singer has popular songs like "Roi bo" (Vu Huy Hoang), "Khong the cung nhau suot kiep" (Mr Siro), and "Bat tinh yeu len" (Tang Duy Tan). In early 2024, Hoa Minzy received her first "Favorite Female Singer" award at Mai Vang. In the same year, she was honored as "Female Singer of the Year" at the Cong Hien awards.

Tan Cao

Photos, video: Courtesy of artists