Contest night «Chuông Vàng Vọng Cổ 2026» (The Golden Bell)

   Nine vọng cổ singers through to the closing rounds, three coaches who are household names of the cải lương stage, and a Saigon television studio where the audience sits inside the frame. This is traditional southern Vietnamese singing heard live, at professional level, rather than through a television speaker.

   The contest has reached its 21st edition and runs under the motto «Nơi truyền lửa đam mê», roughly «where the passion is passed on». It is produced by Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television, with SaigonBank as partner. The closing round is spread over four September nights, and this is the last night announced so far.

   The short version:

   — team of Ngọc Đợi, Merited Artist: Huỳnh Kim Tho, Trần Văn Khiêm, Lâm Chí Ngoán;
— team of Hồ Ngọc Trinh, People's Artist: Nguyễn Thị Mỹ Duyên, Trần Trí Khang, Huỳnh Văn Tánh;
— team of Võ Minh Lâm, Merited Artist: Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Như, Võ Thị Bé, Nguyễn Phú Yên;
— each team brings its own musical colour and its own staging.

   Vọng cổ is a long-breathed song form and the backbone of southern Vietnamese musical theatre, and this contest has been the place where young voices become known across the country. The evening suits cải lương lovers, families coming several generations at a time, and visitors who want to hear a living tradition at close range.

   A few things follow from this being a broadcast recording: check-in at the gate runs from seven in the evening until a quarter to nine; the seat number printed on an invitation holds only until half past eight, after which the crew may reseat guests for the sake of the picture; the organisers ask for neat clothing and for cooperation with the audience coordinator during filming.

   Come early, settle into your seat and wait with the whole studio for this season's golden bell.