Filipino singer wins Vietnam Idol singing competition

(VNF) - For the first time in its seven seasons, Vietnam Idol has had a non-Vietnamese winner as Filipino-born contestant Janice Phuong took home the title on September 30^th.

Janice Phuong from the Philippines became the first foreigner to win the popular singing competition Vietnam Idol, after charming local audiences in the past weeks with Vietnamese and English songs.

Janice Phuong sings “Hello Vietnam” in the Vietnam Idol finale on September 30^th. (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

The 28-year-old singer, whose real name is Janice A Buco, shined in the finale with her rendition of the popular song “Hello Vietnam” in both languages.

She won 54.25 per cent of the votes and a VND600-million (USD 26,730) award, during the show’s finale at BHD Studio in District 9, Ho Chi Minh City, leaving Viet Thang, a 22-year-old from the northern province of Hai Duong, her only opponent in the top two, with the runner-up title.

Phuong was born and raised in a family in the Philippines, and moved to Vietnam on her own at the age of 21 in search of a way out of poverty through her natural gift of singing. She has lived in Vietnam for seven years, performing professionally at bars and clubs. She speaks Vietnamese fluently.

She auditioned for the seventh edition of Vietnam Idol earlier this year when the reality TV show opened to expats for the first time.

Phuong said her biggest wish after concluding her Vietnam Idol journey was to return home in Hanoi to compensate for the months she had spent away to take part in the competition.

Vietnam Idol is based on the British show Pop Idol and the U.S. show American Idol, both of which are no longer on air./.

Minh Phuong