(VNF)- Young overseas Vietnamese are poised to return to their home country to compete in a national singing competition that runs until next month.

The expat Vietnamese contenders from Russia, Germany, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and Italy are to showcase their singing flair at the Sao Mai (Morning Star) Television Singing Competition from July 26 to August 15.

They were selected at a preliminary contest held in Prague on July 12.

The final round is slated to take place at FLC - Sam Son Resort in the northern province of Thanh Hoa, with seven overseas Vietnamese contestants to compete alongside their 29 local counterparts.

Finalists will compete for the awards in three categories: chamber music, folk and pop.

In the final round, each finalist will perform a duet with one of their rivals.

Names of this year’s jury members are yet to be revealed.

The chamber, folk and pop finales will air live at 8.30 pm on VTV1 on July 26, August 1 and August 8 respectively.

A grand finale, which features the 12 best contestants and announces the winners, will be broadcast on August 15 at 8pm on VTV1.

Vo Hong Quan from France, who won first place at the 2013 Sao Mai Competition's Chamber Music category, is seen in this file photo.

Composer Luong Ngoc Minh, of the contest's organization board, said that Sao Mai has made a name for itself among Vietnamese communities abroad since the program debuted overseas in 2013.

The biennial competition has helped catapult several singers to fame.

Unlike other music or reality shows where winners receive cash awards and/or recording contracts, Sao Mai offers winners opportunities to perform regularly on national television and in major Vietnam Television music programs.

Despite the non-cash awards, thousands of young people flocked to register for the auditions, which took place in three places around Vietnam as well as in Europe./.

by VNF