Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc wins $360,000 prize at Russian-hosted Intervision contest
Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc beat 21 contestants to win the Russian-hosted international performance competition Intervision, taking home 30 million rubles (US$360,000).
Phuc performed at Live Arena, an 11,000-seat venue in Moscow, on the evening of Sept. 20 (Moscow time).
He sang « Phu Dong Thien Vuong » (« Heavenly Prince of Phu Dong »), composed by Ho Hoai Anh and inspired by Nguyen Duy’s poem « Tre Viet Nam » and the legend of Thanh Giong, a Vietnamese saint who grew up into a giant from a 3-year-old boy and beat invaders with bamboo plants.
On stage, Phuc incorporated familiar Vietnamese imagery such as bamboo and sedge mats, and performed choreography with dancers that included a rap segment.
His performance led the night with a total of 422 points.
« I’m shocked, thank you so much … I couldn’t even imagine that I would win such a large-scale (competition), » the delighted singer told reporters after the competition final. « It’s a surprise to me that I’ve gained so many fans here … I’m very grateful to all the viewers, » he said.
« In a show overflowing with thundering vocals and pyrotechnics, Duc Phuc’s song « Phu Dong Thien Vuong, » a heady mix of pop, rap and dubstep, saw off second-place Kyrgyzstan to take home the grand prize, » AP reported.
Coming in second on the rankings is Kyrgyzstan’s Nomad Trio (373 points) and third is singer Dana Al Meer from Qatar (369 points).
Intervision, originally the Intervision Song Contest, was initiated by the International Organization of Radio and Television (OIRT) and discontinued after 1980.
On Feb. 3 this year, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree reviving the competition and inviting international participation, with the aim of fostering cultural and humanitarian cooperation and promoting traditional values.
This year’s contest drew entrants from 23 countries, including China, Cuba, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, India, India and Vietnam.
Phuc, 28, rose to fame in 2015 after winning The Voice of Vietnam. Since then he has released multiple hits and is best known for his emotive ballads.
By Tan Cao – VnExpress.net – September 20, 2025