Contestant Hong Toan won first prize in the Golden Rice Award 2025.

On the afternoon of December 27th, Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television Station held the final round of the 2025 Golden Rice Award competition at the VOH Theater. The program attracted a large audience of listeners from near and far who love the art of traditional Southern Vietnamese folk music and Cai Luong opera.

First prize awarded to contestant Nguyen Thi Hong Toan ( An Giang ). (Photo: LINH BAO)

This year's Golden Rice Award 2025 final round features a competition between six outstanding contestants out of more than 500 applicants: Nguyen Thi Hong Toan (An Giang), Tran Van Vang ( Ca Mau ), Nguyen Thi Tuyet (Dong Thap), Lam Chi Ngoan (Ca Mau), Le Anh Nam (Dong Nai), and Huynh Kim Tho (An Giang).

Contestant Nguyen Thi Hong Toan performed the role of Ly Chieu Hoang in the excerpt "Night Monologue" (by author Le Duy Hanh).

In the final round, six contestants performed excerpts from famous Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) plays to showcase their singing and acting talents, including: "Night Monologue" (by Le Duy Hanh), "Finding Life Again" (Huy Lam, Hoang Kham, Dieu Huyen), "Bui Thi Xuan's Integrity" (Ho Nhut Quang), "Da Co Hoai Lang" (Lam Dung), "Hon Vong Phu" (Luu Quang Vu, adapted by Moc Linh), and "Dynasty Turmoil" (Ngo Quoc Khanh).

Speaking at the final ranking round, Mr. Cao Anh Minh, General Director of Ho Chi Minh City Radio and Television Station, said that today's Golden Rice Award 2025 final ranking is not just a competition, but a ceremony honoring an entire journey of persistent effort.

Contestant Huỳnh Kim Tho portrayed Nguyễn Thị Anh in the excerpt "The Turmoil of the Dynasty" (by Ngô Quốc Khánh).

The six outstanding contestants in this year's competition represent a generation of artists who bear the responsibility of "preserving the soul" and "passing on the flame" to the art of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) in our country.

"Regardless of who becomes the champion, to us, you are all already winners—victories of yourselves, victories over challenges, and more importantly, cultural ambassadors contributing to illuminating the future of Vietnamese Cai Luong art," Mr. Cao Anh Minh emphasized.

Awarding the Encouragement Prize to the contestants.

As a result, with her portrayal of Ly Chieu Hoang in the play "Monologue at Night" (by Le Duy Hanh), contestant Nguyen Thi Hong Toan (An Giang) achieved the highest total score from the judging panel, 19.97.

According to People's Artist Phuong Loan, a member of the judging panel, contestant Hong Toan boldly challenged himself with a difficult role requiring a lot of inner strength. Despite this, Hong Toan surpassed himself in this role, even if it wasn't entirely perfect.

Third prize was awarded to contestant Lam Chi Ngoan (Ca Mau).

Coming in second place was contestant Huỳnh Kim Tho (An Giang) for her portrayal of Nguyễn Thị Anh in the excerpt "The Turmoil of the Dynasty" (by Ngô Quốc Khánh), with a total score of 19.95.

Many people felt sorry for this petite girl, as she had already delivered a convincing performance that resonated with a large audience. According to the judging panel, Kim Tho demonstrated her inner strength in the competition segment. She portrayed the character's emotions well and sang and performed like a professional artist.

Second prize was awarded to contestant Huỳnh Kim Tho (An Giang).

Third prize went to contestant Lam Chi Ngoan (Ca Mau) for his performance of "Da Co Hoai Lang" (by Lam Dung). Honorable Mention was given to three contestants: Tran Van Vang (excerpt from "Finding Life Again," by Huy Lam, Hoang Kham, and Dieu Huyen), Nguyen Thi Tuyet ("Bui Thi Xuan's Integrity," by Ho Nhut Quang), and Le Anh Nam ("The Waiting Wife," by Luu Quang Vu, adapted by Moc Linh).

In addition, contestant Tran Van Vang also won two awards: the most impressive style and the most popular contestant.

In 2025, the Golden Rice Award competition enters its 32nd season – marking more than three decades of continuous nurturing and cultivation of a unique artistic tradition of the nation: the art of Don Ca Tai Tu and Cai Luong.

The top-ranking contestants at the 2025 Golden Rice Award Finals.

More than just a competition, the Golden Rice Award is a journey of sustained creation to collectively preserve the quintessential values ​​of intangible cultural heritage honored by UNESCO, while simultaneously infusing it with the vitality of the modern era. This ensures that cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) is not only preserved in memory but continues to be vividly present in contemporary life, as an "artistic life form" that is constantly moving and spreading.

LINH BAO

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thi-sinh-hong-toan-gianh-quan-quan-cuoc-thi-bong-lua-vang-2025-post933458.html