Published:  00:00 Friday - July 02, 2010

National auditions for the music talent-scouting show Vietnam Idol 2010 have attracted nearly 17,000 candidates across the country.

The first auditions were in Da Nang on June 29, with more than 1,500 people aged 16 to 30 taking part.

Other auditions will take place in Hanoi on July 3-7, with more than 5,500 candidates; Can Tho on July 13-15 with 1,240; and HCM City on July 21-25 with nearly 10,000.

100 contestants to be held in HCM City will be selected for semi-finals.

The jury will select ten finalists to perform in front of studio audiences and TV viewers for ten concerts. The jury has their say after each performance, but viewers will determine the winner through phone calls and SMSs.

The winner of Vietnam Idol 2010 will receive an award of US$20,000 and a year-long contract to promote their image in the media.

The organisers, the Vietnam Television (VTV) and the BHD Joint Stock Company, have announced the three-member jury, namely singer Siu Black – who also judged in 2007 and 2008, composer Quoc Trung and art director Nguyen Quang Dung.

The shows will be aired live on national television's youth channel VTV6 every Tuesday and Saturday at 9pm from August 21.