Vietnamese singer Duc Phuc won the highest prize on the inaugural Intervision Song Contest. The competition took place on September 20, 2025 on the Live Arena in Moscow.
Among all participating countries from all over the world, Phuc took first place with 422 points, ahead of Kyrgyzstan and Qatar, which were in second and third place respectively.
According to CNN, the singer told reporters after the gala that he didn’t expect to win. He said: “It’s a surprise to me that I’ve gained so many fans here… I’m very grateful to all of the viewers.”
Explosive performance
“Duc Phuc sang”Phu Dong Thien Vuong”, a mixture of traditional Vietnamese culture and energetic, modern Asian pop.
The song, which translates to “Heavenly Prince Phu Dong”, was composed by Ho Hoai Anh. The inspiration was the poem “Tre Viet Nam” by Nguyen Duy and the legend of Thanh Giong, a folk story a couple of king who scared away invaders with bamboo plants.
Duc Phuc’s stage performance included choreography with backup dancers, a rap segment and a colourful green and red projection of an enormous solar eclipse.
In an interview with Steve Rosenberg, BBC Moscow editor, Duc Phuc said that his song is his way of expressing Vietnamese culture to everyone.
“I need to share Vietnamese culture with everyone,” he said.
Who is Duc Phuc?
Nguyen Duc Phuc, 28, is one of the vital popular musicians in Vietnam. He made his debut as a national championship winner Voice competition in 2015, attracting the hearts of a giant latest fan base.
Duc Phuc’s profession has grown rapidly over the past few years. He created record-breaking hits that topped national charts and garnered thousands and thousands of views on YouTube, equivalent to “Hon Ca Yeu“And”Het Thuong Can Grape“.
In 2023, he released the bilingual English-Vietnamese single “Buc (I Do)”, where he collaborated with the legendary British pop group 911.
Although Duc Phuc is generally known for his soulful ballads, he has a various musical style that also includes pop, R&B and EDM.
On July 14, Duc Phuc was announced as Vietnam’s representative for the hearing. He was chosen by the Ministry of Culture after a rigorous selection process that took into consideration the candidates’ stage experience, international musical trends, artistic achievements and skilled qualifications.
What is an intervision song competition?
The Intervision Song Contest was originally initiated by the International Organization of Radio and Television (OIRT). The show ran from 1965 to 1968 and from 1977 to 1980 before being discontinued.
The intervision was resumed on February 3 by a decree of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The renewed competition aimed to foster cooperation and promote traditional family values.
In an introductory video during a live performance, Putin said he definitely believes the competition might be one of the vital recognizable and beloved events all over the world. “…Through dialogue, mutual respect and strengthening trust between cultures, we become spiritually richer,” he said.
This 12 months’s edition was attended by participants from 23 countries, including other important members of the BRICS group: Brazil, India, China and South Africa, in addition to other invited guests, including: Egypt, Venezuela and Cuba.
A significant achievement for the Southeast Asian music industry
Duc Phuc’s triumph was one other milestone for the music scene in Southeast Asia. The victory opened up a possibility for other artists of the region to advertise local culture and gain international recognition.
Read also: Musicians from Southeast Asia who’re conquering the world stage.
Reference:
BBC. Russia’s answer to Eurovision is less kitsch, more Kremlin. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cre5vv0x31po
CNN. Vietnam’s Duc Phuc wins Intervision, Russia’s Eurovision rival who promotes “family values”. Retrieved from https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/20/world/duc-phuc-intervision-russian-song-contest-latam-intl
intervision.world/en/
