They are from the Hanoi National Conservatory of Music, HCM Conservatory of Music, Hue Arts College and Hanoi Arts School. The Military Arts and Culture College is not registered this year.

The event, which is sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has three categories: piano solo, violin solo and chamber music. The pianists and violinists, in particular, are divided into 2 groups: Group A aged under 16 and Group B under 24.  

Participants are requested to compete in two rounds with one Vietnamese work assigned by organisers. This is to encourage Vietnamese musicians to write symphonies, according to musician Vu Duy Cuong, from the ministry’s Arts and Performance Department.