This annual competition embraces all theatre genres, from traditional to contemporary, offering young people the opportunity to share experiences and enrich their creative abilities. Performing arts troupes from all around the country (chèo, tuồng (hát bội), cải lương, traditional music and drama) are requested to select a number of promising young performers aged 16-35 to participate in the competition. Each participant is then given the opportunity to perform an excerpt from an existing play or a short creation of his/her own running no longer than 20 minutes. Competitors are marked on their performances and gold, silver and bronze medals are awarded in each theatrical genre. The 2003 competition attracted 130 participants.