Dunedin performer Jayden Trinh Jesudhass (11) has come third in reality Vietnamese television show Vietnam Idol Kids.
Jayden, who regularly busks in Dunedin and has tasted success at the likes of the National Talent Quest at Tamworth, in New South Wales, and the New Zealand Gold Guitars in Gore, is in Vietnam with his family due to a family illness.
His mother, Lien Trinh, said the family heard about Vietnam Idol Kids while in New Zealand, but were unsure about Jayden entering as he would have to speak and sing in Vietnamese, and he did not have a fan base to attract the public voting needed for a reality show.
But he auditioned in April and was picked, despite competition from thousands of others.
Jayden performed live weekly, with one contestant being voted off each week based on public voting and the judges' score.
In several rounds he played instruments to accompany his singing, including guitar, piano, saxophone, flute, and dan nhi, a traditional Vietnamese instrument.
Four contestants made the final, and Jayden finished third last week.
While he did not win, Ms Trinh said one song Jayden sang had 560,000 online views, and he had gained plenty of online fans.
