During the two-week tour, the 34-member choir will deliver four performances in Utah, Idaho and California.

The group plans to showcase Vietnamese and American folk songs and dances, including music using bamboo instruments. They will also sing songs like Children of the World, the Cylindrical Drum, Fill the World with Music and 500 Miles featuring soprano star Thang Long. They will perform as honourary guests at the Tabernacle Grand Choir Show along with 350 singers at the Tabernacle Theatre in Salt Lake City, as well.

In order to learn more about the US, the children will stay with American families during their tour.

The visit is being sponsored by conductor Daniel Perkins from Plymouth University’s Music Faculty and Operation Smile doctors, John and Marjorie Tall.

The tour will be good practice for the youths who will participate in the Asian Choir Games in Jakarta, Indonesia, this November and the World Choir Games in Austria in August 2008.

Established in 2004, the choir has a total of 200 members.