Fortuna Music Contest 9

Fortuna Music Contest 9, often referred to as FMC #09, was the ninth edition of the Fortuna Music Contest. The contest took place in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. It was the first time that Vietnam had hosted the contest, following the country's victory in the eighth edition with the song "Say Goodbye" by Hồ Ngọc Hà. Organised by the host broadcaster Vietnam TV, the contest was held at the Phú Thọ Indoor Stadium, and consisted only of the final, which was hosted by Nguyễn Huỳnh Kim Duyên.

Twenty-four countries participated in the ninth edition. Argentina, Chile and Croatia debuted, while India returned to the contest. France, Greece and United States had to withdraw. The winner of the edition was Japan with the song "Hold the Girl" performed by Rina Sawayama, which scored 120 points, 24 points over the runner-up, India. The top five also included South Korea, Argentina and Kazakhstan. The host nation Vietnam finished fourteenth.

Location
For more details on the host country, see Vietnam.

Host City
Ho Chi Minh City, formerly (and still commonly) known as Saigon, is the largest city in Vietnam, with a population of around 9 million in 2019. Situated in the southeast region of Vietnam, the city surrounds the Saigon River and covers about 2,061 km². Saigon was the capital of French Indochina from 1887 to 1902, and again from 1945 until its cessation in 1954. Following the partition of French Indochina, it became the capital of South Vietnam until the Fall of Saigon in 1975. The communist government renamed Saigon in honour of Hồ Chí Minh shortly after the Fall of Saigon. Beginning in the 1990s, the city underwent rapid modernisation and expansion, contributing to Vietnam's post-war economic recovery.

It is known for its well-preserved French colonial architecture and vibrant street life. Its varied cultural institutions, which include historic landmarks, walking streets, museums and galleries, attracts over 8 million international visitors each year. Ho Chi Minh City is a major centre for finance, media, technology, education, and transportation. The city generates nearly a quarter of the country's total GDP, and is home to many multinational companies. Tan Son Nhat International Airport, the main airport serving the city, is the busiest airport in the country by passenger traffic, accounting for nearly half of all international arrivals to Vietnam.

Venue
Phú Thọ Indoor Stadium is a multi-purpose indoor arena, located in District 11, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, within walking distance from the 1932-built Phú Thọ Horse Racing Ground. The stadium was constructed for 2003 Southeast Asian Games. Although not officially recognized, the stadium is usually home to Vietnam national futsal team. It has a capacity of 5,000 people for sporting events and a full-house capacity of around 8,000.

Returning artists
One returning artist was present in the Fortuna Music Contest 9. Rina Sawayama returned for Japan, last time they placed third in the Fortuna Music Contest 1.

Qualification Round
Six countries participated in the qualification round, with all 26 participating and already qualified countries eligible to vote. Four countries qualified.

Final
Twenty-four countries participated in the final, with all 26 participating and eliminated countries eligible to vote.