With a population of 95 million and many more living all over the world, Vietnam is the homeland of a vibrant music culture. From bright Vietnamese-French fusion songs in the 60s to melancholic bolero in the 70s to rhythmic disco bops in the 90s, Vietnamese music has undergone a huge revolution for the past decades.
The uninterrupted growth of the Vietnamese music scene wouldn’t have been possible without the talents and passion of numerous artists of different genres, in and out of the country.
Here’s our low-down on some of the most popular and talented Vietnamese singers of all time.
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Image adapted from: NGỌC LAN MUSIQUE
When it comes to Vietnamese music, Ngọc Lan (1956-2001) will always go down in history as one of Vietnam’s most favourite singers of all time. She was one of the rare singers beloved by Vietnamese communities all over the world and of all ages.
Image adapted from: NGỌC LAN MUSIQUE
After the Vietnam War, the Nha Trang-born chanteuse and her family emigrated to the US, where she began her career as a singer and quickly gained popularity among Vietnamese overseas audiences.
Crisp and melancholic, Ngọc Lan’s voice is marked with a feminine timbre and aching tone in sad ballad songs. Coupled with her ability to sing fluently in Vietnamese, French and English, her mesmerizing beauty, as well as captivating performing skills, Ngọc Lan was the Vietnamese singer with the highest-grossing worldwide music tours in the 20th century.
Ngoc Lan’s single produced by May Production in the 1980s
Image credit: Ngọc Lan Fan Club
Tickets to her live concerts across the US and Europe were often sold out quickly, and the arenas used to be so packed that many audience members voluntarily sat on the floor just to catch a glimpse of her.
Ngoc Lan’s last live performance on the stage of music show Asia Entertainment in 1992 in Toronto, Canada
Image credit: Asia Entertainment Official
In her late 30s, Ngọc Lan was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a disease that debilitated her eyesight and forced her to leave the stage for good at the peak of her career. She passed away at age 45 in California, and was sent off in a massive funeral with thousands of fans in attendance.
Even until today, fan clubs honoring her memory are still popping up everywhere and Vietnamese fans across the world still mourn her passing every year.
Some of Ngoc Lan’s most reputed hits include the ballad “Mưa Trên Biển Vắng”, which is about a girl reflecting on her old flame while looking at the sea, and “Mùa Hè Năm Ấy”, a song about a girl’s reminiscence of her summer fling.
Ngoc Lan’s bewitching rendition of “Viens M’embrasser”, a nostalgic French love song about drawing near and kissing a lover, was one of the most played tunes in Vietnam’s dance halls and tea rooms in the 90s.
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
Thái Thanh (1934-2020) often performed with her siblings in their family band called Thang Long in her city of birth, Hanoi, in the 1950s before moving south.
A self-trained singer, Thái Thanh successfully produced her signature high-pitched tone by mixing Vietnamese folk songs’ rhythmic and melodic singing techniques with the typically dramatic opera elements in her vocal practice.
Naturally gifted and nurtured in a family of musicians, she soon rose to become Vietnam’s most famous singer in the 60s and 70s.
Her operatic soprano voice with ample vocal range allowed her to hit high notes and climaxes with ease and grace. Her vocal techniques still amaze Vietnamese audiences until today.
Image adapted from: Nhạc Xưa
Cheerful, expressive, and sophisticated, Thái Thanh had the signature performing style of a traditional folk song singer.
She often performed songs by musician Phạm Duy – one of Vietnam’s most illustrious songwriters, who was also her brother-in-law. You can check out their beautiful collaborations that rank among Thái Thanh’s most famous songs, such as “Nụ Tầm Xuân”, which is an ode to cherry blossom buds, and “Nghìn Trùng Xa Cách”, a poignant song about the pain of separating from the love of one’s life.
Thái Thanh performing alongside her daughter Ý Lan
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
After the Vietnam War, Thái Thanh and her daughters, including famous singer Ý Lan, emigrated to the US in 1985. During her life in the US, she and her daughter regularly performed on the stages of Paris by Night and Asia Entertainment, which are the largest US-based entertainment shows catering to Vietnamese communities overseas.
Image adapted from: Anthony DiFlorio
During the 1960s, Bạch Yến (1942- ) was already among the most sought-after singers across Saigon’s nightclubs thanks to her strong vocal skills and operatic performing style.
Debuting at the age of 15, Bạch Yến quickly achieved fame with her husky, fiery, and soulful voice which is perfect for the slow-rock genre.
Image adapted from: Am Nhac FM
Able to sing fluently in Vietnamese, French, and English, she was one of a few Vietnamese singers to win a record deal with Polydor, a French record label, during her stay in France.
During her contract term with Polydor, she also made an international name for herself when hosting concert tours across multiple European countries.
Image adapted from: Am Nhac FM
In 1961, she was the first Vietnamese singer to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show, a popular US variety show in those days, and The Bob Hope Show in 1966.
Some of Bạch Yến’s most iconic songs include “A bas la rentrée”, a song about the promise of a fall rendezvous, and “Đêm Đông”, a song about winter nights.
Image adapted from: Kênh Video Tổng Hợp
Born in 1948, Thanh Lan started her professional music career when she was a high school student in Saigon in the 60s. She soon rose to stardom in her teenage years as one of the best Vietnamese singers of French music in South Vietnam.
Thanh Lan in her teenage years
Image adapted from: Ca Sĩ Thanh Lan
In those days, French was still the most popular language in Vietnam besides Vietnamese, and French music was all the rage with young people.
Most of Thanh Lan’s songs are French-Vietnamese fusion songs, in which she covers popular songs in French and their Vietnamese translated versions in her tender and passionate voice.
Thanh Lan and Jo Marcel performing on the stage of Asia Entertainment
Image adapted from: Asia Entertainment Official
Old souls can take a stroll down memory lane by checking out Thanh Lan’s beautiful renditions of “Donna Donna”, “Bang Bang”, and ”Liên Khúc Nhạc Pháp”, in which she flaunts her posh Parisian accent and the elegant, cheerful performing style reminiscent of the 60s.
After the Vietnam War, Thanh Lan emigrated to the US and continued performing her most iconic French – Vietnamese songs on the big stages of Paris By Night and Asia Entertainment.
Today, Thanh Lan’s one of the remaining old-school singers who still brings us French and Vietnamese songs when she’s on stage.
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
In the eyes of most Vietnamese music lovers, Khánh Ly (1945- ) is the only singer who can bring the brilliant work of legendary musician Trịnh Công Sơn to life with her distinctive voice.
Khánh Ly and Trịnh Công Sơn in Canada in 1992
Image adapted from: Ca sĩ Khánh Ly
Trịnh Công Sơn ’s songs, which usually talk about the philosophy of life and love, are Vietnam’s most widely recorded songs and covered by many Vietnamese singers. However, the only singer whose name is recognized alongside Trịnh Công Sơn is Khánh Ly.
Khánh Ly at the age of 29 in 1974
Image credit: Ca sĩ Khánh Ly
Throughout her career that has spanned nearly 60 years, Khánh Ly ’s reputation has been synonymous with her unrivalled renditions of Trịnh Công Sơn ’s iconic songs such as “Ngẫu Nhiên” and “Ở Trọ”.
Khánh Ly in her 70s
Image adapted from: Ca sĩ Khánh Ly
Possessing a smoky and mesmerizing voice plus an impressive alto vocal range, Khánh Ly can create beautiful variations in her pitches that leave the audience spellbound.
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
From the first notes of “Chị Tôi”, a song about the sad fate of a sister, or “Ngàn Thu Áo Tím”, speaking about a girl’s nostalgic love for the color purple, it was clear that Ý Lan (1958- ) had inherited the musical gifts of her mother, singer Thái Thanh.
Image adapted from: Nguoi Noi Tieng
Powerful and airy, Ý Lan’s light voice is packed with Vietnamese folk singing elements which are undeniably reminiscent of her late mother’s signature voice.
Image adapted from: Tiếng Hát Ý Lan
Her delicate embellishments and skilful riffs also lend extra emotions to a song and leave the audience in awe.
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
Possessing a velvety mezzo-soprano voice with exquisite timbre and heart-melting stage charisma, Như Quỳnh (1970- ) is rightfully bestowed with the title of Queen of Bolero.
Như Quỳnh in her debut years
Image credit: VietnamNet
Her unique voice blends perfectly with the Bolero music genre, which is a form of slow-tempo Hispanic music introduced to South Vietnam in the 60s, when it got blended with Vietnamese country music with a Western flair.
Như Quỳnh’s inimitable voice catapulted Bolero songs such as “Duyên Phận”, about the unpredictable fate of women, and “Vùng Lá Me Bay”, which reflects on a sad love story, to become nationwide hits.
Image adapted from: Như Quỳnh
Throughout her nearly 3-decade singing career, Như Quỳnh has garnered a significantly large Vietnamese fan base across the world.
Như Quỳnh is currently living in the US, where she graces the stage of Paris By Night every once in a while.
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
After receiving professional training at HCMC Music Conservatory, Lam Anh (1987- ) moved to the US in 2007 and later became a fixture on the music stages of the Paris by Night show.
Image credit: @lamanh_lala
Lam Anh is gifted with a melodic and strong soprano voice that reaches 3 octaves, which are beautifully showcased in her hit songs such as “Chờ Thêm Một Đời”, a song about a desperate wait for true love.
Lam Anh and Bằng Kiều performing ”’Nơi Tình Yêu Bắt Đầu”, their most successful collaboration
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
Shortly after joining Paris By Night, Lam Anh quickly soared to fame after sharing the stage with Bằng Kiều in their phenomenal duet ”Nơi Tình Yêu Bắt Đầu”, a song about the beginning of love.
While this song was originally a stage performance, it quickly became famous across Vietnam and enjoyed a very long stay on multiple Vietnamese music charts 9 years ago.
Even until today, this song is still a classic karaoke favorite across the country.
Image credit: @lamanh_lala
Leading a low-key life in the US, Lam Anh has consistently proved her mettle through quality music work and become one of the most favorite soloists in Vietnam’s music scene overseas.
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
Aside from her singular crisp, titillating voice with a husky tone, Minh Tuyết (1976- ) gained a reputation for her sexy and dynamic performing style since her debut in 1998.
Her masterful use of head voice also helps to take her onstage sensual charm to the next level.
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
From heart-wrenching ballads such as ”Xin Lỗi Anh”, which is about confusion in love to ”Chờ Một Tiếng Yêu”, an upbeat pop song about confessing love, Minh Tuyết’s influence on the Vietnamese pop music scene is unique and enduring.
Endowed with a gorgeous body and pretty face, Minh Tuyết knows exactly how to complement her performance with revealing outfits that showcase her stunning legs and figure.
Image adapted from: Nguoi Noi Tieng
Minh Tuyết was also one of the first Vietnamese singers in the early 2000s who had the gumption to wear revealing clothes and full-on Western-style makeup on stage, while a majority of Vietnamese singers in those days stuck to ao dai and more elegant outfits.
Minh Tuyết is currently living in the US, where she’s been a fixture on the stage of Paris By Night for the past 2 decades.
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
Debuting in the 80s as a rock singer, Thu Phương (1972-) has consistently earned praise from music critics and audiences for the prowess of her voice.
Thu Phương has a thick and deep mezzo alto voice packed with technical skills, allowing her to go from whispers to high notes effortlessly.
Image credit: Nguoi Noi Tieng
Endowed with versatile performing skills, Thu Phương can wow audiences with a variety of music genres, from desolate ballads to upbeat pop songs.
Thu Phương is currently living in the US, where she performs frequently on the stage of Paris by Night and mini-shows across the country.
“Chưa Bao Giờ”, a sweet yet sad song about a girl’s obsession with the memories of her love, is Thu Phương’s most successful song so far and has been covered widely by other singers.
Image adapted from: Quang Lê Official
Endowed with a strong, bright, and emotive voice, Lệ Quyên (1981-) is one of the few Vietnamese vocalists who can fully engage an audience without having to throw in extra showmanship or elaborate staging.
Image credit: @lequyensinger
Lệ Quyên’s mezzo soprano voice is dolloped with vocal techniques, allowing her to convey emotions into her song and hit high notes flawlessly in a live setting.
Image credit: @lequyensinger
In addition to iconic pop ballad hits such as “Nếu Như Ngày Đó” and “Để Nhớ Một Thời Ta Đã Yêu”, which are about regrets in love, Lệ Quyên has also achieved resounding success in the Bolero music genre. The diversity of her vocal ability can be seen in the emotionally charged “Tình Lỡ”, a song about a hopeless romance.
For more of her songs, check out Lệ Quyên’s music channel here.
Mỹ Tâm in her debut years
Image adapted from: Phuong Nam Phim
At the age of 39, Mỹ Tâm is the most influential female singer in Vietnam’s music scene.
Debuting at the age of 20, Mỹ Tâm’s resonant mezzo-soprano voice has earned her numerous awards such as the Mnet Asian Music Awards, MAMA, the HTV awards, and the Làn Sóng Xanh or the Green Radio awards as well as recognition from music critics.
Image adapted from: Mỹ Tâm – Fan’s Club
She’s also the first Vietnamese singer whose album, Tam 9, made it to no. 10 of the Billboard World Albums Chart in January 2018. Consisting of 13 pop-soul tracks, including her top hit ”Người Hãy Quên Em Đi” about getting over an old flame, album Tam 9 saw 5,000 copies sold within 1 hour since its release.
Mỹ Tâm in her resounding hit Người Hãy Quên Em Đi
Image adapted from: Mỹ Tâm
Some of Mỹ Tâm’s most well-known songs and film scores include ”Ước Gì”, about a girl wishing to reunite with her boyfriend, ”Búp Bê ”Không Tình Yêu”, a song about a doll without love, and ”Họa Mi Tóc Nâu”, which is about a brown-haired singer.
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
Born in a family of musicians, Tuấn Ngọc (1947-) learned vocal skills and musical instruments at a very young age and debuted at the age of 4. His guitar skill was best showcased during his time as a guitarist in Strawberry Four, a famous rock band in Saigon in the 70s.
Image adapted from: Tuấn Ngọc / Tuan Ngoc
After emigrating to the US after the Vietnam War, he and his family members formed a music band and quickly garnered popularity in Vietnamese communities across California.
Tuấn Ngoc performing with his sisters Khánh Hà, Thúy Anh, and Lưu Bích
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
Leading a low-key life off the stage, it’s unbeknownst to many that Tuấn Ngọc is also the sibling of some of the most popular Vietnamese artists in the US, such as Khánh Hà, Lưu Bích, Thúy Anh, Lan Anh, Bích Chiêu, and Anh Tú. His father, Lữ Liên, was one of Vietnam’s most famous musicians in the 1960s and 1970s and a member of the AVT music band.
Image credit: Tuấn Ngọc/ Tuan Ngoc
A singer with a warm and deeply echoed baritone voice that covers 3 octaves, his silky voice is best showcased in slow songs such as “Riêng Một Góc Trời”, a song about a lost love written by musician Ngô Thụy Miên, or “Tâm Sự Gửi Về Đâu” by Phạm Duy, a musician who was also Tuấn Ngọc’s father-in-law.
At the age of 73, Tuấn Ngọc is still a fixture in the Vietnamese music scene overseas and able to rock the audience with his spectacular vocal skills. The influence of Tuấn Ngọc on the younger generation of Vietnamese singers can be spotted in the singing styles of singers Quang Dũng and Trần Thái Hòa.
Don Hồ in 1996
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
Rightfully nicknamed “The Ageless Man” by his audience, singer Don Hồ (1962- ) looks pretty much the same as he did 30 years ago in his debut years. He’s also known as a style icon with a great sense of fashion who always graces the stage with stylish suits.
While Don Hồ’s impeccable looks are most fans’ first and foremost impression of him, his unique singing voice throughout the years is no less praiseworthy.
Don Hồ in 2018
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
Endowed with a deep and refined voice with a delicate airy tone, Don Hồ is able to sing any song with an extra layer of emotion that transcends explanation.
Image adapted from: DON HO
Some of Don Ho’s most popular hits include “Ngàn Đóa Hồng”, about a painter’s desperate love for a beautiful neighbor, and “Người Yêu Cũ Có Người Yêu Mới”, about the pain of seeing your ex-girlfriend with a new boyfriend.
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
Possessing a high and warm voice with precise diction and a delicate tone, Bằng Kiều (1973-) has been one of Vietnam’s most popular tenors since the 1990s.
Image adapted from: Bằng Kiều
Bằng Kiều’s distinctive voice has been a fixture of Vietnam’s modern music since the 1990s, after which he emigrated to the US and started performing for Paris by Night.
Throughout the decades, he’s produced hits with love songs such as “Nơi Tình Yêu Bắt Đầu”, “Chị Tôi”, “Em Ơi Hà Nội Phố”, and “Trái Tim Bên Lề”.
Image adapted from: Thuy Nga
Even now in his late 40s, Bằng Kiều can still thrill the audience, both live and on Youtube, with his spectacular performances alongside his son Beckham, a talented guitarist.
Those who dote on Bằng Kiều ’s charming voice and would love to hear more can check out his music channel here.
Image adapted from: Thành Trương Công
There are hardly any kids born in the 80s and 90s who didn’t grow up listening to Lam Trường (1974-)’s pop music. Born into a Vietnamese-Chinese family in Saigon, Lam Trường is also able to sing Cantonese songs.
In those days, there was no digital music chart in Vietnam to rank the popularity of singers. Therefore, the fact that Lam Trường’s famous hits such as “Kathy Kathy”, which encourages the listener to think positive in love and ‘’Tình Thôi Xót Xa’’, a song about a painful love, were played in every corner of Vietnam in the late 90s and early 2000s was a true reflection of his influence.
Image credit: Fan Club Lam Trường
From 1997 to 2008, he was consistently the winner of the Most Favourite Vietnamese Artist awards in the Làn Sóng Xanh, Vietnam’s most long-lasting music chart programme.
He also won the most celebrity endorsement deals in those days, such as Pepsi, Samsung, and Head & Shoulders.
Lam Trường and Britney Spears in a Pepsi ad campaign
Image credit: Gia Dinh
Good looks and charm were not the only things that Lam Trường brought to the table.
Image credit: Fan Club Lam Trường
His warm and solid voice, towards the raspy side, is what has made his songs popular until today.
Image adapted from: Đan Trường Singer Official
Throughout his impressive career since 1997, Đan Trường (1976-) still secures a large and loyal fan base thanks to his friendly personality and sweet looks which get better with age.
Today, the Saigon-born singer is still the owner of some of Vietnam’s highest-grossing concerts as his name still ensures arena sellouts.
Image credit: Tin Nhac
While his vocal skills are not highly praised by music critics, his juicy and crisp voice blends well with slow pop ballads such as ”Kiếp Ve Sầu” and ”Phiêu Du”.
Đan Trường’s influence was enormous in the late 90s and early 2000s, during which he earned numerous local awards such as the HTV Awards and the Làn Sóng Xanh awards.
Image adapted from: Fan Club Đan Trường
He and Lam Trường were the most frequently nominated male singers for the title of Vietnam’s most favorite singers before the emergence of Ưng Hoàng Phúc.
Đan Trường was also the only Vietnamese singer to share the stage with Vicky Zhao in 2003 when she visited Vietnam to promote the Huan Zhu Ge Ge (Princess Pearl) Chinese drama series.
Image adapted from: Vafaco Official
Known for his handsome looks and heartthrob status, Ưng Hoàng Phúc (1981-)’s 19-year entertainment career has expanded far beyond his heyday in the early 2000s.
After his music band 1088 disbanded, Ưng Hoàng Phúc debuted again as a solo artist and gained tremendous success.
Image credit: Tieu Su Nguoi Noi Tieng
Despite criticism about his vocal skills, Ưng Hoàng Phúc’s distinctive use of falsetto supported by well-written catchy songs made him one of Vietnam’s highest-selling artists between 2001 and 2007.
Image credit: Ưng Hoàng Phúc
Some of the songs that became nationwide hits include “Thà Rằng Như Thế”, “Người Ta Nói”, and ”Tôi Không Tin”, which all talk about sad love stories and broken hearts.
Today, Ưng Hoàng Phúc is still one of the most popular male Vietnamese singers, with his songs covered by many younger singers today. Aside from running his own business, he sometimes graces the stages of pubs and bars in Saigon.
Image adapted from: Dinh Bao Official
Despite his many years of performing in the AC&M acapella band, Đình Bảo (1981-)’s name only started to rise to prominence after he relocated to the US and began his solo career.
Possessing a solid and soaring baritone voice that covers 3 octaves, Đình Bảo can slide into incredible high notes with ease.
Image adapted from: Dinh Bao Nguyen
After graduating from a music school in California with a major in sound engineering, Đình Bảo is currently working as a music teacher and frequently performs on the stage of Paris by Night.
Image adapted from: Dinh Bao Nguyen
Some of Đình Bảo’s most praised performances include his heartbreaking rendition of ”Triệu Đóa Hồng”, which is a bleak picture of a desperate love and ”Giã Từ Tình Yêu”, a song about the pain of breaking up with a lover.
For more of his songs, check out Đình Bảo’s official music channel here.
Image adapted from: Asia Entertainment Official
If there was a group of the most passionate Vietnamese music fans, US-based singer Đan Nguyên (1984- )’s fan clubs, which spread across the world, would be at the top of the list.
Despite his young and rugged handsome looks that are normally synonymous with pop or rock, the 36-year-old singer chose Vietnamese country music as his main genre when he first debuted at the age of 22.
Image credit: Đan Nguyên FC Việt Nam
Considered to be an old-school music form as it first became popular in the 1950s, this genre consists of mostly slow military songs performed to the rhythm of tango, bolero, cha-cha-cha, and rumba.
His sweet voice coupled with his masculine Indiana Jones vibes ticked well with his audience in the US, a majority of whom are big fans of Vietnamese singers of country music.
Image credit: @dan_nguyen9
While Đan Nguyên’s voice is unquestionably beautiful, there’s no denying that it’s his extraordinary looks and charisma that have drawn more people to listen to Vietnamese country music.
Some of the songs that contributed big time to Đan Nguyen’s success include “Chuyện Hoa Sim”, a song about a girl reminiscing her sad love story when looking at purple flowers, and ”Lại Nhớ Người Yêu”, which talks about the desperate love of a soldier for his lover.
In order to list out all of the Vietnamese singers, artists, and musicians that have delighted Vietnamese audiences worldwide since the 20th century, we might need to expand this walk-of-fame article in future.
While moving with the times and keeping up with modern music and international artists is all part of being a fan of Vietnamese music, it’s important to be reminded that there are already many talented artists in our country who deserve attention.
Endowed with great vocal skills and distinguishable performing styles, these 20 Vietnamese singers are more than able to represent Vietnamese music to international audiences and make us proud.
Also check out:
Cover image adapted from: Lâm Đặng, Đan Nguyên Fans Club, and Nhac Xua
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