Thanh Thao

Thanh Thao (1977-    ) is a Vietnamese singer and owner and CEO of Music Box Entertainment, one of the most prolific talent management companies in Vietnam.

Born as Pham Trinh Phuong Thao on March 8, 1977 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, she would later choose Thanh Thao as her professional stage name in order to avoid being confused with the famous pop singer Phuong Thao.  At the beginning of her professional music career, Thanh Thao had been taken under the wings of musician Duc Tri who had helped launched the careers of pop female vocalists Phuong Thanh and Ho Ngoc Ha.

In 1998, she was introduced to Rang Dong Entertainment by iconic pop male artist Ngoc Son and began recording for the label.  Thanh Thao would gain further notoriety as a singer with the successes of her recordings released under the Rang Dong Entertainment label which included such songs like Oi Tinh Yeu, a cover of a hit song from the popular Thai duo, China Dolls, Khoc Cho Yeu Thuong, a Vietnamese rendition of Run to You by South Korean pop sensation, DJ Doc, and Thien Than Bong Dem, a Vietnamese version of Heaven by Groove Coverage.

In 2002, Thanh Thao recorded Bup Be Xinh Dep, her bestselling solo studio album of her entire career.  The title track which had been written by composer Phuong Uyen would become known as Thanh Thao's signature song.  The blockbuster success from this album solidified her name in the Vietnamese pop music industry and essentially turned her into a star.

Five years later, Thanh Thao along with longtime friend and business associate, fashion model Thuy Vinh, together set up a talent management firm called Music Box Entertainment.  Since then, Music Box Entertainment has managed the careers of many established music artists of Vietnam such as Tu Minh Hy, Ngo Kien Huy, Ngan Khanh, Nam Cuong and Thuy Anh, who is also the younger sister of Thanh Thao.  In 2011, Thuy Vinh and Thanh Thao ended their partnership and each went their separate ways.  Both have made public statements insisting that their friendship has not been affected by the dismantling of their business partnership despite the contrasting image circulated in the Vietnamese tabloid press.  That same year, Thanh Thao also formed Thanh Thao Productions.

Thanh Thao hosted the first season of the popular television show, Giong Hat Viet Nhi, a Vietnamese adaptation of the Dutch television show, The Voice Kids.  

As for her personal life, Thanh Thao has yet to walk down the aisle as a bride choosing to remain single.  She had been romantically linked to musician Duc Tri, singer Quang Dung and was once engaged to Roderick Haire, the CEO of AIA Vietnam Insurance Corporation.

Link(s):

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 1