Bao Liem

Bảo Liêm (1961-    ) is a famous Vietnamese-American comedian best known as Vân Sơn's sidekick in comedy sketches produced by Vân Sơn Entertainment.

While still living in Vietnam, at the age of 14 Bao Liem began his career in performing arts as a theater troupe dancer.  Eventually he would find his niche in comedy.  During the 1980s Bao Liem formed a comedy act known as Mập Ốm and performed at various stages and venues all around Ho Chi Minh City.  In 1991 he left Vietnam to resettle in the United States.

After arriving in Southern California from Vietnam, Bao Liem met up with Van Son and formed the comedy duo act, Van Son - Bao Liem.  They started out performing for weddings and parties.  As their popularity grew, Van Son - Bao Liem were booked to perform at major live shows for Vietnamese audiences all over the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe becoming the most popular comedy act in the overseas Vietnamese entertainment industry.  After several appearances on singer Ý Nhi's weekly variety television program, the pair were invited to perform on four consecutive volumes of the popular live show music video series produced by Asia Entertainment from 1993-1994.

Van Son and Bao Liem

Bao Liem appeared on the very first volume of Van Son Entertainment's live show video series in musical/comedy sketches alongside Van Son, Diễm Lệ, Phương Nga and singer Ngọc Anh in 1994.  Shortly thereafter, Van Son - Bao Liem parted ways after a disagreement.  Bao Liem then went on to form his own production company, Bao Liem Productions.  For the next five years, Van Son continued on with his success replacing Bao Liem with comedian Hoài Linh.  As sales of DVDs produced by Van Son Entertainment soared to the ranks comparable to Thuy Nga Paris and Asia Entertainment, Bao Liem Productions tanked after only a couple of forgettable releases.  After over a 3-year absence on video, Bao Liem traveled to Vancouver, Canada in 1998 to film a comedy sketch with actress Uyên Chi for volume 18 of Mây Productions' Hollywood Night series.  

Van Son and Bao Liem mended their friendship, as well as resumed their professional association in 1999.  For the next ten years, Bao Liem appeared on 30 volumes of Van Son Entertainment's video series.  He and Van Son performed in numerous videotaped comedy sketches with many other performers including Văn Chung, Lê Huỳnh, Giáng Ngọc, Xuân Phát, Việt Hương, Nguyễn Thắng, Quang Minh, Hồng Đào, Chí Tài, Việt Thảo, Trường Vũ, Johnny Trí Nguyễn and Diễm Liên.  Toward the end of 2008, Van Son and Bao Liem once again parted ways.  In 2016, Bao Liem had a supporting role in the feature comedy movie, Cao Thủ Ẩn Danh, starring Quang Minh, Hồng Đào, Ốc Thanh Vân and Hiếu Hiền.

Bao Liem (left) and Bao Vy at their wedding in 2008

Married to actress/singer Bảo Vy since 2008, he and his wife continue to perform all over the United States at live shows for Vietnamese audiences.  Bao Liem has three children from a previous marriage.