A Proper Farewell to Viet Celebs Lost During Pandemic

It has been more than 3 years since the last posting was published on VietCeleb.Blospot.com.   During this time, the world has been devastated with the Corona Virus Pandemic.  Not only has it taken the lives of some of our Vietnamese celebrities, but it also had an effect on the loved ones and fans of those who had passed away from other causes of death during this pandemic as they were prohibited from holding any such funeral services due to the restrictions imposed from the mandatory lockdown.  It was as if these the loved ones and fans of the deceased had been deprived of having the chance to pay their final respects and giving a proper farewell.  Imagine just how difficult it is in dealing with the loss of a loved one, but to also not be able to hold a proper funeral service to commemorate the deceased.  This pandemic has definitely served as a horrific time in modern history.  The following are a list of the Vietnamese celebrities that had passed on during the pandemic.  Some of which had indeed succumbed to the dreaded Covid-19 disease, while others were due to other causes during the Corona Virus Pandemic.  

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 8a

The next 5 beautiful homes that are featured on this publication of our series known as "Vietnamese Celebrity Homes", are owned by a quite diverse group of 5 major Vietnamese celebrities.  These 5 Vietnamese celebrity homeowners consist of a  beautiful film actress, a legendary Vietnamese folk opera performer, an award-winning film actor, a pop singer and an overseas veteran diva of Vietnamese pop music.  

1.  The first Vietnamese celebrity home featured here is owned by the legendary Vietnamese folk opera actress Bạch Tuyết.  A veteran star of  the Vietnamese folk opera stage, she first rose to prominence at the tender age of 16 when she was cast as the lead role in the "cải lương" play, "Lá Thắm Chỉ Hồng".  Her lengthy career has endured an astounding 60 years in the spotlight.  During the early 1970s, Bạch Tuyết had successfully branched out into a career in films starring in a string of well-received vehicles including Như Hạt Mưa Sa (1971), Như Giọt Sương Khuya (1972), Lan và Điệp (1972) and Con Ma Nhà Họ Hứa (1973) proving her bankability as a leading lady of the silver screen.  After the Fall of Saigon, she was among only a handful of performers who remained in Vietnam and continued with their careers enjoying uninterrupted success.  Bạch Tuyết has received numerous accolades throughout her illustrious career which include two wins for the Thanh Tâm Award, Vietnam's equivalence to a Tony Award, for best actress in 1963 and again in 1965.  She has also been honored twice by the Vietnamese government with official title recognitions:  the first time as Meritorious Artist in 1988 and the second time with an  even greater honor as the People's Artist in 2012.  

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Mansion Owned by Bạch Tuyết
Located in the 9th District of Ho Chi Minh City

After returning to college in the 1980s, Bạch Tuyết earned a baccalaureate degree from the University of Ho Chi Minh City in 1985 at the age of 40.  Three years later, she completed graduate school in directorial studies for theatrical arts while studying abroad at the University of Sofia, Bulgaria.  After having amassed for herself considerable wealth that is even enviable to that of celebrities from other more developed countries in the Western world, Bạch Tuyết can easily retire without having to ever worry about financial matters.  However, she has chosen to continue living her life with a full schedule.  In addition to maintaining her active career as a performer of Vietnamese folk opera with frequent guest appearances on television and the stage, Bạch Tuyết now also dedicates much of her time to charity work.  Twice divorced and a mother of a grown son now residing in the United Staes married with three children, Bạch Tuyết now at age 76 lives by herself in this spacious mansion located in the 9th district of Ho Chi Minh City which she had recently purchased in 2019.  

Bạch Tuyết Posing in Her
Backyard and Swimming Pool

Bạch Tuyết Rehearsing Lines
with Friends in Her Family Room 

Legendary Vietrnamese Pop Music Diva Thanh Tuyền's 
Mansion in Bellaire, Texas

2. The second Vietnamese celebrity home featured here belongs to a famous overseas Vietnamese singer who is a truly seasoned diva of Vietnamese pop music.  Just like Bạch Tuyết who is also as deserving of being called a diva of Vietnamese folk opera, this legendary diva of Vietnamese pop music has also enjoyed longevity in her amazing career which has spanned for more than five decades.  While still a teenager in high school during the 1960s back in South Vietnam, she had already achieved national stardom after securing a recording contract signed with Continental, South Vietnam's most prominent record label.  Her very first professional recording of the song, Dấu Chân Kỷ Niệm (written by Thúc Đăng) was heavily promoted by her record label as the song was in heavy rotation with national radio stations and given massive airplay.  Her quickly rising popularity with  radio audiences led to an appearance on Phạm Mạnh Cương's  music variety television show which gave the young singer a much wider formal introduction to a national viewer audience  But it was the next pair of songs released by her record label in the next following months within that same year that would catapult her to superstardom and would become known as her signature songs.  These two major hit songs that have been linked with her name throughout her entire career are Đà Lạt Hoàng Hôn (written by Minh Kỳ and Dạ Cầm) and Nỗi Buồn Hoa Phượng.(written by Thanh Sơn).  Of course, I'm talking about the one and only legendary, iconic Vietnamese songstress Thanh Tuyền.

A Statue of the Quan Am Buddha
Stands in Sjnger Thanh Tuyen's Backyard
 Which Symbolizes Her Faith

Unlike most overseas Vietnamese singers who are mostly based in Southern California, primarily Orange County, Thanh Tuyền has been a long time permanent resident of Houston, Texas where she had settled shortly after her arrival to the United States from Vietnam in 1the early 1980s. During the Christmas season toward the end of 1981, Thanh Tuyền's following of devoted fans that had originated from Saigon prior to 1975 and have since resettled overseas were delighted upon the release of her first studio album recorded in the United States under the label, Thúy Nga, the most prominent overseas Vietnamese music production company, in which she had decided to title as Gửi Người Ngàn Dặm.  The overwhelming reception of that album in the United States,Canada, Europe and Australia prompted a full-fledged resurgence in Thanh Tuyền's music career.  For the next several decades, Thanh Tuyền would enjoy a highly successful career as an overseas Vietnamese singer with a busy schedule which consisted of numerous collaborations in audio recordings and music video appearances for various  labels such as Thúy Nga, Asia Entertainment and Mây Productions along with non-stop, year round touring dates performing at sold out live concerts concerts for Vietnamese audiences all over the world.  During the 1980s and well into the 2010s, Thanh Tuyền was one of the most popular and highest paid overseas Vietnamese entertainers.  Her career achievements since resettling in the United States over 40 years ago symbolizes the ultimate American success story.  Like many other former South Vietnamese nationals who had lost everything to the communist regime after the Vietnam War,  Thanh Tuyền had fled her homeland to seek a better life here in the United States.   After many years of hard work and determination, she has done just that.  Just look at the beautiful mansion in Bellaire, Texas where she now calls home.  So, hats off to you, Ms. Thanh Tuyền!

3. Vietnamese film actress Đinh Ngọc Diệp has been happily married to overseas Vietnamese film director Victor Vũ since 2016.  The couple have since become proud parents to two young sons.  Due to their professional associations with the Vietnamese film industry, the couple maintains a primary home located in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.  Last year, the couple decided to purchase a second home located in the resort community known as Novaworld Hồ Tràm, which is approximately just 90 minutes away from Ho Chi Minh City.  According to the couple, it was because of their two young sons that prompted their decision to purchase this second home .  The couple had wanted their sons to be exposed more to nature.  And this property was just what they were looking for with a backyard that is literally a combination of the forest and the beach.  Their newly purchased second home has since served their family as the perfect anecdote and escape from the bustling city life.  During breaks in between films are the times when the four of them relocate to this enchanting second home.  

4. Singer and occasional actress Bảo Thy had seemed to be headed for superstardom back in 2009.  Her acting debut starring in the film, Công Chúa Teen và Ngũ Hổ Tướng, released that year had become a blockbuster success.   Bảo Thy immediately followed up with a bestselling studio album, Kí ức Của Mưa, in the  following year.  In addition to being honored with several accolades including a Golden Kite Film Award (Cánh Diều Vàng) for Most Promising Newcomer and a sweep at the annual Zing Music Awards picking up 3 awards, in 2010 Bảo Thy had also secured a lucrative deal as the celebrity spokesperson for advertisements promoting new products manufactured by Samsung, the global cellular wireless conglomerate.   Through all the media hype buzzing about, it was then obvious that Bảo Thy had become Vietnam's new "it" girl overnight.  Having conquered both the film and pop music industries in such a short period of time, the future for this young performer had seemed to be full of promises.    However, to the dismay of her many fans the reality which would lie ahead for Bảo Thy in the years after her quick rise to stardom came with several pitfalls which halted her career as an actress and slowed down her career as a Vietnamese pop singer.  After the success of her film debut in 2009, Bảo Thy would not land another film role until three years later when she was cast in the lackluster comedy, Gia Sư Nữ Quái.  Her sophomore effort on the silver screen proved to be both a critical failure, as well as a financial disappointment.  As a pop singer, Bảo Thy's star power had also seemed to dim during the years following the success of her smash studio album. Kí ức Của Mưa, released back in 2010.  For the next 4 years, Bảo Thy's presence in the Vietnamese pop scene consisted of a string of forgettable minor hit singles released by her music label.  Just when it had seemed that this former Vietnam's "it" girl was about to fade to obscurity, in 2015 Bảo Thy experienced a firm comeback with the recording of the theme song of the popular television mini-series, Sứ đồ hành giả, of the same name and has since managed to forge ahead in her music career which has since seen both longevityand endurance.  In recent years, Bảo Thy's personal life has also taken a turn for the better when in 2019 she met and married prominent businessman Nguyễn Phan Lĩnh.  After welcoming the birth of their first child shortly after, the couple have now become the proud owners of this luxurious mansion located in the posh district of Phú Mỹ Hưng in Ho Chi Minh City.  Featured below are photographs of the couple's mansion decorated in lights during Lunar New Year and of Bảo Thy with her two dogs lounging in her living room.

5.  Award-winning film actor Quách Ngọc Ngoan and his second wife, multi-millionairess Phượng Chanel own this luxurious mansion in Ho Chi Minh City.  With the birth of their daughter in 2015, the couple moved into this property along with Phượng Chanel's two sons from her previous marriage. However, In April of 2021, after 6 years of wedded bliss, Phượng Chanel announced that the couple have legally separated.  Since then, no official divorce proceedings have taken place.  Despite their legal separation,, the couple have since been seen together in public on numerous occasions.  According to the Vietnamese tabloids, this union between Quách Ngọc Ngoan and Phượng Chanel seems to be far from being over and that reconciliation for the couple seems to be quite likely.  The photographs below are of the couple's mansion in Ho Chi Minh City.

Link(s):

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 1

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 2

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 3

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 4

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 5a

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 5b

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 6a

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 6b

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 7a

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 7b

Thuy Tien (Singer/Actress)

For the overseas Vietnamese singer, see Thủy Tiên. 

Thủy Tiên (1985-    ) is a famous Vietnamese singer, model and actress.

Trần Thị Thủy Tiên was born into a Chinese-Vietnamese family on November 25, 1985 in the town of Rạch Giá of Kiên Giang Province, Southern Vietnam.  At the age of 18, Thủy Tiên relocated to Ho Chi Minh City to study music at Cao Đẳng Văn Hoá Nghệ Thuật (Military University of Fine Arts).  It was then she befriended renowned Vietnamese musician Quốc Bảo.  Two years later, Thủy Tiên recorded two solo tracks, "Tình Em" and "Ta Đã Yêu Trong Mùa Gió", both of which were featured in the album comprised of various other recording artists produced by Quốc Bảo, Tales - Những Chuyện Kể (2005).  Although the album had been heavily promoted by the musician and sold relatively well, both of the tracks recorded by Thủy Tiên had failed to give her the initial career boost much needed in order to establish her name in the Vietnamese pop music industry.  Finally, in 2008 Thủy Tiên's career experienced a breakthrough with her recordings of two tracks featured in the soundtrack for the television mini-series, Tuyết Nhiệt Đới.  Both the title track and "Giấc Mơ Tuyết Trắng" became major hit singles throughout Vietnam, the latter of which would be nominated for a Mai Vàng (Golden Orchid) Award, Vietnam's equivalent to a Grammy, for song of the year.  Thủy Tiên had also picked up the Làn Sóng Xanh Award that year for most promising newcomer.  In addition, Thủy Tiên's celebrity status rose even higher as she embarked on yet another career, as an actress, when she landed a supporting role in the television mini-series, Bỗng Dưng Muốn Khóc (2008) starring Lương Mạnh Hải and Tăng Thanh Hà.  In 2009, she costarred in the blockbuster film, Nụ Hôn Thần Chết, alongside Johnny Trí Nguyễn, Thanh Hằng and Hoài Linh.  That same year, Thủy Tiên also worked on another blockbuster hit film, Đẹp Từng Centimet, with a small acting part.  Thủy Tiên had achieved further success on the film's soundtrack with two major hit songs she had recorded and written, "Hát Vang Rằng Em Yêu Anh" and "Tiếng Đồng Hồ", which earned her the Làn Sóng Xanh Award for Songwriter of the Year.  She would be awarded with the same accolade in the years 2010 and 2011.  In 2012, Thủy Tiên released her most successful and critically acclaimed studio album to date, Vẫn Mãi Yêu Anh.  Her other acting credits include Vợ Ơi Em Ở Đâu (2016), Sóng Tình (2018) and Ngôi Nhà Hạnh Phúc (2019).  Thủy Tiên has performed for live audiences in concerts all over the world.  In addition to her succcessful careers in singing and acting, Thủy Tiên has also been the spokesmodel for various brand names as Omachi, Audi and BVL.

On December 27, 2014, after 6 years of courtship, Thủy Tiên married professional Vietnamese footballer Lê Công Vinh.  The two have since become proud parents of one daughter.

Link(s):

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 7a

Jowan Le Besco

Jowan Le Besco (1981-    ) is a French cinema actor, scriptwriter and cameraman.

Born on August 26, 1981 in Paris, France, Jowan Le Besco is of French, Algerian, Breton and Vietnamese descent.  His mother is French-Algerian actress Catherine Belkhodja.  He is the younger brother of actress Maiwenn and older brother of actress Isild Le Besco.

Jowan Le Besco during the making of Yapo (2007)

Jowan Le Besco studied cinema at the Paris Sorbonne University of Jussieu.  He starred in several French feature films including La Puce (1999), Un Moment de Bonheur (2002) and Princesse Marie (2004) starring Catherine Deneuve and his sister, Isild Le Besco.  Jowan Le Besco was the director, scriptwriter, editor and cameraman for the film, Yapo (2007). 

Ngoc Ha

Ngọc Hạ (1980-    ) is a famous overseas Vietnamese singer.  Blessed with a high mezzo soprano range, she has often been dubbed as today's answer to legendary Vietnamese songstress Thái Thanh.

Born as Nguyễn Kim Tuyến on December 23, 1980 in Hội An, Vietnam, she grew up as the youngest in a family of seven children.  At the age of 16, Ngọc Hạ entered and became a finalist in the nationally televised Tiếng Hát Truyền Thanh TP. Hồ Chí Minh talent show.  The following year, Ngọc Hạ placed second and took first prize in the Tiếng Hát Truyền Hình Đồng Nai and the Tiếng Hát Truyền Hình Bình Dương talent shows, respectively.  In 1997, Ngọc Hạ took the silver medal award in the annual talent competition sponsored by Nhà Văn Hóa Phụ Nữ Sài Gòn (Saigon Women's Arts Association).

On March of 2000, Ngọc Hạ and her family left Vietnam for the United States resettling in Northern California.  Two years later, Ngọc Hạ signed with the Thúy Nga label and made her debut appearance on volume 63 of the popular Paris By Night video series performing the song, Mái Đình Làng Biển (written by Nguyễn Cường).  On volume 64 of the Paris By Night video series, Đêm Văn Nghệ Thính Phòng, Ngọc Hạ performed the song, Nhớ Nhau (written by Tuấn Khanh).  On volume 65 of the Paris By Night video series, Ngọc Hạ performed the song, Buồn Tàn Thu (written by Văn Cao), which turned her into a household name among Vietnamese communties worldwide.

By 2006, Ngọc Hạ became a freelance artist performing for various overseas labels such as Asia Entertainment, Vân Sơn Entertainment and Tình Productions.  Ngọc Hạ has performed duets with many other artists including Quang Lê, Trần Thái Hoà, Nguyên Khang, Lâm Nhật Tiến and Thanh Lam.  Ngọc Hạ has performed live in concert for Vietnamese audiences all over the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.  

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 7b

Here are the beautiful homes owned by 5 Vietnamese celebrities.


1. Comedic actor Nhật Cường is the owner of this colorful mansion located in the Bình Thạnh district of Ho Chi Minh City.

Living Room Inside Home of Nhật Cường

Dining Room Inside Home of Nhật Cường

2. Singer Vy Oanh, prior to getting married to wealthy Vietnamese-American businessman Lê Thiện, had made her residence in this modest home she had purchased located in Ho Chi Minh City near Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport.  This is where she had built her own recording studio which has since acquired an impressive clientele of some of the biggest names in the Vietnamese music industry.

Vy Oanh standing at the front door entrance of her home near Tân Sơn Nhất Airport  

Vy Oanh posing in her recording studio 

Interior of Vy Oanh's home near Tân Sơn Nhất Airport

Now happily married, Vy Oanh and her husband along with their young son reside in this million dollar property located on the other side of town in Ho Chi Minh City.  This luxurious 4-story mansion even contains an indoor swimming pool.

Vy Oanh and her husband, Vietnamese-American businessman Lê Thiện, have chosen this extravagant mansion in Ho Chi Minh City to raise their young son.  

Vy Oanh's son and his friend playing in the living room 

Dining room of Vy Oanh's mansion  

Indoor swimming pool at Vy Oanh's mansion 

3. This is where actor Kinh Quốc resides whenever he is town to shoot a feature film or television series.  The actor had purchased this 4-story home located in the 6th district of Ho Chi Minh City after he had shot to national fame with his portrayal of Sáu Miều in the critically acclaimed television mini-series, Đất Phương Nam (1997).  In addition to this house, Kinh Quốc and his wife also own a mansion in the beach resort town of Vũng Tàu.

Home of Actor Kinh Quốc

Living Room Inside Home of Actor Kinh Quốc

Kitchen Inside Home of Kinh Quốc

4. Purple seems to be the favorite color of comedian Hồng Tơ.  He and his current wife call this purple house located in Bình Chánh district of Ho Chi Minh City.  The exterior along with the interior are all in the color of purple.

5.  Former beauty queen-turned-television show hostess Thu Hương and her husband are owners of this fabulous mansion located on the 9th district of Ho Chi Minh City built in the traditional Vietnamese architecture.  

Thu Hương's Mansion in Ho Chi Minh City

Interior of Thu Hương's Mansion in Ho Chi Minh City

Link(s):

• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 1.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 2.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 3.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 4.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 5a.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 5b.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 6a.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 6b.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 7a.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 8a.

Anh Ngoc

Anh Ngọc (1925-    ) is a legendary Vietnamese pop male vocalist.

Originally from Hanoi, he was brought up in a family consisting of 9 children.  He had been given the full name, Từ Ngọc Toản, at birth.  His younger brother was the late singer Từ Ngọc Long.

In 1947, Anh Ngọc relocated to the imperial city of Huế where he worked as a singer for the local radio station for nearly two years at the personal invitation from singer Minh Trang.  In 1949,  Anh Ngọc relocated to Saigon and began working for Đài Phát Thanh Pháp Á (French Radio Broadcasting Network - Asia) as host and performer. This would be followed by stints at other radio broadcasting network programs based in Saigon such as Đài Phát Thanh Sài Gòn, Đài Mẹ Việt Nam, Đài Tiếng Nói Tự Do and Đài Truyền Hình Việt Nam.  His longest tenure was as host and performer on the radio program, Tiếng Nhạc Tâm Tình, from 1960 until the Fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975 where he had worked with the likes of famous Vietnamese singers such as Thái Thanh, Kim Tước, Mai Hương and Hà Thanh.

Anh Ngọc (left) and Musician Nhật Bằng (right) in 1965

Unlike many of his colleagues, Anh Ngọc remained in Vietnam after the Fall of Saigon for many years.  Finally, in 1990 Anh Ngọc left his native homeland to resettle in the United States.  During the first three years in the United States, Anh Ngọc lived in Orange County, California.  Since 1993, Anh Ngọc has taken up residence in Burke, Virginia.  He has since performed occasionally on live shows for Vietnamese audiences in various cities across the United States and Canada, but has refused all offers to take part on any audio recordings or music video appearances since the Fall of Saigon.

Prior to 1975, Anh Ngọc had been one of the most successful male recording artists in Saigon.  He had recorded for various record labels such as Continental, Việt Nam and Tâm Anh Nghệ Thuật.  Among his most popular recorded songs include Tà Áo Xanh (written by Đoàn Chuẩn), Kỷ Vật Cho Em (written by Phạm Duy), Biệt Ly (written by Dzoãn Mẫn) and Em Đến Thăm Anh Một Chiều Mưa (written by Tô Vũ).

Ngoc Hue

Ngọc Huệ (1968-    ) is a famous overseas Vietnamese singer.

From early on, Ngọc Huệ had taken a keen interest in performing arts.  While growing up in Saigon, she had already studied ballet and acting prior to reaching her teenage years.  From 1977 until 1979, Ngọc Huệ had taken voice lessons at Quốc Gia Âm Nhạc, University of Ho Chi Minh City, School of Fine Arts.  In 1981, she resettled in Sydney, Australia.  While in Australia, Ngọc Huệ began her career as a professional overseas Vietnamese singer.  In 1990, Ngọc Huệ resettled in the United States and began recording for such labels like New Castle Entertainment, Diễm Xưa, Hải Âu, Tektronic, Mai Productions and Thúy Nga.   In just one year, she was voted by Hồn Việt Magazine as "Giọng Ca Mới Của Năm 90" (New Singer of the Year in 1990).  She even formed her own production label called Fame Productions in the 1990s.  Ngọc Huệ has recorded duet albums with Anh Tú, Kỳ Anh, Don Hồ and Nhật Trường.

In 1992, Ngọc Huệ made her debut appearance on Thúy Nga's Paris By Night video series on volume 16 with a solo performance of Prisoner (written by Alan Nguyễn) along with a duet performance with Don Hồ of the song, Hạnh Phúc Trong Tim.  Throughout the 1990s, Ngọc Huệ was invited back on the Paris By Night video series on several occasions performing in duets with Don Hồ and Thái Tài.  Her last appearance to date on the series was on volume 55 in 2000 with a solo performance of the song, Thu Vàng Trên Lói (written by Khúc Lan).

Ngọc Huệ has performed live in concerts for Vietnamese audiences all over the United States, Canada, Europe including Russia, Australia and Vietnam. 

Link(s):

Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time

External Link(s):

NgocHue.com