Kim Cuong

Kim Cuong (1937-     ) has often been accredited as the best actress of Vietnam of all time.  Although this legendary stage and film actress of Vietnam has not officially been given this coveted recognition, to many film and stage critics, as well as the general audience of Vietnamese stage and cinema Kim Cuong has been hailed as such with an acting career that has spanned nearly 3/4 of a century.  Born in Saigon, Kim Cuong comes from a long lineage of accomplished performers in dramatic and theatrical arts.  Her father is legendary theater producer, Nguyen Phuoc Cuong, and her mother is legendary stage actress, Bay Nam.  Kim Cuong's older brother is famous comedic actor, Ngoc Trai.

It can be said that Kim Cuong has always been an actress throughout her entire life and that an acting career had already been decided for her from childbirth.  Born as Nguyen Thi Kim Cuong on January 25, 1937 in the imperial city of Hue, only 10 days old she appeared on stage in a play starring her mother as Quan Am Thi Kinh's newly born infant.  Her first major speaking role would come about while Kim Cuong was still a young child in a play written by her mother, Na Tra Loc Thit, portraying Na Tra as a child during the beginning of its storyline.  Kim Cuong spent her childhood, adolescence and years growing up into adulthood working and travelling with her family all over Vietnam performing at playhouse theaters.  By the time Kim Cuong was an adult, she was already naturally poised for superstardom since she had already been a household name virtually all her life.  During her early teen years, Kim Cuong and her mother, Bay Nam, would find their niche as audiences highly embraced their performances portraying heartfelt, dramatic mother-and-daughter scenarios  on stage.  Tear-drenched audiences were enamored by the natural chemistry that Bay Nam and her young daughter were able to display with each of their performances.

She has also been recognized for her tremendous accomplishments as a playwright.  The national literature department of Vietnam had named Kim Cuong, who had chosen to be credited as Hoang Dung as a scriptwriter with a long and extensive list of scripts made for theater productions, as the most prolific Vietnamese playwright in the history of Vietnamese live theater.  Among her most famous plays she had written and also had starred in include Duoi Hai Mau Ao, Tra Hoa Nu, Toi Lam Me, Bong Hong Cai Ao, Vuc Tham Chieu Cao and La Sau Rieng, which has been considered by many to be her best work and signature performance.  Bay Nam would also be involved on these productions written by her daughter, as she would portray the role of the mother.

Kim Cuong photographed with legendary
 Hong Kong cinema actress Li Li Hua (1956)

In addition to the stage, Kim Cuong also starred in many successful feature films produced in South Vietnam prior to 1975 such as Long Nhan Dao (1955) with Tran Van Trach, Ngoc Bo De (1956), Doi Mat Huyen (1960), Be Bang (1961) with La Thoai Tan, Mua Rung (1962), Loan Mat Nhung (1970), Chiec Bong Ben Duong (1973) with Thanh Duoc, Tu Quai Sai Gon (1973) and Dat Kho (1974).  Kim Cuong along with Tham Thuy Hang, Kieu Chinh and Thanh Nga were considered as cinema of South Vietnam's top lead actresses, as these four ladies dominated the big screen throughout the 1960s up until the Fall of Saigon in 1975.  Like Kieu Chinh and Tham Thuy Hang, in the early 1970s Kim Cuong had also formed her own successful film production company that had produced several of her feature films like Bien Dong (1971), Mua Trong Binh Minh (1972) and Mot Thoang Dam Me (1973) prior to 1975 which employed an impressive cast of major players in Saigon cinema such as La Thoai Tan, Thanh Thuy and Bach Tuyet.

Tham Thuy Hang and Kim Cuong, 
the Queens of Saigon Cinema Prior to 1975

After the Fall of Saigon, Kim Cuong's acting career continued without any interruptions on the stage as well as in feature films.  For a number of years, Kim Cuong relocated to Bulgaria to study film directing.  Several of her plays have since been made into movies available on video rentals in the 1990s such as Tra Hoa Nu and La Sau Rieng.  In recent years, Kim Cuong had made the headlines when she had threatened to sue Thuy Nga Paris, a Vietnamese-American production company, for copyright infringement and unauthorized usage of her play, La Sau Rieng.  However, after receiving a personal apology letter from singer and stage actress, Huong Lan, Kim Cuong publicly announced that she had dropped the lawsuit.

Kim Cuong is now retired from the stage and films.  She lives in Ho Chi Minh City.  In her personal life, Kim Cuong was once married briefly during the early 1970s.  Although the marriage ended in divorce after only a few years, it did produce her only child, a son born in 1974 who is now married with a family of his own.  These days, when Kim Cuong is not busy with her humanitarian efforts volunteering for various charity organizations she spends her time as a proud grandmother to three young boys.

Singer Khanh Ly and Kim Cuong
at the Vòng Tay Nhân Ái charity benefit in Ho Chi Minh City (March, 2016)

Upcoming Featured Viet Celebs

Bach Tuyet - Stage and Film Actress

Thanh Tuyen - Singer

Viet Celebs of Saigon Pre' 75:

Phung Ha - Stage Actress

La Thoai Tan - Film Actor

Elvis Phuong - Singer

Kim Cuong - Stage and Film Actress


Overseas Vietnamese Celebs Since 1975:

Lam Nhat Tien - Singer

Ai Van - Singer

Shayla - Singer

Minh Tuyet - Singer

Duc Huy - Singer/ Songwriter

Manh Quynh - Singer

Phi Nhung - Singer

Thanh Ha - Singer



International Celebrities of Vietnamese Descent:  

Tila Tequila - MySpace Celebrity and Former MTV Personality

Anh Duong - Model, Actress and Painter

Cuong Vu - Grammy Award Winning Jazz Musician

Leyna Nguyen - TV News Anchorwoman

Bebe Hong Suong - Belgian Singer

Jane March - Film Actress

Tran Anh Hung - Film Director


Celebrities of Present Day Vietnam:

Tang Thanh Ha - Film Actress

Thanh Lam - Singer

Vu Linh - Stage Actor

Hong Nhung - Singer

Ngo Thanh Van - Singer/Actress

My Tam - Singer

Dan Truong

Dan Truong (1976-     ) is a famous Vietnamese male singer.  Born in Ho Chi Minh City as the eldest of four children, Dan Truong first rose to prominence in 1996 with his interpretation of the song, Gui Nguoi Toi Yeu.  With the support of show promoter, Le Hoang Tuan, Dan Truong was able to pursue a full-time career as a pop music singer since 1997.  He has since recorded a total of over 30 compact discs of Vietnamese popular music.  Often paired with singer Cam Ly, Dan Truong has become one of the most successful recording artists in Vietnam.

Since 2013, Dan Truong has been married to Windy Thuy Tien Trinh, a successful Vietnamese-American businesswoman based out of San Jose, California.  He has toured all over Vietnam, as well as Europe, North America and Australia.

In addition to his music career, Dan Truong has also found success as an actor.  Dan Truong has starred in several comedy movies such as Vua Hoa Co (2000), Hoang Tu Chan Lon (2001), both of which costarred Minh Nhi and Hong Van, and Vo Lam Truyen Ky (2007), which featured an all-star cast that included Chi Bao, Hoai Linh, Ngoc Giau, Bao Quoc, Cat Phuong, Vu Thu Phuong and Thanh Thao.  

Link(s):

• Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 3
• Dan Truong's Official Website

Che Linh

Che Linh (1942-     ) is a famous singer from Vietnam.  Born in Ninh Thuan, Central Vietnam, Che Linh began his career when he relocated to Saigon in 1959.  Che Linh gained further national popularity with his duets alongside singer, Thanh Tuyen.  Among his most popular songs include Bai Ca Ky Niem, Dem Buon Tinh Le, Doan Tai But, Xin Lam Nguoi Xa La, Mai Lo Minh Xa Nhau, Doan Cuoi Tinh Yeu and Neu Chung Minh Cach Tro.  

Since 1980, Che Linh has made his home in Toronto, Canada.  He continues to tour the world performing for overseas Vietnamese audiences.  Che Linh is one of the most popular performers on the Paris By Night stage.  He is of an ethnic minority descent of Vietnam.

Link(s):

Che Linh Official Website
Che Linh Facebook Fan Page

My Linh

My Linh (1975-     ) is one of the four divas of Vietnamese pop music together with Thanh Lam, Hong Nhung, and Tran Thu Ha.  Born in Hanoi, My Linh is the second eldest of three children.

My Linh first rose to prominence with her hit songs Thi Tham Mua Xuan, Chi Toi and Tren Dinh Phu Vang in 1996.  Since then, My Linh has traveled all around the world performing for overseas Vietnamese audiences.  Among the countries she has performed in include Japan, the United States, France, Germany, Australia and Canada.

Since 1998, My Linh has been married to musician Anh Quan.  Together the couple are proud parents of two children, a son and a daughter.

Among her most popular recorded studio albums include Xin Mat Troi Ngu Yen (1996), Mua Thu Khong Tro Lai (1998), Chieu Xuan (1998), Trai Tim Khong Ngu Yen (1998) with Bang Kieu, Toc Ngan (2000), Van Mai Mong Cho (2002), Made in Vietnam (2003), Chat Voi Mozart (2005), De Tinh Yeu Hat (2006), Loi Cua Gio (2008) and Mot Ngay (2011). 

Link(s):

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 1 

Kieu Chinh

Kieu Chinh (1939-     ) is a Vietnamese-American actress who started her career in Saigon with her debut film, Hoi Chuong Thien Mu (The Bells of Thien Mu Temple) (1957).  She would go on to star in over 30 films while in South Vietnam.  Born in Hanoi, the eldest of two daughters, Kieu Chinh resettled in Saigon in 1954.  While in Vietnam, Kieu Chinh had set up her own film production company, which had produced her most popular Vietnamese film, Nguoi Tinh Khong Chan Dung (Faceless Lover) (1971).  Among the leading men in her Vietnamese films have included Le Quynh, Hung Cuong, Thanh Duoc and Tran Quang.  She had also starred in A Yank in Vietnam (1964) and Operation C.I.A. (1965), opposite Burt Reynolds.  For many years, Kieu Chinh had also hosted a television program in Vietnam where she conducted where she conducted interviews of popular international film actors and actresses.

Chiec Bong Ben Duong (1973)
(from left to right) starring Thanh Duoc, Kieu Chinh and Kim Cuong

In 1975, while on set in Singapore to shoot a movie, Kieu Chinh's world came to a shattering halt as the North Vietnamese conquered South Vietnam.  She resettled in the United States and two years later resumed her acting career with an appearance on an episode of MASH in 1977.  Kieu Chinh has since landed roles in such films as Hamburger Hill (1987), Riot (1997), Catfish in Black Bean Sauce (1999), Face (2002), and her most popular role as Suyuan in The Joy Luck Club (1993), a film based on Amy Tan's novel of the same name and also starred another legendary film actress of Vietnamese descent, France Nuyen.  From 1989 until 1991, Kieu Chinh had a recurring role as Trieu An on China Beach.

Kieu Chinh won an Emmy for her work on Kieu Chinh:  A Journey Home (1996) on KTTV.  Together with journalist Terry Anderson, she co-founded Vietnam's Children Fund, which has built schools in Vietnam attended by over 12,000 students.

She was formerly married to actor Nguyen Nang Te.  In 1980, the couple divorced after 25 years of marriage which had produced three children.  Kieu Chinh resides in Huntington Beach, California.  

Link(s):

Kieu Chinh Facebook Page
Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time

Nguyễn Chánh Tín

Nguyễn Chánh Tín (1952-2020) was a famous Vietnamese film actor and pop music singer. 

Born into a well to do family in the provincial town of Bạc Liêu located in the Mekong Delta of South Vietnam, he was the youngest of five children.  From an early age, Nguyễn Chánh Tín had clearly shown signs with his God given talents that he was destined for a career in the performing arts.  A self taught singer, he was often chosen to perform solo at various school events.  Unlike most of his peers, Nguyễn Chánh Tín did not have any bouts of stagefright growing up and relished at performing in front of an audience as it gave him comfort along with gratification.  His active participation in school theater productions and music programs led him to joining a local pop band while he was still in high school.  After graduating from Mạc Đĩnh Chi High School, Nguyễn Chánh Tín enrolled at the University of Saigon as a biology student.  However, during his sophomore year at college his life changed drastically as he had become an established professional pop singer performing for various major nightclubs in Saigon and recording for Nhạc Trẻ and Shotguns record labels . In 1974, Nguyễn Chánh Tín costarred with Băng Châu in the film, Vĩnh Biệt Tình Hè (Goodbye, Summer Love).  He had also recorded the theme song by the same name written by Huyền Anh which had become as big of a success as the film.  

After the Fall of Saigon, Nguyễn Chánh Tín found himself in a similar situation with a lot of other stars of South Vietnam.  Prior to 1975, he had owned a mansion, a car and lived a life of luxury.  With the new communist regime that had taken over in Saigon, Nguyễn Chánh Tín had to start all over. He began performing for the theater troupe headed by Thẩm Thúy Hằng.  In the early 1980s, he unsuccessfully attempted to defect from Vietnam by boat.  After spending time in prison, he was casted in the hugely popular mini-series, Ván Bài Lật Ngửa (1982) costarring with Thanh Lan.  In 1992, Nguyễn Chánh Tín starred in and wrote the screenplay for the horror film, Ngôi Nhà Oan Khốc, which had costarred Việt Trinh, Lý Hùng, Hồng Vân and Tú Trinh.  The film went on to proft over a billion Vietnamese dong.  In 1995, Nguyễn Chánh Tín along with nephew, filmmaker Charlie Nguyen, opened Cinema Pictures in Southern California.  By 2005, the company had changed its name to Chánh Phương Films.

In 2007, his film production company, Cinema Pictures AKA Chánh Phương Films released Dòng Máu Anh Hùng (The Rebel), directed by his nephew, Charlie Nguyen, in which he costarred with his other nephews, Johnny Trí Nguyễn and popular Vietnamese-American actor Dustin Nguyen from 21 Jump Street fame, along with actress Ngô Thanh Vân.  The film's total production cost exceeded $1.6 million USD.  Despite good reviews and high expectations, the film plummeted at the box office and resulted in a major financial loss for Nguyễn Chánh Tín. As a result, Nguyễn Chánh Tín ended up having to sell his mansion located in the 10th district of Ho Chi Minh City.  During his final years, he along with his wife, singer Bích Trâm, were forced to live in a rented modest home in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Married to singer Bích Trâm since 1974, the couple were proud parents to a grown son and grown daughter.  Due to his image as a heartthrob, Nguyễn Chánh Tín had been rumored to have participated in many extra marital affairs with both men and women during his marriage.  Aside from his famous nephews, filmmaker Charlie Nguyen, actors Johnny Trí Nguyễn and Dustin Nguyen, he had one other famous nephew, comedian Vân Sơn, who was also the owner of Vân Sơn Entertainment.  Nguyễn Chánh Tín passed away on January 4, 2020 following a stroke.  

Link(s):

20 Most Handsome Vietnamese Men of All Time

Cam Tien

Cam Tien (1970-     ) is among the most popular actresses of the Southern Vietnamese opera stage known as Cai Luong.  Born in Saigon to working class parents, Cam Tien grew up in Tay Ninh with dreams of one day becoming a teacher although she had acquired a deep appreciation of Cai Luong along with the traditional genre of singing in Vietnamese opera known as Vong Co from a very young age.  However, prior to reaching the tender age of 20 Cam Tien would trade in such dreams of attaining a teaching career when she was discovered by Cai Luong veteran performer Chau Thanh and Vietnamese opera playwright Dang Minh, who had both encouraged her to pursue the Cai Luong stage as an actress.  Right after her graduation from high school, Cam Tien relocated to Ho Chi Minh City with plans to attend her first year at the University of Ho Chi Minh City but was then recruited by the Trung Hieu Theater Company where she would officially make her professional debut as Lien, the role of the protagonist's mistress in the play, Song Gio Cuoc Doi (Stormy Life), written by renowned playwright, Vien Hung.  The play went on a successful national tour in Vietnam, as its cast members enjoyed performing to packed houses at various major cities in all three regions of the country.  In particular, Cam Tien's performance was widely acclaimed as audiences immediately took notice of her unique style of singing, beauty and striking stage presence.  Although only a supporting role, Cam Lien's portrayal of Lien has been considered to be the initial vehicle that had turned her into a star.

The success Cam Tien had enjoyed with the role of Lien, the mistress in Song Gio Cuoc Doi would then lead the way for a string of other similar theater roles for the young actress.  She would duplicate that level of success with her portrayals of characters such as Huong in Vu An Ma Nguu and Dung in Dong Tien Dam Mau.  After just six months with Trung Hieu Theater Company, Cam Tien rose to become the lead actress alongside fellow actor, Duc Tai, upon the sudden departures Chau Thanh and Phuong Hang, the theater company's previous lead actor and actress pair.  Cam Tien would successfully defy the odds shocking skeptics as Trung Hieu Theater Company would enjoy continued sold out productions with her being billed as their leading lady.  Despite Cam Tien's accomplishments as lead actress, her salary from Trung Hieu Theater Company had remained unchanged and was only equivalent to that typically of an understudy.  After several unsuccessful attempts to renegotiate her salary with the owners of Trung Hieu, Cam Tien decided to leave the company and joined Thanh Tu - Trang Bich Lieu Theater Company where she would achieve further success in the play production of Lam Sanh Xuan Nuong.  Another successful brief collaboration would follow for Cam Tien in the year of 1989 when she was approached by Cai Luong promoter He Sa of Hoa Hong Theater Company inviting her to fulfill the coveted position of lead actress in popular productions like 17 Nam Truong Han and Kiem Si Doi.  It was then that legendary Cai Luong promoter Phi Bang would realize Cam Tien's tremendous potential as a headliner lead actress and personally invited her to collaborate with Kim Thanh, one of Vietnam's most prolific Cai Luong theater production companies which boasts an impressive long list of iconic, superstar performers such as Ut Bach Lan, Ngan Vuong and Thai Binh.  During Cam Tien's stint at Kim Thanh, she managed to achieve further success gracing the Cai Luong stages with her memorable performances in Nguoi Dien Tren Song Lanh, Nhat Kiem Ba Vuong and Co Xe Doc Ma.  Cam Tien had then established herself as one of the most highly regarded and in demand actresses of the Cai Luong stage.

In 1990, Cam Tien joined Song Hau Theater Company as their lead actress where she would land a string of lead roles in plays like Cong Chua Toc Vang, Duong Guom Nguyen Ba and Lan va Diep, the immensely popular classic play often deemed as the Vietnamese equivalent to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliette.  When she finally made it to becoming the lead actress for Thanh Nga Theater Company, a dream shared by virtually all Cai Luong peformers, Cam Tien would be paired up with Vuong Canh as her leading man.  Thanh Nga Theater Company indeed had found a winning combination with the two as they would become one of the most popular and sought after couples on the Cai Luong stage throughout the early 1990s.  Together, the pair would share equal billings as headliner performers in Hoang Tu Mat Nam and Duyen Chi Tinh Em.  Cam Tien and Vuong Canh would go on to headline for Tai Nang Playhouse Theater in Ho Chi Minh City.

At the height of her popularity, Cam Tien decided to set her sights on her personal life and got married in 1992 to an American citizen of Vietnamese origin who was divorced from a previous marriage and a father of two children.  For a brief time, Cam Tien relocated to the United States to live with her husband.  Unfortunately, her first marriage was short lived as the couple divorced just two years after their wedding.  Cam Tien has since remarried.  This time, to a Canadian citizen of Vietnamese origin, businessman Lam Duc.  The couple currently make their home in Ho Chi Minh City where Lam Duc operates a successful business in the tourism sector of Vietnam.  Cam Tien is now a stepmother to Lam Duc's son from a previous marriage and the two of them have a daughter together, Kim Tien, born in 2002.

Cam Tien has recorded audio soundtracks of numerous cai luong productions such as Mua Rung with Kim Tu Long, Dat Phuong Nam with Minh Canh and Tu Do Em Buon with Minh Vuong, Chau Thanh and Diep Lang.

Link(s):

Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time

Nhu Quynh (Singer)

For the actress, see Nhu Quynh (Actress).

Nhu Quynh (1970-     ) is a popular overseas Vietnamese singer.  Nhu Quynh was born in Hue, Central Vietnam as the eldest of three children, but grew up primarily in Ho Chi Minh City.  In 1991, she entered a national talent contest sponsored by Truyen Hinh Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh (Ho Chi Minh Television Network) and came in first place with the highest marks.  Prior to resettling in the United States in 1993 with her family, she had already embarked in her singing career performing at venues in Ho Chi Minh City and was then known as Quynh Nhu.

Nhu Quynh performing Nguoi Tinh Mua Dong
 on Asia Entertainment's live show video series

After less than a year resettling in Philadelphia, Nhu Quynh was approached by Thy Van and Truc Ho from Asia Entertainment with an exclusive contract offer and relocated to Southern California.  After a few recorded tracks for Asia Productions, Nhu Quynh made a few music video appearances for the label.  Immediately, audiences gravitated to her sweet singing voice as well as her physical attributes on Asia Productions' music video series.  Two songs that would introduce Nhu Quynh onto the spotlight would also become her two signature songs throughout her singing career.  The first of these two songs was Nguoi Tinh Mua Dong which appealed to a younger audience and generated many new fans for Nhu Quynh.  The other, Chuyen Hoa Sim, appealed to a massive worldwide audience of Vietnamese music lovers and turned her into a superstar.

A little over two years recording for Asia Productions, Nhu Quynh requested to be released out of her contract that would involve in a much publicized legal battle.  Nhu Quynh would end up winning her case against Asia Productions and was allowed to be released from the production label.  Nhu Quynh then formed her own music production label, NQ Records, in 1996 and began recording and appearing on music videos for Thuy Nga Paris.  For the next decade, Nhu Quynh would record 10 solo studio albums for the Thuy Nga Paris label.  

In 2007, Nhu Quynh made a return to Asia Productions and remained with the label for more than two years.  In 2009, Nhu Quynh left Asia Productions and resumed professional collaborations with Thuy Nga Paris.  Her last solo studio album, La Giuong, was released in the spring of 2011 and was produced by her own music production label, Nhu Quynh Entertainment, in association with Thuy Nga Paris.  She has also recorded duets with many other artists including Truong Vu, Manh Quynh, The Son, Manh Dinh and Quang Le.  

Nhu Quynh became a mother to a baby girl, Melody Dong Nghi, in the year of 2007.  Prior to giving birth, she had kept her pregnancy along with her marriage to husband, Nguyen Thang, a secret from the general public which had sparked a bit of controversy for the singer.

Link(s):

50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time
Nhu Quynh on Facebook