Tuy Phuong

Tuy Phuong (1939-2001) was a singer and actress of South Vietnam prior to 1975.  During the early 1960s, she was among the most famous singers at cabarets in Saigon.  A multilingual songstress, Tuy Phuong was known as Vietnam's queen of the twist for her interpretations of popular songs in this music genre and abilities as a talented dancer.  Her mother was the legendary film actress and singer Tuy Hoa.

Born in Bac Lieu, South Vietnam in 1939, Tuy Phuong and her mother moved to Phnom Penh, Cambodia when she was six years old in 1945.  As a single mother, Tuy Hoa, worked as a singer for the Tony Murena band at the Rex cabaret in Phnom Penh for several years before returning to Vietnam.  She began her career as a stage actress at the age of 15 under the guidance of her mother.  Tuy Phuong acted alongside such famous actors like Kim Cuong, Tham Thuy Hang, Ngoc Duc and her mother, Tuy Hoa, in various plays like Tra Hoa Nu, Nguoi Me Toi Loi, Dua Con Chi Bep, Yeu Trong Bong Toi and Ao Anh.  

At the age of 17, Tuy Phuong entered and won first prize in the beauty pageant sponsored by Dong Duong Film Studio.  A prominent film career would immediately follow.  Taken under the wings of actress, Bich Thuan, Tuy Phuong starred in a series of films which included Tinh Que Y Nhac, Thach Sanh Ly Thong, Manh Luc Dong Tien, Bich Cau Ky Ngo and Anh Sang Do Thanh, a joint venture film production between Vietnam and the Philippines.

In 1959, Tuy Phuong embarked on her music career.  Together with musicians Tung Lam and Tung Giang, she formed a trio known as Muon Phuong.  Tuy Phuong would become one of the major headliners at Hoa Binh venue in Saigon in the 1960s.  Among her signature songs included Mambo Italiano, Suong Thu written by Van Phung and Xin Le Cuoi Em written by Thong Dat.  Although Tuy Phuong had possessed a well trained singing voice, her audience seemed to pay more attention to her beauty rather than her singing talents.

After 1975, Tuy Phuong continued with her career as a performer appearing in numerous comedy sketches for the Tan Dan Nam acting troupe.  She returned as a musical performer at the reopening of the Hoa Binh venue in Ho Chi Minh City becoming one of the first among the showcase of regular performers there alongside Cam Van, Bao Yen and Nha Phuong during the 1980s.  After the passing of her mother in 1995, Tuy Phuong rarely made any public appearances and retired as a live performer.

On November 13, 2001, Tuy Phuong passed away after a long battle with cancer.  She left behind a husband of over 30 years.  Tuy Phuong had no children.

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50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time