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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Hoa Mi

Hoa Mi (1955-    ) is a famous Vietnamese singer.

Born and raised in Saigon, as a child Hoa Mi had not aspired to one day become a professional singer, but instead had dreams of becoming a doctor.  But since she had been blessed with perfect pitch and also had a love for music, she began singing professionally at the age of 15.  While she was still a senior at Gia Long High School in Saigon, she was accepted into the prestigious Saigon National Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.  When she first started singing professionally, she had gone by the professional stage name of Truong My based on her name given at birth, Truong Thi My.   At her first nightclub performance at Maxim's in Saigon in 1973, Hoang Thi Tho, the legendary musician and show promoter who was also her teacher, decided to introduce her on stage as singer Hoa Mi.  From then on, Hoa Mi became her professional stage name.  In 1974, she graduated from the Saigon National Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts.  Hoa Mi appeared on an album comprised of various artists, Hoang Thi Tho 3:  Dua Em Qua Canh Dong Vang, in duets with Nhat Truong and Bui Thien.  A duet studio album with another of Hoang Thi Tho's students, singer Son Ca, had been planned.  However, due the Fall of Saigon in 1975, plans for the album were cancelled.


Hoa Mi as a young teenager

Họa Mi at Age 19
(Saigon - 1974)
After 1975, Hoa Mi decided to put her singing career on hold to study law.  That is until she was recruited by legendary show promoter Ngoc Chanh to join the Kim Cuong Singing Troupe along with Son Ca, Thai Chau, Le Thu, Thanh TuyenThanh Phong and Phuong Dai which toured extensively all over Vietnam.  In 1988, while on tour in France with a group of other performers from Vietnam including singer Hong Van, Hoa Mi defected leaving behind her blind husband and three children.  She was granted political asylum by the French government and took up residence in Paris where she signed with Thuy Nga as an exclusive recording artist.  Thuy Nga released two solo studio albums recorded by Hoa Mi that same year, Em Di Roi and Tinh Sau.  The title track of her first solo studio album was a well received autobiographical song she had written together with composer Lam Phuong.  Two years later, Hoa Mi was reunited with her husband and children in Paris, France.  Unfortunately, her marriage would end in divorce shortly thereafter due to her husband's decision to return to Vietnam.  For many years, Hoa Mi was left with the challenges of juggling a singing career and being a single mother to three children before before she remarried to a French national of Vietnamese origin in the late 1990s.


In the 1990s, Hoa Mi recorded two more solo studio albums for Thuy Nga, Nghin Trung Xa Cach (1991) and Bong Chieu Xua (1997).  She had also recorded two duet studio albums with other artists for the Thuy Nga label, Em Den Tham Anh Dem 30 (1992) with singer Anh Khoa and Pho Chieu (1992) with singer Y Lan.  In 1992, Hoa Mi toured the United States for the first time and recorded three solo studio albums for Lang Van, Tinh Ca Nong Tham, Em Con Nho Hay Em Da Quen and Hoa Mi Voi Nhung Tinh Khuc Hoang Thi Tho.  She had also become one of the top performers on the Paris By Night live show music video series.  Among her most popular songs performed on Paris By Night include Toc May written by Pham The My, Noi Niem written by Tuan Khanh, Da Khuc (Serenade) written by Pham Duy, Ta Tinh written by Hoang Thi Tho and Suoi Le Xanh written by Pham Manh Cuong.

After an absence of more than a decade, in 2009 Hoa Mi recorded three solo studio albums during a return trip to Vietnam.  All three albums, Mot Thoi Yeu Nhau, Thu Tinh Khong Gui and Trom Nhin Nhau were released by Phuong Nam Film that same year.  In 2010, Hoa Mi worked with her former husband, saxophonist Le Tan Quoc, on her album, Hoa Mi - Le Tan Quoc:  Tuyet Pham Ghi Dau Su Tai Hop Nghe Thuat - Mot Mai Em Di, released by Saigon Vafaco.

Link(s):

Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time

Tuesday, March 22, 2016

Thanh Truc

Thanh Truc (1971-    ) is a famous overseas Vietnamese singer.

Born as Nguyen Thu Hang on October 9, 1971 in La Gi Binh Tuy, South Vietnam, she grew up as the 7th eldest in a family of 10 children.  Thanh Truc and her family left Vietnam in 1975 to begin a new life in the United States.  The family first resettled in New Orleans, Louisiana and remained there for 5 years.  Since 1980, Thanh Truc and her family have made Southern California their permanent home.

In 1996, Thanh Truc signed with Asia Entertainment and made her debut music video appearance on volume 11 of the popular live show series.  She has since become known as one of the most beautiful female singers to have ever graced the Asia Entertainment live show stage.  Thanh Truc has appeared on many ensembles for Asia Entertainment alongside other artists such as Nhu Quynh, Shayla, Diep Thanh Thanh, Ha Thanh Xuan, Kristine Sa and Gia Huy.  Among her most popular songs performed on Asia Entertainment's video series include Cho Mong Anh written by Truc Ho, Noi Sau written by Julie Quang, Tinh Khuc Chieu Mua written by Nguyen Anh 9, Tinh Dep Xot Xa written by Anh Bang, Chang La Ai? written by Nguyen Huu Thiet and a Thanh Lan classic, Trung Vuong Khung Cua Mua Thu (Tell Laura I Love Her) written by Nam Loc.  Her last appearance to date on video for Asia Entertainment was an ensemble performance together with Lam Thuy Van and singer/songwriter Trinh Nam Son filmed on December of 2014.

Thanh Truc has been married to musician/singer Vu Tuan Duc since 2005.

Link(s):

Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time

Monday, March 21, 2016

Thien Trang

Thiên Trang (1953-    ) is a famous Vietnamese singer and former actress of Saigon cinema.

While still a teenager, Thiên Trang had achieved stardom back in her native South Vietnam as both a film actress and singer.  At the age of 17, she was cast in two Vietnamese feature films, Điệu Ru Nước Mắt (1970) starring Hùng Cường and her most famous role in Loan Mắt Nhung (1970) starring Thanh Nga, Ngoc Duc, Ngoc Phu and Kim Xuan.  Although the film was intended as a starring vehicle for lead actress Thanh Nga, it was Thiên Trang's fresh debut performance that ended up receiving the most attention from viewer audiences.  The popularity spawned from her portrayal in Loan Mắt Nhung would lead Thiên Trang to recording the movie's eponymous theme song written by Huynh Anh.  As a recording artist, she had collaborated with various record labels while in South Vietnam prior to 1975 such as Du Am, Thuong Ca and Song Nhac.  Among her other popular recorded songs during this period include Chien Si Hanh written by Hoang Thi Tho, Sa Nguon written by Tam Anh and Pham Ma Hong written by Hoai Nam.


For more than a decade after the Fall of Saigon, Thiên Trang had chosen to remain out of the spotlight.  She had settled into married life in the United States and became a mother of three children.  In 1987, Thiên Trang came out of hiatus and resumed her music career with the release of Tiếng Hát Thiên Trang, her first solo studio album produced by Asia Entertainment.  The success from her debut studio album then led her to numerous collaborations with other major overseas Vietnamese music production labels like Phuong HoangDoi Magazine, Giang Ngoc and Lang Van.  Among her most well received audio recordings of songs during the late 1980s well into the 1990s included Ngay Em 20 Tuoi written by Pham Duy, Mua Tren Pho Hue written by Minh Ky, Tango Di Vang written by Anh Bang, Hoa No Ve Dem written by Nhat Truong and Noi Buon Hoa Phuong written by Thanh Son.  Thiên Trang had also recorded several duet albums with other artists such as Phuong Dung, Tuan Vu and Che Linh.  She has performed at live shows for overseas Vietnamese audiences all over the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.

Thiên Trang was one of the first overseas Vietnamese singers to become superstars through appearances in music videos.  She has appeared on music videos produced by Thuy Anh, Diem Quynh, Thuy Nga Paris and Asia Entertainment.   On the Paris By Night stage, Thiên Trang had performed a solo of Ai Cho Toi Tinh Yeu written by Truc Phuong and in a duet with singer Anh Khoa of Ai Buon Hon Ai written by Hoang Thi Tho.  In 1991, Asia Entertainment released Tinh La Giac Mo, a solo videotape starring Thiên Trang which consisted of five music videos of songs she had previously recorded for the label.  Two years later, she was invited back by Asia Entertainment to appear on Asia 2:  Dem Saigon where she performed Mua Rung written by Huynh Anh.  Her last appearance to date was on volume 72 of Asia Entertainment's live show series in a medley of Huynh Anh-penned songs together with Huy Sinh and Ngoc Dan Thanh filmed at the Pechanga Resort and Casino on May of 2014.  Although in recent years Thiên Trang has slowed down considerably in her music career, she still continues to perform occasionally at live concert shows and has not publicly announced any plans of retirement.


Link(s):

Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Another 20 Viet Celebs to Be Featured

Continuing with our tributes and bios of Viet Celebs, here are the next 20 to be featured.

Viet Celebs of Pre-'75 Saigon:


Thien Trang:  Film Actress and Singer
Hong Nga:  Cai Luong Folk Opera Stage Actress and Comedienne

Ut Tra On:  Cai Luong Folk Opera Stage Actor

Mai Huong:  Singer
Anh Khoa:  Singer


Overseas Viet Celebs Since 1975:
Thanh Truc:  Singer

Hoa Mi:  Singer
Cat Tien:  Singer



















Quang Binh and Hong Dao:  Husband and Wife Comedic Actors



International Celebrities of Vietnamese Descent:

Audrey Giacomini:  Cinema of France Eurasian Actress of French-Vietnamese Descent
Quan Yeomans: Vietnamese-Australian Rock Musician, Former Lead Vocalist of Punk Group, Regurgitator

Mary Jean Reimer:  Former Hong Kong Cinema Actress AKA Yung Jing-Jing of Anglo-American and Hoa Descent

Nguyen Le:  French Jazz Musician and Composer of Vietnamese Descent

Phongchi:  Japanese Musician of Vietnamese Descent, Former Member of Japanese All-Girl Group, Idoling

Celebs of Vietnam Today:



















Diem My:  Cinema of Vietnam Veteran Actress

Midu:  Actress and Model

Chi Bao:  Vietnamese Actor of Film and Television

Ngan Khanh:  Singer/Actress

Thanh Hang:  Model/Actress,
Former Miss Vietnam Photogenic Titleholder

10 Viet Celebs Who Don't Look Vietnamese

Contrary to the perception that many Westerners have of Vietnamese being a homogeneous society, here is a strong argument that it is otherwise.  Looking back in our history, Vietnam is a country that has been colonized and occupied by several foreign powers starting with the Chinese, Portuguese, French, Japanese and Americans.  The resettling of Vietnamese people in various countries after the Vietnam War has resulted in the Vietnamese diaspora consisting of strong overseas communities in all four corners of the world.  Even the geographic location of Vietnam being situated in between China and India alone plays an important role in the diverse ethnic makeup of Vietnamese people.  This is why it is not so uncommon to see a Vietnamese person with predominantly European, South Asian or even African features.  The 10 Viet celebs listed here in alphabetical order are familiar faces among Vietnamese entertainers easily recognized in Vietnamese communities all over the world.  You might not think they look Vietnamese, but indeed they are Vietnamese.

Link(s):


1. Carol Kim: of Vietnamese and Malaysian Descent, Dubbed as Vietnam's Queen of Soul 
2. Dai Trang:  Eurasian Singer of French and Vietnamese Descent 

3. Julie Quang:  Singer of Vietnamese and East Indian Descent 

4. Lilian:  Hip Hop and Dance Music Singer of Vietnamese and Anglo-American Descent 

5. Luu Hong:  Eurasian Singer of Vietnamese and German Descent 

6. Quoc Anh:  Singer of Vietnamese and African-French Descent 

7. Randy:  Amerasian Singer of Vietnamese and African-American Descent 

8. Thanh Ha:  Amerasian Singer of Vietnamese and German-American Descent 




9. Thuy Hang:  U.S. Born Singer of Vietnamese
and Anglo-American Descent




10. Tinna Tinh:  Singer/Actress
of Vietnamese and Czech Descent



Friday, March 18, 2016

Miu Le




















Miu Le (1991-    ) is a famous V-Pop singer and Vietnamese actress.

She was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  Her given name at birth on July 5, 1972 was Le Anh Nhat.  Miu Le first rose to prominence while still a senior at Vo Thi Sau High School in Ho Chi Minh City when she landed the lead role in the television series, Nhung Thien Than Ao Trang (2009), which costarred Nam Cuong, Nha Phuong, Midu, Lan Phuong and Phi Thanh Van.  Her wholesome good looks and innocent charm appealed massively to television viewer audiences of Vietnam.  In 2011, she also starred in the popular television series, Oan Gia Dai Chien, alongside actors Chi Tai and the late Kieu Linh.  On Vietnam's silver screen, Miu Le's acting credits have included Thien Su 99 (2011) starring Huynh Anh, Diem My 9X and Khong Tu Quynh, Toi Nay 8 Gio (2011) starring Hoang PhiNha Co 5 Nang Tien (Five Fairies in the House) (2013) starring Hoai Linh, Viet Huong and Ngan Khanh, Yeu Anh!  Em Dam Khong? (2013) starring Ma Dai (2015) starring Hoai Linh, Ngan Khanh, Hari Won and Thai Hoa and Em La Ba Noi Cua Anh (Sweet 20) (2015) starring Ngo Kien Huy, Hua Vi Van and Hari Won.

In addition to her career as a Vietnamese actress, Miu Le has also found major success as a V-Pop singer. Her most popular hit songs are Vut Tan Di, Em Yeu Anh, Ngay Anh Xa and Giac Mo Than Tien.  Miu Le has recorded several solo studio albums including Cong Chua Mat Nai (2011), Nhan Ra (2011) and Quen Nhu Chua Tung Yeu (2014).  As of the end of 2011, Miu Le has been represented by Avatar Entertainment.  She was previously represented by NewGen, the same talent management firm largely responsible for having launched the careers of Khong Tu Quynh and Dong Nhi.  In 2012, Miu Le was honored by the Zing Music Awards as one of ten top Vietnamese singers of the year.

Link(s):

Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time
Miu Le Facebook Page

Tinna Tinh


 Tinna Tinh (1985-    ) is a famous Vietnamese singer and actress of Czech and Vietnamese descent.

She was born in Prague, Czech Republic to a Czech mother and a Vietnamese father.  Her names given at birth were Tinna Dinhova by her mother and Dinh Thi Tinh, in Vietnamese, by her father.  At the age of 11, Tinna Tinh's parents divorced.  For the next five years, she was shuffled back and forth between living with her mother and her father.  At the age of 15, Tinna Tinh decided to move out on her own.  In 2001, she relocated to Hanoi, Vietnam where she made her first attempt at pursuing a career as a professional singer.  After 6 months struggling and getting nowhere in the Hanoi pop music scene, Tinna Tinh returned to Prague where she resumed work in retail and as a Vietnamese interpreter.  Two years later, she had managed to save up some money and returned to Vietnam to once again pursue her dream of becoming a professional singer.  This time around, Tinna Tinh would resettle in Ho Chi Minh City and her dream of a career in music would finally come true.

Prior to her rise to stardom, she had used various professional stage names such as Thien Cam, Phuong Tu Phuong and Dam Tu Ca before settling with Tinna Tinh.  After relocating to Ho Chi Minh City in 2003, she was cast as the lead female role in the Vietnamese comedy film, Tro Dua Cho Thien Loi (Thunder's Joke) starring Minh Tiep and Trung Hieu.  The following year, Tinna Tinh would be honored with a Canh Dieu Vang Award (Golden Kite Award), Vietnam's equivalent to an Academy Award, for most promising female newcomer.

Although her acting career had brought her initial prominence, Tinna Tinh still relentlessly pursued her dream of a career in music.  Her debut album, Chiec Guong (The Mirror), which featured a collection of 11 alternative rock and dance music songs she had written herself was released in 2006 by Lac Hong Productions.  In 2007, Tinna Tinh appeared for the first time on music video for Van Son Entertainment performing Tra Lai Cho Toi, a song she had written and recorded for her upcoming second studio album, Mu Tat (2009).  She appeared on 13 consecutive volumes of Van Son Entertainment's music video series from 2007 until 2012 and joined the ranks in popularity with such established performers with the same label like Truong Vu, Tam Doan, Nguyen Khang and Cat Tien.  Among her most popular performances on the video series produced by Van Son included songs she had written such as Vong Xoay, Khoang Cach, Du Biet, Thi Tham, Vi Sao? and Hoa Lai Mau Xanh.  Her most well received studio albums were Nghiet Nga (2008) released by Monster Music Productions, Tinna Tinh Dance (2009), Sang Toi (2010) released by Viet Tan Studio, Tai Tieng (2010) and Pho Dong (2011) recorded with singer Don Nguyen.  Tinna Tinh's beauty, unique vocals and energetic stage presence led her to performances in live concerts for Vietnamese audiences all over the world.


Tinna Tinh in Mat Xac (2014)
In 2009, Tinna Tinh was offered the lead role in De Mai Tinh (Fool for Love), a film produced by Dustin Nguyen, but turned it down due to unspecified health matters.  Her secrecy about her health brought about unwanted, false rumors which circulated at a national level in Vietnam of her being HIV positive.  The role was subsequently taken by actress Kathy Uyen.  In 2010, Tinna Tinh was one of the key featured performers at Rock Storm, Vietnam's largest rock and roll music festival concert to date.  The following year, she accepted the lead female role starring opposite actor Thai Hoa in Long Ruoi, a Vietnamese comedy also produced by Dustin Nguyen which became one of Vietnam's largest grossing cinema releases of 2011.  In 2012, she costarred with Binh Minh in the television movie, Giấc Mơ Cỏ May.  In 2014, Tinna Tinh starred alongside Hoang Phuc and Phi Thanh Van in Mat Xac, a thriller directed by Do Thanh An.  Her most recent film was Mặt Nạ Máu (2016), a comedy costarring Duong Cam Lynh, Nguyen Phi Hung and Hoai Linh.  

Link(s):

10 Viet Celebs Who Don't Look Vietnamese
Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Jim Parque

Jim Parque (1975-    ) is a former pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, as well as for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Born on February 8, 1975 to an Anglo-American father and a Vietnamese mother in Norwalk, California, Jim Parque grew up in a low income household.  While at Crescenta Valley High School, he was coached by former All-Star pitcher Jerry Reuss.  During his senior year, he was voted by the Pacific League as player of the year and most valuable player.  In 1996, Jim Parque played for the United States baseball team at the Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia and took home the bronze medal.  He attended UCLA from 1994 until 1997 and led the Bruins to the 1997 College World Series.

Standing at 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing only 132 pounds, Jim Parque had trouble being scouted by professional sports agents.  That is until he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1997 becoming the second American athlete of Vietnamese descent in Major League Baseball.  (The first American athlete of Vietnamese descent to play in Major League Baseball is Danny Graves who had been selected by the Cleveland Indians in 1994.)  In his debut year playing in Major League Baseball, Jim Parque pitched in 21 starts for the Chicago White Sox.  His best season was in 2000 with a record of 13-6 and a 4.28 in 33 games, 32 of which were starts.  Unfortunately, after a shoulder injury in 2001, he was benched for the duration of the season.  His injury would be followed with several subsequent surgeries which caused him to exit the major league.  In 2003, he signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Minor League Baseball.  After being released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, he signed with the Diamond Backs in 2004.  On June of that same year, due to his recurring injuries Jim Parque announced his retirement after seven seasons as a professional baseball player.

On February 2, 2007, Jim Parque went out of retirement and returned to Major League Baseball when he signed with the Seattle Mariners.  However, his tenure with the Seattle Mariners was short lived.  Jim Parque was released by the Seattle Mariners on July of 2007.