Ho Hoang Yen

Ho Hoang Yen (1976-    ) is a beautiful overseas Vietnamese singer that has been long associated with Asia Entertainment.

From early childhood, Ho Hoang Yen had developed a keen interest in music.  At the age of 5, she appeared on national television in Vietnam singing on a children's music program.  Ten years later, Ho Hoang Yen at age 15 enrolled in several courses at the prestigious Quoc Gia Âm Nhac (Saigon Conservatory of Music) to hone her craft in singing.  At age 20, Ho Hoang Yen became a professional singer.  In the circuit of cabarets and nightclubs in Ho Chi Minh City, she had acquired a following of loyal patrons who were in awe of her striking physical beauty, stage presence and angelic singing voice.  Ho Hoang Yen performed nightly at various major venues around downtown Ho Chi Minh City including Lido, Cadillac, Queen Bee and Liberty.


In 2001, Ho Hoang Yen and her family resettled in the United States.  For the first five years, they lived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during which she had put her singing career on hold.  In 2006, songwriter Dieu Huong, who had been a longtime admirer of Ho Hoang Yen's voice, approached her to record one of her songs, Hỏi Tình, for an upcoming compilation album entitled as Cho Dòng Sông Cuốn Trôi.  That recording would spark the attention of Thy Van and Truc Ho at Asia Entertainment.  Two years later, Ho Hoang Yen made her debut music video appearance for Asia Entertainment on volume 58 paired with singer Quoc Khanh for a duet medley of Đêm Cuối Cùng written by Pham Dinh Chuong and Một Chuyến Bay Đêm written by Song Ngoc and Hoai Linh.  Ho Hoang Yen has since appeared in a total of 16 volumes of the Asia Entertainment live show video series.  She has recorded many duets and ensembles for Asia Entertainment teamed up with other artists such as Bang Tam, Nguyen Hong Nhung, Le Anh Quan, Y Phung, Dan Nguyen, My Huyen, Diem Lien, Nhat Truong and Phuong Hong Que.  Among her most popular solo performances for Asia Entertainment include Bài Tango Riêng Cho Em written by Hoang Nguyen, Bao Giờ Biết Tương Tư written by Pham Duy, Buồn written by Y Van, Buồn Trong Kỷ Niệm written by Truc Phuong and Như Giọt Sầu Rơi written by Anh Viet Thu.  Ho Hoang Yen has recorded two solo studio albums for Asia Entertainment, Bão Tình (2010) and Tình Lỡ (2012).  She has performed at live shows for overseas Vietnamese audiences all over the United States, Canada, Australia and Europe.  

 Link(s):

Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time

30 Most Beautiful Viet Celebs of 2015

Next 10 Overseas Vietnamese Celebs Featured

We have now a total of 250 profiled Viet celebs.  The next ten to be featured are the following overseas Vietnamese celebrities since 1975.

Overseas Viet Celebs Post '75:

Ho Hoang Yen:  Singer

Tam Doan:  Singer

Quang Le:  Singer

Van Anh:  Singer

Lam Anh:  singer

Viet Thao:  Emcee and Voice Over Actor

Diep Thanh Thanh:  Singer

Y Phung:  Singer and Actress

Ngoc Anh:  Singer on Paris By Night

Dan Nguyen:  Singer

Thai Thao

Thai Thao (1961-    ) is a famous overseas Vietnamese singer.  Her father was legendary Vietnamese songwriter/composer Pham Duy and her mother was singer Thai Hang.  She has been married to singer Tuan Ngoc for over 20 years.

Born in Saigon in 1961 to one of the most famous families in the history of Vietnamese popular music, Thai Thao is the 5th eldest out of eight children.  At the age of 14, she along with both her parents, older sister Thai Hien and two younger siblings left Vietnam for the United States, while her four older brothers remained in Vietnam.  They spent their first two years in the United States living in Florida before resettling permanently in Orange County, California during the summer of 1977.

With the arrivals to United States of her older brothers, Duy Minh, Duy Hung and Duy Cuong, from Vietnam and her eldest brother and then sister-in-law, Duy Quang and Julie Quang, from France, their family band known as The Dreamers were reformed in 1979 with an added new member, Thai Thao.  During the early 1980s, at live performances with her family band Thai Thao began covering in both English and Vietnamese songs of music genres known as Euro New Wave and Italo Disco such as Leo Lên Xe Này (Jump in May Car), Hỡi Cô Bé (Hey Girl), Cầu Cứu Tình Yêu (S.O.S For Love) and Mắt Nâu Đen (Ebony Eyes), which were extremely popular with the younger Vietnamese audience at the time.

In 1985, at the age of 24 Thai Thao delved into her singing career full force.  She began recording for various overseas Vietnamese music production labels such as Dạ Lan, Asia Entertainment, Thúy Anh and Dream Musical Productions, which was headed by her eldest brother, Duy Quang.   Among her most popular recorded songs during this period included Tình Yêu (Con El Cha Cha), Đừng Nói Đã Quên (Don't Say You Don't Remember), Nàng Đã Ra Đi (Run Away) and Anh Và Em (You And Me).  At a concert honoring her aunt, legendary Vietnamese singer Thai Thanh, simply entitled as Thái Thanh - Đêm Tái Ngộ held in Los Angeles, California sometime after she had just arrived to the United States from Vietnam in 1985, Thai Thao greatly impressed the live audience with her duet performance with her older sister, Thai Hien, of Khúc Hát Thanh Xuân written by her father, Pham Duy.  This would mark the first time Thai Thao, who until then was known for her interpretations of songs originally written in English, was seen performing Vietnamese music at a large gathering.  

During the 1980s, Thai Thao had become a headliner at many different Vietnamese nightclubs and cabarets in Orange County, California.  In 1987, she along with singers Lilian and Tuyet Huong (formerly of the trio, Apple 3) were the three principal singers for the Trung Nghia band which headlined weekly at Club Rex in Santa Ana, California.  Thai Thao stayed on as a weekly headliner when Club Rex was bought over by her brother, Duy Quang and his then wife, My Ha, renaming it to Đêm Đông Phương two years later.  She also was a headliner at Diamond Nightclub, Queen Bee, Saigon Cabaret and finally, her longest tenure at the Majestic during the 1990s and 2000s.  

Thai Thao has recorded several studio albums including a duet album with Thai Hien featuring a collection of Euro New Wave/ Italo Disco songs recorded in English and Vietnamese produced by Duy Quang and released by Thuy Anh, Người Trong Mơ (1987), and two solo albums for Dream Musical Productions, Tình Em (1991) and Rời Nhau (1993).  She has appeared on music videos for Asia Entertainment, Khanh Ha Productions (headed by singer Khanh Ha), Van Son Entertainment and Thuy Nga Paris.  

Married to fellow singer, Tuan Ngoc, since 1994, Thai Thao is the mother of two grown children, a son from a previous marriage and a daughter from her current marriage.  In 2004, Thai Thao announced her retirement from the singing profession, but occasionally performs with her husband at his live shows upon requests from audience members.  

Link(s):

Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time

Duy Trac

Duy Trac (1932-    ) is a famous Vietnamese singer who had initially gained prominence in Saigon prior to 1975.

Born as Khuat Duy Trac in 1932 in Son Tay, a suburb of Hanoi, he relocated to Saigon in 1954.  Duy Trac began his singing career while still a law student during the late 1950s.  He sang primarily for Radio Vietnam and recorded for several major record labels in South Vietnam, but rarely performed for live audiences.  Despite having completed his studies and an established career as a lawyer, Duy Trac continued with his professional singing career throughout the 1960s until the Fall of Saigon in 1975.  He recorded and released a total of three studio albums prior to 1975 in Saigon and also made guest appearances on albums featuring ensembles of other artists such as Tình Ca 1 with Khanh Ly, Thanh Lan and Si Phu and Tứ Quý with Khanh Ly, Le Thu and Tuan Ngoc, both of which were released in 1971.  Among his most popular recorded songs include Áo Lụa Hà Đông written by Ngo Thuy Mien and Nguyen Sa, Mắt Biếc written by Ngo Thuy Mien, Đôi Mắt Người Sơn Tây written by Pham Dinh Chuong, Đường Em Đi written by Pham Duy and Một Ngày Vui Mùa Đông written by Le Uyen Phuong, for which he had recorded as a duet with singer Khanh Ly.  

After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, Duy Trac was ordered by the new communist regime to reeducation camp for many years.  He was finally released in 1988.  Four years later, Duy Trac and his family left their native Vietnam to resettle in the United States.  In 1993, he recorded a solo studio album for Thuy Nga Paris entitled as Còn Tiếng Hát Gửi Người.  Duy Trac would continue with his brief collaboration with Thuy Nga Paris with a couple of appearances on volumes 20 and 21 of the popular video series, Paris By Night.  In 1995, he recorded his final album, Giã Từ (Goodbye), for Diem Xua Productions.  Duy Trac resides in Houston, Texas.  

Son Ca

Son Ca (1953-    ) is a famous Vietnamese singer.

Born as Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nga in 1953 in Saigon, South Vietnam, she was the eldest in a family of six children.  After graduating from high school, she enrolled at University of Saigon, School of Law in 1971.  It was there where she actively involved in performing arts singing for various music programs put together by the university.  In between semesters, she also enrolled in a few classes at Quoc Gia Am Nhac, Saigon Conservatory of Music and befriended a fellow student by the name of Bui Thien who would become her voice coach.  At the beginning of her sophomore year at University of Saigon, School of Law she would meet the legendary songwriter/composer/show promoter, Hoang Thi Tho, who was instantaneously taken by her clear, sweet singing voice.  Through his personal invitation, she became a regular performer in his revue at the prestigious Maxim's Cabaret in Saigon.  She then became known as Son Ca, a name that Hoang Thi Tho highly approved of which was also the name of one of her father's former girlfriends.  In a short period of time, Son Ca gained national prominence through her appearances on Chương Trình Hoàng Thi Thơ , a popular television and program hosted by the musician himself.  She also became a frequent guest on another popular television show, Nghệ Sĩ Với Chiến Sĩ, produced by Nguyen Dinh Toan.  

In 1974, Son Ca recorded her first studio album which was self-titled and produced by Nguyen Van Dong for the Continental record label in South Vietnam.  Among her most well-received songs from the debut album included Mùa Thu Cho Em written by Ngo Thuy Mien, Bây Giờ Tháng Mấy? written by Tu Cong Phung and all three versions of Hòn Vọng Phu written by Le Thuong.  Son Ca also recorded for other major record labels in South Vietnam including Viet Nam and Shotguns.  Her name became linked with a string of hit songs Hoang Thi Tho had written especially for her to record such as Đám Cưới Trên Đường Quê, Rước Tình Về Với Quê Hương, Tình Ca Trên Lúa and Gạo Trắng Trăng Thanh.  Among her other popular songs included Gánh Lúa written by Pham Duy, Duyên Nước Tình Trăng written by Hoang Nguyen, Tàu Về Quê Hương written by Hong Van and what would become known as her signature song, Cô Thắm Về Làng written by Giao Tien which she had recorded for the Shotguns label as a duet with singer Thai Chau.  Right around this time, Son Ca teamed up with her former classmate and close friend, Bui Thien, to become one of the most popular singing duos in South Vietnam.  Their most popular hit song recorded together was Đưa Em Qua Cánh Đồng Vàng written by Hoang Thi Tho.  

After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, Son Ca continued her career as a singer collaborating with theater troupes headed by Kim Cuong and by Tham Thuy Hang.  In 1976, she married and started a family with the birth of a daughter the following year.  In the summer of 1979, she along with her husband, young daughter and a younger sister fled from communist Vietnam by boat landing at a refugee camp in Thailand where they remained for six months before resettling in the United States on January of 1980.  

During their first year in the United States, Son Ca and her family lived in San Jose, California.  In 1981, she along with her husband and their 4-year-old daughter relocated to Houston, Texas for work as they helped run and operate a gas station/convenience store owned by a family friend.  After three years living in Houston, Son Ca decided to resume her singing career and packed up for Orange County, Calfornia, home of the largest concentrated Vietnamese-American population.  With the money she had saved up during the previous years working in Houston, Son Ca took a gamble and produced a studio album in 1984 entitled as Tiếng Hát Sơn Ca Hải Ngoại and distributed by Thanh Lan music production label.  The gamble would pay off as her first album produced overseas would generate a sizable profit for Son Ca as it sold quite well within overseas Vietnamese communities across the United States and abroad.  From 1984 until 1990, Son Ca produced over a dozen studio albums which also featured recordings by various overseas Vietnamese singers such as Bui Thien, Khanh Ly, Thanh Tuyen, Phuong Dung, Giao Linh, Huong Lan, Lilian and Phuong Hoai Tam.  She also toured extensively performing at live shows for overseas Vietnamese audiences all over the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.  

Son Ca has appeared on music videos for various overseas Vietnamese production labels such as Diem Quynh, Van Nghe Viet Nam, Washington Night, Thuy Nga Paris and Asia Entertainment.  She first appeared on the popular Paris By Night video series produced by Thuy Nga Paris in 1986 for volumes 2 and 3 performing Thương Quá Việt Nam written by Pham The My and Lien Khuc Tinh Ca, respectively.  Eleven years later, she would be invited back on the Paris By Night stage for volumes 41 and 47, both of which were filmed in Toronto, Canada paying tribute to the music of Hoang Thi Tho.  Son Ca's last Paris By Night performance to date was in a duet with Thai Chau, Bài Ngợi Ca Quê Hương for volume 83 released in 2006.  For Asia Entertainment, Son Ca has appeared on volumes 65-68 which were filmed from 2010 until 2011 with performances of songs such as Rước Tình Về Với Quê Hương in a duet with singer Ngoc Huyen, Việt Nam Ơi! Ngày Vui Đã Tới, Ngày Xuân Vui Cưới in a duet with Chi Tam and Saigon, performed as a trio with Phuong Hong Que and Bang Chau.

In 1990, Son Ca's marriage of 14 years ended in divorce.  Five years later, she remarried to an Australian citizen of Vietnamese descent and moved to Brisbane, Australia.  In recent years, Son Ca has been actively involved in Thiền Ca Vo-Vi, a non-profit organization which promotes spiritual enrichment, and performs for many of the organization's benefit live shows around the world.  

Hoang Thi Tho

Hoang Thi Tho (1929-2001) was a famous Vietnamese songwriter, composer, show promoter and filmmaker.  With well over 100 published songs he had written and composed during a career that spanned 50 years, he was often credited using different aliases other than Hoang Thi Tho such as Tôn Nữ Trà Mi, Tôn Nữ Diễm Hồng, Bích Khê, Triệu Phong.

He was born on July 1, 1929 in Quang Tri, Central Vietnam.  In 1948, he graduated from Khai Dinh High School in Hue.  In the fall of 1950, Hoang Thi Tho enrolled at Dự Bị as a literature major.  Sometime toward the end of 1952, he was arrested by the French government on suspicion of being a Viet Minh during a trip visiting his family in Quang Tri.  After the Geneva Conference in 1954, he was released and moved to Saigon where he would teach French and English at a high school and also begin his career as a songwriter.  In 1957, Hoang Thi Tho began collaborating with Thống Nhất Cinema Theater in Saigon where he organized the live entertainment show nightly prior to the showing of the movie presentation.  Four years later, he formed Đoàn Văn Nghệ Việt Nam, a troupe of over 100 Vietnamese performance artists, and put together live shows for audiences all over South Vietnam.  Hoang Thi Tho even took his troupe of performers abroad to places like Laos, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Thailand, Singapore, Sénégal, France, Great Britain and the United States.  In 1967, he collaborated with the prestigious Maxim's Cabaret in Saigon and formed Đoàn Văn Nghệ Maxim with over 70 Vietnamese performance artists.  His wildly successful revue at Maxim's Cabaret featured performances of Vietnamese popular music, comedy sketches and traditional Vietnamese dancing.  As one of South Vietnam's most prolific songwriters, he scored a series of major hit songs which included Bài Thơ Cuối Cùng, Con Tim và Nước Mắt, Duyên Quê, Đám Cưới Trên Đường Quê, Đêm Cuối Cùng, Đường Xưa Lối Cũ, Gặp Nhau, Niềm Đau Của Cát, Ô Kìa Đời Bỗng Dưng Vui, Phút Đầu Tiên, Tà Áo Cưới, Thôi Chia Ly Từ Đây, Tìm Anh and Túp Lều Lý Tưởng.  His songs were recorded by many popular singers of South Vietnam such as Giao Linh, Phuong Dung, Julie Quang, Connie Kim, Khanh Ly, Hoang Oanh, Bich Loan and the CBC, Thai Thanh, Mai Le Huyen, Thanh Tuyen, Thanh Lan, Duy Khanh, Nhat Truong and Huong Lan.  Hoang Thi Tho is credited for launching the careers of singers Son Ca and Hoa Mi.  

Aside from his accomplishments as a songwriter/composer and show promoter, Hoang Thi Tho was also a successful producer of musical plays and films.  He produced a series of well-received musical plays in Saigon during the 1960s which included Từ Thức Lạc Lối Bích Đào, Dương Quý Phi, Cô Gái Điên which was later made into a musical movie and his most successful, Ả Đào Say.  In 1972, he wrote, directed and produced the musical film, Người Cô Đơn, starring Thanh Nga, Van Hung, Ngoc Duc, Tuy Hoa, Hoang Long and Kim Ngoc.  

During the Fall of Saigon, Hoang Thi Tho was traveling abroad on tour with dance choreographer Luu Hong in Japan.  Unable to return to his native Vietnam, he applied for and was granted political asylum in the United States.  Hoang Thi Tho would later find out that both his songs and songs written by legendary composer/songwirter Pham Duy had been banned by the Vietnamese government after 1975.  During the 1980s, he resumed his career as a show promoter and put together countless live shows for overseas Vietnamese audiences in the United States.  In 1994, he co-hosted Washington Night live show music video series with singer Trizzie Phuong Trinh. Hoang Thi Tho passed away on September 23, 2001 in Glendale, California.  He was 72.   

Missing Bio of Thai Thao

Dear readers,

Thai Thao:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer

We've recently discovered that our previously written and published biography/tribute to overseas Vietnamese singer Thai Thao somehow has been deleted for unknown reasons.  It was originally posted on February 25, 2016.  At the moment, we are trying as fast as we can to compose another draft of Thai Thao's bio to replace the missing previous publication.  It should be posted by tomorrow morning.  To all of Thai Thao's fans and our readers here at VietCeleb.BlogSpot.com, we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

Sincerely,



Victor Voice
VietCeleb.BlogSpot.com Admin