Kim Ngân

Kim Ngân (1963-    ) is a famous overseas Vietnamese singer.  In the 1980s, she was considered one of the most beautiful overseas Vietnamese singers.  Sometime in the 1990s, Kim Ngan fell into a state of severe depression which eventually led to her becoming homeless and stricken with mental illness.

Born in Saigon, South Vietnam, she grew up as the eldest in a family of three children.  In 1975, Kim Ngan left Vietnam with her mother, younger brother and younger sister to resettle in the United States.  At the age of 19, Kim Ngan married Nguyen Tien Bac, who would later become owner of Thuy Anh Productions.  The marriage would produce two daughters.  In 1983 with coaching from musician/singer/producer Truong Hai she recorded her very first song, Khong written by Nguyen Anh 9, on an album comprised of various artists.  Although her talents as a vocalist were minimal, her striking good looks put her on the cover of the ablum.  Soon after, she would form her own music production label simply entitled as Kim Ngan.  Throughout the 1980s, Kim Ngan was among the most prominent of overseas Vietnamese music production labels.  Among the singers that had recorded for Kim Ngan included Che Linh, Thanh Tuyen, Hung Cuong, Mai Le Huyen, Julie Quang, Duy Quang, Ngoc Lan, Duc Huy, Kieu Nga and Thuy Vi.  Kim Ngan also recorded for her own label and released a series of albums of French popular music consisting of various other artists.  She also appeared on music videos for Giang Ngoc and Da Khuc Productions, which was headed by Nhat Ha and her former husband, Howard Hue.  Kim Ngan headlined at Saigon Cabaret and Dem Mau Hong nightclubs in Orange County, California and toured extensively performing at live shows for overseas Vietnamese audiences worldwide.  In 1989, Kim Ngan went on a triumphant European concert tour performing alongside Thai Thanh, Nhu Mai, Duy Quang and Ngoc Lan.  By the mid 1990s, many of her colleagues in the overseas Vietnamese music industry had noticed that something was definitely wrong with her.  She began to miss performances habitually, forget lyrics to songs while on stage and lash out at others unexpectedly.  At first, Kim Ngan's erratic behavior were dismissed by most as 'typical' behavior of someone under the influence of drugs and alcohol.  But as her temperamental outbreaks increased through time, becoming more sporadic and spinning out of control, it became apparent that these were actual signs of mental illness in development.  After returning from a tour of Australia during the late 1990s, Kim Ngan gave birth to a son out of wedlock.  It is unclear who is the biological father of her son.  By then, she was homeless and living out of her car with her young son.  In 2001, Kim Ngan's son was taken away by Child Protective Services.

Kim Ngan today

Since the early 2000s, many former colleagues and old friends have tried to reach out and help Kim Ngan.  Several fundraiser events have been held in her honor.  Some former colleagues have even taken her into their own homes such as Julie Quang, Le Uyen, Viet Dzung and Hoang Liem.  However, she always wound up running away after just a few days.  Her mother, Annie Vo Thi Nhon, who now resides in Vietnam, has made several unsuccessful attempts to help Kim Ngan by taking her back with her to Vietnam.  But with each trip, Kim Ngan would find ways to flee from her mother and return to the United States.  Her two grown daughters, Mai Khanh and Thuy Anh, have had similar results after taking their mother into their own homes.  At present, Kim Ngan continues to be homeless.  Sadly, the once beautiful face that had graced the covers of many Vietnamese magazines and audio cassettes is now replaced with that of an old, homeless lady pushing around a shopping cart on the streets of Little Saigon begging strangers for spare change.


Link(s):

50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time