Vicky Nguyen

Vicky Nguyen (1979-    ) is an Emmy Award-winning Vietnamese-American television journalist. 

Originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Vicky Nguyen moved to the United States with her family when she was just two years old.  She grew up in San Jose, California.  At the age of 10, Vicky Nguyen became a naturalized American citizen.  She graduated valedictorian from the University of San Francisco in 2000 as a communications major. 

Currently an investigative reporter with NBC Bay Area, KNTV, and a member of the NBC Bay Area Investigative Unit since 2007, Vicky Nguyen had previously worked for various television stations around the United States including KSAZ of Phoenix, Arizona, KOLO of Reno, Nevada and Central Florida News 13 of Orlando, Florida.  She received praises for covering Sysco Corporation's practice of storing perishable food in unrefrigerated outdoor storage facilities along with Baseline Killer and Serial Shooter investigations. 

Vicky Nguyen has been honored with many accolades throughout her career.  Among them have included awards from the Asian American Journalists Association, awards from the Radio and Television News Directors Association (RTNDA), 8 regional Emmy Awards, 2 regional Murrow Awards and a Scripps Howard award.  She is married and a mother of 2 children. 

Link(s):

• Vicky Nguyen on Twitter
• Vicky Nguyen Official Website

Doan Phi

Đoàn Phi (1985-    ) is an overseas Vietnamese singer currently signed with the label, Asia Entertainment.

Born on March 2, 1985 in Ho Chi Minh City, his full name on his birth certificate is listed as Trương Đoàn Tuệ Nhã.  After graduating from high school in his hometown, Đoàn Phi found work as a veejay for MTV - Vietnam.  In 2006, he left Vietnam and took up permanent residence in the United States.  That same year, Đoàn Phi entered and placed second in Asia Entertainment's Tìm Kiếm Tài Năng (Talent Search).  Although he hadn't taken home the first prize award, he was offered a contract with the label as an exclusive recording artist.  His first appearance on Asia Entertainment's popular live show music video series was on volume 54, Trúc Hồ - Trầm Tử Thiêng / Bước chân Việt Nam - A Triumphant Story, performing a duet of the song, Đoàn Đỉnh Gió Hú (written by Trúc Hồ), with singer Lê Nguyên.  Đoàn Phi has since made appearances in 20 volumes of Asia Entertainment's live show music video series.  Among his most popular performances on Asia Entertainment include such songs like Chiều Một Mình Qua Phố (written by Trịnh Công Sơn), Sầu Đông (written by Khánh Băng), Yêu Nhau Trên Biển (written by Trúc Hồ) and Con Tim Mù Lòa (written by Sỹ Đan).  He has recorded duets with Thùy Hương, Ánh Minh, Ngọc Anh Vi and Trish Thùy Trang.  On Asia 71:  32nd Anniversary Celebration, Đoàn Phi stepped out of his comfort zone as a pop singer to act in a comedy sketch, 32 Năm Ngày Gặp Lại, with Quang Minh and Hồng Đào.  In 2010, Đoàn Phi recorded his debut solo studio album, Thiên Thần Tội Lỗi.  Đoàn Phi has performed live in concert for Vietnamese audiences all over the United States, Canada, Europe and Australia.  Due to his energetic style of performing, style of dress and dance moves, Đoàn Phi has often been referred to as the Nguyễn Hưng of Asia Entertainment.

Bich Thuan

Bích Thuận (1922-    ) is a legendary actress of Southern Vietnamese folk opera known as "cải lương".

Originally from Bắc Ninh province of Northern Vietnam, Bích Thuận began her career in Vietnamese folk opera theater in Hanoi at the age of 10.  She along with her younger sister, Tường Vi, had formed their own folk opera theater troupe called Nhật Tân Ban.  Bích Thuận would eventually collaborate with Tố Như Folk Opera Theater Troupe which turned her into a star in Northern Vietnam.  One of her most popular roles was her portrayal as Thúc Sinh, the male lead character in the play, Kim Vân Kiều, opposite legendary actress Kim Chung.  In 1948, Bích Thuận toured Southern Vietnam with the Tố Như Folk Opera Theater Troupe.  After the successful tour, Bích Thuận decided not to return to Hanoi with her fellow cast members of Tố Như Folk Opera Theater Troupe but instead remained in Saigon with her two nieces, up and coming folk opera actresses Bích Sơn and Bích Thủy, where she would form her own Bích Thuận Folk Opera Theater Troupe.  She quickly learned to sing as well as speak with an authentic Southern Vietnamese accent and became the first Vietnamese folk opera actress of Northern Vietnamese origin to have a large following of fans in Southern Vietnam.  In 1951, Bích Thuận joined the Phụng Hảo Folk Opera Theater Troupe, headed by legendary actress Phùng Há.  Among the most popular "cải lương" plays Bích Thuận had starred in while living in Saigon prior to 1975 include Gánh Hàng Hoa, Truồng Hận, Phùng Mậu Hạ San, Hoa Rơi Cửa Phật, Hai Bóng Hoa Rừng, Phấn Hậu Cung and Vụ Án Giết Chồng.  In 1969, Bích Thuận starred alongside Mộng Tuyền and Huỳnh Thái in the highly rated televised "cải lương" play, Kim Vân Kiều, which aired on South Vietnam's national channel 9.  In addition to the Southern Vietnamese folk opera stage, Bích Thuận had also achieved success in films and pop music.  As a film actress, she often portrayed the role of the sexy older woman in a handful of well received feature films including Mãnh Lực Đồng Tiền (1971), Sám Hối (1971) starring Túy Phượng and Sau Giờ Giới Nghiêm (1972) starring Trần Quang and Thanh Nga.  As a pop singer, Bích Thuận recorded for the record label, Việt Nam, scoring hits with singles such as Ai Về Sông Tương (written by Thông Đạt) and Trách Người Ra Đi (written by Đan Thơ).  Bích Thuận also taught as a theater professor at Quốc Gia Âm Nhạc Và Kịch Nghệ (University of Saigon, School of Fine Arts).

In 1980,  Bích Thuận and her husband, known as Tonton Hiếu, resettled in Paris, France.  She continued on with her career performing for the overseas Vietnamese communities in Europe.  Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Bích Thuận traveled to the United States and Canada on numerous occasions to perform for overseas Vietnamese audiences there.  In 1986, she starred with Dũng Thanh Lâm and Kim Tuyến in the "cải lương" video adaptation of the play, Chiêu Quân Cống Hồ.  In 1999, Bích Thuận was honored with a tribute live show in Paris, France sponsored by UNESCO to celebrate her 50 years as an entertainer.  In 2005, she wrote and published her autobiography.
  

Le Tuan Anh

Lê Tuấn Anh (1968-    ) is a famous Vietnamese film actor.

Following the untimely passing of his mother and his father remarrying, Lê Tuấn Anh left home at the age of 17.  He worked odd jobs to support himself while attending Cao Đẳng Sân Khấu Drama Academy in Ho Chi Minh City.  In 1990, Lê Tuấn Anh made his film debut in the feature, Bí Mật Thành Phố Cấm.  The following year, he starred in what would be considered his breakthrough role in films as Thái Salem in Lệnh Truy Nã alongside Việt Trinh.  During Vietnam's era in film known as "Mỳ Ăn Liền" (Instant Noodles) in the 1990s, Lê Tuấn Anh along with Lý Hùng and Lê Công Tuấn Anh were considered the top 3 leading men.  Among his most popular films include Vị Đắng Tình Yêu (1990) starring Lê Công Tuấn Anh, Thủy Tiên and Kim Xuân, Bên Dòng Sông Trẹm (1992) starring Lý Hùng, Y Phụng and Hồng Đào, Công Tử Bạc Liêu (1993) starring Việt Trinh, Diệp Lang and Kiều Oanh and Hải Đường Trắng (1994) starring Lê Công Tuấn Anh and Cát Phượng.  In 1998 after starring in the television movie, Gió Qua Miền Tối Sáng, alongside Minh Hòa and Phương Thanh, Lê Tuấn Anh shocked his fans with his announcement of retirement as an actor.

Hồng Vân and Lê Tuấn Anh

Lê Tuấn Anh is now the owner of a restaurant located in Ho Chi Minh City.  Married to comedienne Hồng Vân for over 20 years, the couple are proud parents of three children.  During the early 1990s, Lê Tuấn Anh was briefly married to Amerasian singer Phương Thảo.

Link(s):

• Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 4

Ngo My Uyen

Ngô Mỹ Uyên (1974-    ) is considered to be the wealthiest beauty queen of Vietnam.  This former Miss Vietnam beauty pageant titleholder turned actress/magician has amassed a fortune worth in total $300 billion VND ($13.2 million USD).

After winning first prize in Vietnam's Model Search (Tìm Kiếm Người Mẫu Thời Trang) at the age of 18, Ngô Mỹ Uyên began her lucrative career as a fashion model appearing in print, as well as television ads for various major international brand names such as Nokia, Pond's, Suzuki, Pepsi and La Coste.  In 1994, she successfully made the transition into an acting career starring in the feature film directed by Lê Dân, Áo Trắng Sân Trường, alongside the late Lê Công Tuấn Anh and Y Phụng.  That same year, Ngô Mỹ Uyên was also crowned as "Hoa Hậu Điện Ảnh" (Cinema of Vietnam's Beauty Queen).  And in 1999, she won the title of Miss International Fashion Model held in Cairo, Egypt.

During her first trip to the United States in 2001, Ngô Mỹ Uyên had befriended famous American magician, Gay Blackstone.  After a short period of time as Blackstone's protegee, she was able to began a new career as a professional illusionist.  Known to her non-Vietnamese fans as My Wynn, she has performed as a magician at live shows for audiences all over the United States and Europe.  In 2005, Ngô Mỹ Uyên was featured on a one hour television special, The Magic of Wynn, which aired on over 150 media markets worldwide.

In 2001 Ngô Mỹ Uyên returned to Vietnam to star in the epic feature film, Khát Vọng Thăng Long, with Quách Ngọc Ngoan.  In March of that same year, she graced the cover of Vietnam's first publication of Cosmopolitan magazine.  On November of 2013, Ngô Mỹ Uyên hosted a fashion show in Ho Chi Minh City, Butterflies, celebrating the works of renowned fashion designer Đỗ Mạnh Cường.  The show featured a gala of famous Vietnamese beauties including Diễm My, Trương Ngọc Ánh, Thanh Lam, Mỹ Linh, Hồng Nhung along with former Miss Vietnam beauty pageant titleholders Hà Kiều Anh, Đặng Thu Thảo and Hương Giang.

Ngô Mỹ Uyên is the owner of one of the most luxurious mansions in Ho Chi Minh City.  Located in the first district known as Saigon, her house is filled with expensive artwork from all around the world.

Link(s):

• 20 Hottest Viet Celebs of 2017

• Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 6a

Nicholas Le Phat Tan

Nicolas Lê Phát Tân (1980-    ) is a French actor and film producer of Vietnamese origin.

He was born on January 24, 1980 in Ho Chi Minh City and relocated to Paris with his family during his early childhood.  In 1997, Nicolas Lê Phát Tân began collaborating with Kourtrajmé, the film production company founded by Vietnamese-French film director Kim Chapiron.  He produced a series of short films, video clips and trailers for Kourtrajmé.  In 2005, he costarred with Vincent Cassel and Olivier Barthélémy in the feature film thriller, Sheitan.  In 2006, Nicolas Lê Phát Tân was selected to model for the fashion lines, Gianfranco Ferré and Smalto.  In 2007, he produced the documentary film, 365 Jours à Clichy-Montfermeil.  Among his other credits as producer include  the following video clips, Trankillement (2007), Stress (2008), Go Fast Connexion (2008) and Kourtrajmé Stories (2009).

Linda Chou

Linda Chou (1983-    ) is a popular overseas Vietnamese singer contracted with Vân Sơn Entertainment.

Born on February 24, 1983 in Southern California to a Vietnamese mother and Taiwanese father, Linda Chou grew up speaking Vietnamese, Mandarin and English.  She attended Long Beach Polytechnic High School where she was a member of the chamber choir.  After graduating from high school, Linda Chou attended UC San Diego majoring in pharmacological chemistry.  In 2006, she entered and won first prize at the ETTV US Top Idol talent competition, sponsored by the Taiwanese television network.  Later that year, she would also win first prize at the ETTV World Top Idol talent competition held in Taipei, Taiwan.  Immediately after winning the competition, Linda Chou was approached with a contract from Vân Sơn Entertainment.  She made her debut appearance in 2007 on volume 36 of the label's live show video series performing a duet with singer Andy Quách of the song, Tình Mãi Bên Nhau (written by Huỳnh Nhật Tân).  Linda Chou has since become one of the most popular performers on the popular live show video series produced by Vân Sơn Entertainment appearing in a total of 15 volumes.  She has also teamed up with various other artists for duet and ensemble performances for Vân Sơn Entertainment such as Cát Tiên, Đông Nhi, Hoàng Thục Linh, Việt Thảo, Vân Sơn, Trường Vũ, Diễm Liên, Hạ Vy, Tâm Đoan and Don Hồ.  Among her most popular recorded songs include Người Tình Mùa Đông, Bối Rối Trong Tình Yêu (written by Huỳnh Nhật Tân), Hiu Quạnh (written by Giáng Ngọc), Giã Từ Anh Yêu (written by Lê Ngọc), Muốn Mãi Bên Anh (written by Ngọc Trinh) and a cover of I'll Always of Love You (written by Dolly Parton).  Linda Chou has performed in live concerts for Vietnamese audiences all over the world.

Link(s):

• Linda Chou Official Website
• Linda Chou Facebook Page
• 30 Sexiest Vietnamese Celebs of 2016

Paolo Tuan

Paolo Tuấn (1946-    ) often credited simply as Paolo, is a famous Vietnamese pop singer.

Originally from Hanoi, his given name at birth was Đào Thiệu Doãn.  Educated in French at Albert Sarraut Elementary School in Hanoi and later on at Jean Jacques Rousseau High School in Saigon, he specialized in singing French love songs.  At the age of 16, he began his professional singing career with the stage name of Thanh Tuấn performing with a group known as The Black Caps nightly at the Anh Vũ Cabaret in Saigon.  He later changed his stage name to Paolo Tuấn and performed for other popular music groups such as The Teddy Bears, The Vibrations and The Top Five at various major cabarets in Saigon such as Au Baccara, Au Ma Cabane, Nuit D’Orient, La Sirène, Tự Do and Au Chalet.  Among his most popular songs were covers of Adieu Jolie Candy, Aline, Delilah and I'll Never Fall in Love Again.  In 1964, Paolo Tuấn starred in the feature film, Saigon By Night, directed by Thái Thúc Nha.  Despite his busy career in music, he continued on with his studies and graduated from Đại Học Kiến Trúc Saigon (University of Architecture, Saigon).

After the Fall of Saigon, Paolo Tuấn resettled in Los Angeles, California where he sang at nightclubs for overseas Vietnamese audiences for several years.  Then it was onto Texas and Virginia where he performed with an American band called Rhapsody.  Paolo Tuấn returned to performing for Vietnamese audiences in the early 1980s headlining weekly at Tự Do Nightclub in Stanton, California.  In 1984, he released his first solo studio album, Yêu Một Ngày, Nhớ Một Đời.  Paolo Tuấn then relocated to Paris, France where he performed for the Vietnamese community there for several years until returning to the United States resettling in San Jose, California where he collaborated with the Vietnamese band, Phượng Hoàng.  After an absence of 15 years, in 2001 Paolo Tuấn returned to Southern California as a headliner at the Ritz Nightclub in Anaheim and remained there until the closing of its doors several years later.  In 2008, he appeared on volume 59 of the popular live show video series produced by Asia Entertainment in a duet performance with singer Thanh Lan, a medley of French songs.  Now in his 70s, Paolo Tuấn continues to perform at live shows for Vietnamese audiences all over the world.