Truc Quynh

Trúc Quỳnh (1965-    ) is an overseas Vietnamese pop singer.

Born and raised in Saigon, Trúc Quỳnh is, however, of Northern Vietnamese origin.  She didn't embark on a singing career until after she had left her native homeland and resettled in Vancouver, British Columbia along with her family during the late 1980s.  She started out singing with the local band in the early 1990s and within a short period of time made a name for herself within the overseas Vietnamese community of Vancouver, only then she was known by the stage name Quỳnh Nga.  Her popularity then led to frequent bookings to perform at live shows for Vietnamese audiences in various cities throughout Canada and the United States.  In 1998, under the suggestion of musician/record producer Tùng Giang she relocated to Orange County, Southern California, known as the unofficial capital of overseas Vietnamese entertainment.  Immediately, she began to collaborate as a weekly headliner at the prestigious Majestic Nightclub in Huntington Beach, California.   Right around this time was when she had changed her stage name permanently to Trúc Quỳnh.

In 2001, Trúc Quỳnh traveled to Paris, France for the filming of volume 60 of the Paris By Night live show video series produced by Thúy Nga.  For her debut appearance on the series, Trúc Quỳnh performed a duet with singer Trần Thái Hòa of the song, Xin Một Ngày Mai Có Nhau (written by Đức Huy).  Viewer audiences were captivated by both Trúc Quỳnh's alluring beauty and sensual singing voice.  The following year she was invited back to appear on volume 64 of the Paris By Night series.  This time, Trúc Quỳnh was asked appear in a music video performing a solo number to the song, Tháng 9 Dòng Sông (written by Tuấn Khanh).   

Trúc Quỳnh Being Interviewed
on Trần Quốc Bảo's Television Show

For the remainder of the 2000s decade, Trúc Quỳnh remained as a weekly headliner at the Majestic Nightclub until the closing of its doors in January of 2010.  She also collaborated with Blue Ocean Productions and made numerous appearances on the label's live show video series.  Among her most memorable performances on the Blue Ocean Productions series include the following songs, Giờ Này Anh Ở Đâu (written by Khánh Băng), in a duet with singer Anh Tuấn, and a medley of Lời Tình Buồn and Tháng 6 Trời Mưa (both written by Hoàng Thanh Tâm), in a duet with singer Châu Khanh.  In 2011, Trúc Quỳnh performed on Xuân Yêu Thương 2011, a live show music video showcase produced by Đỗ Thanh Entertainment as part of a quartet the song, Chúc Xuân (written by Thanh Sơn), along with fellow singers Mai Vy, Chiêu Phương and Diệp Thanh Thanh.  After the closing of Majestic Nightclub, Trúc Quỳnh continued to headline weekly at Bleu Nightclub for a number of years.

Anh Tuấn and Trúc Quỳnh Performing Giờ Này Anh Ở Đâu
(Blue Ocean Productions)

Trúc Quỳnh is twice divorced and is a mother of two grown children.  She resides in Santa Ana, California where she owns and operates her own business, a local delicatessen.  

Tran Thanh

Trấn Thành (1987-    ) is a famous Vietnamese comedian, television show host, impressionist, ventriloquist, actor and singer.

Born as Huỳnh Trấn Thành on February 5, 1987 in Ho Chi Minh City, he is of Chinese and Vietnamese descent.  Trấn Thành is fluent in Vietnamese, Cantonese and English.  Since the beginning of his career in entertainment, Trấn Thành has proven to be one of the most diverse talents in Vietnam.  During the last decade, he has conquered the theater, comedy stage, television, cinema and music.  In live theater, Trấn Thành has acted in numerous acclaimed plays such as Bí Quyết Dạy Vợ, Khách Hàng Là Thượng Đế and Xác Chết Loạn Nghĩa Trang.  On the comedy live stage, he has gained a huge following of fans with his portrayals of wacky characters in various comedy sketches, as well as his stand-up routine which includes his uncanny abilities as a voice impressionist.  In numerous live performances and videotaped comedic sketches Trấn Thành has amazed audiences with his remarkable voice impressions of other Vietnamese celebrity performers such as singers Lam Trường, Duy Mạnh, Thanh Lam and Hồng Ngọc, as well as of actors Việt Anh, Thành Lộc, Việt Hương, Minh Nhí, Trung Dân and of folk opera actress Lệ Thủy.  Trấn Thành's achievements as an impressionist have led him to another career as a ventriloquist doing voice overs in the Vietnamese language releases of such worldwide blockbuster animated feature films like Kẻ Cắp Mặt Trăng 2 (Despicable Me 2) (2010), Sóc Chuột Siêu Quậy 3 (Alvin and the Chipmunks:  Chipwrecked) (2011), Madagascar 3: Thần Tượng Châu Âu (Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted) (2012) and Tay Đua Siêu Tốc (Turbo) (2013).  Trấn Thành has become one of the highest in-demand television show hosts in Vietnam.  He has hosted such popular Vietnamese television shows such as Cứ Nói Đi, Gala Cười 2011, Cầu Vồng Nghệ Thuật, Thử Thách Cùng Bước Nhảy and Hát Trên Quê Hương.  On the silver screen, Trấn Thành has appeared in a string of blockbuster hit movies such as Công Chúa Teen và Ngũ Hổ Tướng (2010) starring Bảo Thy, Yến Trang and Hoài Linh, Em Hiền Như Ma Sơ (2010) starring Siu Black, Gia Sư Nữ quái (2012) starring Bảo Thy, Hoài Linh, Isaac, Chí Tài and Dương Cẩm Lynh, Yêu anh! Em dám không? (2013) starring Đan Trường, Miu Lê and Hiếu Hiền, Hai Lúa (2014) starring Thúy Nga, Bí Mật Lại Bị Mất (2014) starring Lý Hải and Nhật Cường, Quý Tử Bất Đắc Dĩ (2015) starring Hoài Linh, Tấn Béo and Việt Hương, Bệnh Viện Ma (2016) starring Hari Won, Nắng (2016) and Nắng 2 (2017), both starring Thu Trang.  And as a singer, Trấn Thành has recorded many duets with various other singers including Lý Hải, Hoàng Châu, Dương Ngọc Thái, Noo Phước Thịnh and Đoan Trang. 

Trấn Thành has appeared on volumes 116 and 117 of the popular overseas Vietnamese live show video series, Paris By Night, produced Thúy Nga.  His performance alongside Anh Đức and Ngọc Giàu in the comedy sketch, Tô Ánh Nguyệt Remix, a parody of the classic Southern Vietnamese folk opera play originally written by Trần Hữu Trang featured on Paris By Night Volume 116 was found to be inappropriate and obscene by the Department of Culture and Information in Vietnam.  On May of 2016, Trấn Thành was fined a total of $32.5 million USD. 

 Trấn Thành and Hari Won on Their Wedding Day (12-25-2016)

On Christmas Day, 2016, Trấn Thành married Vietnamese-Korean singer/actress Hari Won in a wedding ceremony held at the Gem Center in Ho Chi Minh City. 

Link(s):

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 6b

Helen Thanh Dao

Helen Thanh Đào (1977-    ) is a famous actress of Taiwanese television dramas originally from Vietnam.

In 1999, Helen Thanh Đào left Vietnam to resettle in Taipei, Taiwan.  Three years later, she entered a national model search competition in Taiwan where she had placed in the top 5 out of 1,500 contestants.  The exposure Helen Thanh Đào gained from the modeling competition opened many doors for her in Taiwan's entertainment industry.  She then pursued her childhood dream of  becoming an actress landing various roles, from smaller to supporting, on Taiwanese television dramas and freelanced as a model for major international brand name products such as Mugi.   In 2005, Helen Thanh Đào returned to Vietnam and costarred in her first Vietnamese television movie, Đô-la Trắng (White Dollars), alongside veteran martial arts actor Lý Hùng and model/actress Ngọc Thúy.  Her performance as Khánh Băng in her debut Vietnamese television movie won praises from both critics and viewer audiences solidifying her entrance into the Vietnamese entertainment industry.  The following year, Helen Thanh Đào was honored with an HTV Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Television Movie.

For the remainder of the 2000s decade, Helen Thanh Đào was able to enjoy a successful career as an actress on both the silver and small screens in Vietnam, as she traveled back and forth from Taiwan.  Among her television and feature film acting credits in Vietnam during this period include Hai Mảnh Đời (2006) starring Kim Ngân, Hoài An and Cao Minh Đạt, Giá Mua Một Thượng Đế (2006) starring Việt Trinh and Lý Nhã Kỳ, Ván Cờ Tình Yêu (2007) starring Hà Kiều Anh and Huy Khánh, Luật Giang Hồ (2007) starring Kinh Quốc, Cuộc Chiến Hoa Hồng (2008) starring Trương Quỳnh Anh, Lê Khánh, Khương Ngọc and Hữu Châu, Sóng Gió Thương Trường (2008) starring Hoằng Phúc, Trịnh Kim Chi, Công Ninh and Thân Thúy Hà, Tiếng Dương Cầm Trên Biển (2009) starring Minh Tiệp and Jennifer Phạm and Định Mệnh (2009) starring Quốc Cường.

In Taiwan, Helen Thanh Đào reached national prominence in the 2010s starring in several highly rated television drama series.  Among her television acting credits in Taiwan include My Little Honeymoon (2012), for which she was nominated for Best Actress at the 47th annual Golden Bell Awards, Taiwan's equivalent to the Emmy Awards, My Dear Stilt (2012) and Brides Married Here (2016).  Her popularity in both Vietnam and Taiwan led to Helen Thanh Đào being appointed as ambassador of tourism between the two countries.

Since the beginning of her career in Taiwan, Helen Thanh Đào had falsified her personal information to the public concealing her real age, place of birth, ethnic origin and even marital status.  Helen Thanh Đào had initially made claims that she had been born on September 22, 1983 in Taipei, Taiwan to a Taiwanese father and a half-Vietnamese/half-Indian mother.  She had also shared with her public that she had been a foreign exchange student at UCLA and was still an unmarried young woman.  For many years, the Taiwanese paparazzi were only able to speculate about Helen Thanh Đào's personal life and her relationship with her manager, Đới Phát Khuê (Pinyin:  Dai Fa-quei), a Taiwanese former business executive.  More falsified claims would continue to sprout later on in her career as the actress revealed to both the Taiwanese and Vietnamese medias about the sudden loss of her mother in an automobile accident in 2010, followed by her brother's suicide the following year.   As it turned out, both of these tragic events had never actually taken place, but were mere fabrications by the actress as publicity stunts in hopes of gaining sympathy from the public.

Andy Quách (left), Helen Thanh Đào (center) and Thuỳ Anh (right)
 at Movie Premeire of Nếu Ta Còn Bên Nhau (9-20-18)

Finally, on January 8, 2017 at a press conference held in Taipei, Taiwan, Helen Thanh Đào decided to come clean to the public about her personal information.  During the press conference, she revealed that she had actually been born as Nguyễn Thanh Đào on September 23, 1977 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam to both parents whom are Vietnamese and that she was not of mixed with either Taiwanese or Indian blood as she had previously claimed.  She had also confessed that she had never attended UCLA, but had graduated from Hùng Vương University in Ho Chi Minh City with a bachelor's degree in economics prior to resettling in Taiwan.  The actress was most emotional when she admitted to having fabricated the family tragedies involving the untimely passings of her mother and brother to the media several years ago and that both her mother and brother, in fact, were still alive and well today.  The biggest shocker came about when she revealed that she had been married since 1999 to her manager, Dai Fa-quei, who had brought her to Taiwan that same year.  A few weeks following the infamous press conference, Helen Thanh Đào announced that she had filed for divorce on grounds of spousal abuse.  She further explained that her estranged husband had been the mastermind behind the fabricated lies about her personal information told to the media in the past.

Helen Thanh Đào at book signing event in Ho Chi Minh City (6-19-18)

At present, Helen Thanh Đào is trying her best to put her troubled past behind her by keeping busy in her career with several new projects.  On June 19, 2017, Helen Thanh Đào's book, a collection of her photos taken by various photographers around the world, was released in stores across Taiwan and Vietnam.  On November of that same year, Helen Thanh Đào announced that she will be hosting and producing the upcoming Miss Vietnam Global pageant held in Taiwan.  She is also currently working on a new film.   

Mai Quoc Huy

Mai Quốc Huy (1978-     ) is a famous overseas Vietnamese singer of traditional Vietnamese pop music.

He was born on August 29, 1978 in Quảng Trị, Central Vietnam.  His given name at birth is Mai Chiếm Hiến.  He was brought up in a relatively impoverished household.  As economic hardships worsened for his family during the 1990s, at the tender age of 15 he was forced to make the difficult decision to leave his family in Quảng Trị and head out to Ho Chi Minh City in search of employment.  On his own while still a teenager, he found full-time work at a farming equipment retail company in Ho Chi Minh City.  Unlike other youths, he was able to maintain a level head supporting himself with his income and sending whatever that was left over back home each month to help out his family in Quảng Trị.  Several months after he had relocated to Ho Chi Minh City, he seemed to have adjusted well into his daily routine of work and decided to enroll in a music course with musician Nhất Sinh.  Immediately, his instructor was able to recognize his innate vocal talents.  In 1997, he finally took the advice from several friends and his teacher, Nhất Sinh, whom had all encouraged him to seriously consider pursuing a career in music.  Mai Quốc Huy  then began performing nightly at various cabarets and venues throughout Ho Chi Minh City as a professional singer.  Gradually, he would acquire a following of loyal fans whom were enthralled by Mai Quốc Huy's vocal styles reminiscent of his idols, Chế Linh and Trường Vũ.  For the next 10 years,  Mai Quốc Huy's presence would steadily increase within the cabaret circuit throughout Ho Chi Minh City.  On one fateful night in 2007 while performing at the 126 outdoor venue in Ho Chi Minh City,  Mai Quốc Huy sparked the attention of superstar overseas Vietnamese comedian, Hoài Linh, whom was instantly taken by his style of singing.  Hoài Linh then suggested that he record a few demos that he would promise to hand deliver to Tô Ngọc Thuỷ, the CEO of Thúy Nga, the most prominent overseas Vietnamese music production label, once he returned to the United States.  Shortly thereafter, Mai Quốc Huy would be approached by Tô Ngọc Thuỷ during one of her trips to Vietnam with an exclusive recording contract offer.

Mai Quốc Huy made his debut on the Paris By Night stage on volume 88 in a duet peformance with his idol, legendary singer Chế Linh, a medley of songs written by Lam Phương, Thành Phố Buồn and Tình Như Mây Khói, in 2007.  That same year, Thúy Nga released Mai Quốc Huy's debut solo studio album, Hạnh Phúc Quanh Đây.  The title track, which was written by Tô Thanh Tùng, would also become known as one of Mai Quốc Huy's most requested signature songs from audience members during live performances.  From 2007-2008, Mai Quốc Huy appeared on 4 consecutive volumes, 88-91, of the Paris By Night video series which included a duet performance with singer Quỳnh Dung and his solo performances of songs, Bao Giờ Em Quên (written by Duy Khánh) and Xót Xa (also written by Tô Thanh Tùng), which had been one of the three songs he had recorded on the demo tape sent to Tô Ngọc Thuỷ by Hoài Linh a few months prior.  In 2008, Thúy Nga released Mai Quốc Huy's second solo studio album, Bội Bạc.  The title track of this album, written by Hoàng Châu, was also among the three songs recorded by Mai Quốc Huy on that same demo tape.

Just when it seemed Mai Quốc Huy was on his way to superstardom, his career experienced a standstill due to a few personal matters involving his finances and health.  In 2013, it was reported that Mai Quốc Huy was heavily in debt with an amount of over 4 billion VND.  The stress brought on from his financial matters caused him to suffer a stroke that same year along with being hospitalized a total of 10 times.  As of 2016, it seems that Mai Quốc Huy has made a full recovery.  After an 8-year absence, Mai Quốc Huy made his return to the Paris By Night stage on volume 119 in 2016 in a duet performance with singer Châu Ngọc Hà.  He has since appeared on each consecutive volume of the Paris By Night video series with solo performances, as well as duets with singers Ngọc Ngữ, Khánh Lâm and Hương Thủy.  Thúy Nga has since released two more solo studio albums recorded by Mai Quốc Huy, Đừng Trách Anh (2016) and Chia Sẻ Một Niềm Đau (2017).

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 6b

Here are the beautiful homes owned by another 5 Vietnamese celebrities featured in our Vietnamese Celebrity Homes series.

• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 1.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 2.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 3.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 4.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 5a.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 5b.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 6a.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 7a.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 7b.
• Click here to see Vietnamese Celebrity Homes part 8a.

1. Actress Thanh Thúy and her husband, director Đức Thịnh, have recently purchased their dream home located in the 7th district of Ho Chi Minh City.

Interior of Thanh Thúy and Đức Thịnh's Home in Ho Chi Minh City

 2. Comedic actor Trấn Thành had purchased this 3-story house in Ho Chi Minh City years ago right after he had turned into a star.  For years, he has lived in this spacious home with his parents and siblings.  Since their wedding on December of 2016, this is now where both Trấn Thành and his bride, actress/singer Hari Won, call home.

Front Entrance to Living Room
of Trấn Thành's 3-Story Home
 in Ho Chi Minh City

Giao Linh in Her Living Room

3. Legendary singer Giao Linh and her husband have moved back to Vietnam in recent years, after having lived for more than three decades abroad in Canada and the United States.  This recently purchased penthouse apartment located in the 7th district of Ho Chi Minh City is where the singer  calls her home these days.

Giao Linh in Her Garden

 4. Actress/singer Angela Phương Trinh and her family live in this house located in the 8th district of Ho Chi Minh City.  Although the exterior might seem to appear modest, the interior is nothing short of exquisite.

Angela Phương Trinh's Home Located in the 8th District of Ho Chi Minh City

Elegant Interior of Angela Phương Trinh's Home

5. Actor Trường Giang recently purchased this beach house in Phú Quốc Island for a reported $15 billion VND (equivalent to roughly $700,000 USD).  When he and his wife, acclaimed film actress Nabi Nhã Phương are not busy making films, this tropical hideway property is where they call home.  

 Trường Giang's Dining Room

Living Room of Trường Giang's Beach House

Trang Thanh Lan

Trang Thanh Lan (1953-    ) is a famous Vietnamese singer and actress.

Born as Nguyễn Lệ Liễu on June 7, 1953 in Chợ Lớn, South Vietnam, she began studying music with legendary musician/voice coach Tùng Lâm while in her early teen years.  At the age of 15, she made her first live performance as a singer in front of a large gathering as a featured new talent billed as Lệ Liễu in a music festival concert organized by her teacher, Tùng Lâm, held at the Quốc Thanh Auditorium in Saigon.  Immediately following that debut performance, Tùng Lâm decided to give her a new professional stage name as Trang Thanh Lan, which coincided with several of his other pupils he had also given stage names to with the prefix name of "Trang" such as Trang Mỹ Dung, Trang Kim Yến and Trang Kim Phụng.  In 1973, she costarred in the film, Xa Lộ Không Đèn, with Thanh Nga, Hoài Trung, Túy Hoa, Trần Văn Trạch and Dũng Thanh Lâm.

Trang Thanh Lan and Quang Bình

After the Fall of Saigon, Trang Thanh Lan married Quang Bình, the son of legendary singer/actor Hùng Cường.  The two formed a singing duo that became quite popular throughout the 1980s in Vietnam.  Among their most popular songs included Cô Gái Ba Lan Kiêu Kỳ and Ra Giêng Anh Cưới Em.  Quang Bình and Trang Thanh Lan performed nightly at various major venues throughout Ho Chi Minh City.  In 1992, the pair left Vietnam and resettled in Southern California.  In 1993, Quang Bình and Trang Thanh Lan made their debut appearance on volume 20 of Thúy Nga's Paris By Night video series with a performance of the song, Rước Tình Về Với Quê Hương (written by Hoàng Thi Thơ).  Quang Bình and Trang Thanh Lan would be invited back on the Paris By Night stage several more times during the 1990s appearing in ensemble performances with Hương Lan, Phương Hồng Quế and Elvis Phương.  Toward the late 1990s, Trang Thanh Lan began acting in various comedy sketches on the Paris By Night series alongside other performers such as Ái Vân, Thái Châu, Mỹ Huyền, Hồng Đào, Quang Minh, Chí Tài, Loan Châu and Hoài Linh.  Trang Thanh Lan has also acted in comedy sketches featured on the popular live show video series produced by Blue Ocean and Vân Sơn Entertainment.  In 2002, after 20 years of marriage, Quang Bình and Trang Thanh Lan divorced.  Quang Binh decided to move back to Vietnam, while Trang Thanh Lan remained in the United States.     


On February of 2009, Trang Thanh Lan performed live in concert in Vietnam for the first time since she emigrated in 1992.  In a sold out live concert show called Đêm Hội Ngộ Trang Thanh Lan held at the 126 Outdoor Venue in Ho Chi Minh City, she was accompanied with special guest stars Đàm Vĩnh Hưng, Giao Linh, Elvis Phương, Ngọc Sơn, Hiền Thục and Nguyễn Phi Hùng.  The following month, Trang Thanh Lan held another successful concert event in Ho Chi Minh City titled as Trang Thanh Lan và Những Chàng Trai with special guests Đàm Vĩnh Hưng, Thái Châu, Giang Tử, Mạnh Đình, Thế Anh and Quang Bình, marking their first performance together since their divorce back in 2002. 

Trang Thanh Lan resides in Orange County, California.  She is a mother of a grown son.