Thanh Kim Hue

Thanh Kim Huệ (1954- 2021) was a famous actress of Southern Vietnamese folk opera known as "cải lương".

Born as Bùi Thị Huệ on November 14, 1955 in Saigon, South Vietnam, she made her professional debut on the Southern Vietnamese folk opera theater stage at the tender age of 13.  One year later, Thanh Kim Huệ would meet her future husband, fellow Southern Vietnamese folk opera actor Thanh Điền who is 8 years her senior, while she was  performing with the Hoa Phượng Folk Opera Theater Troupe.  She along with Thanh Điền would later join the Kim Chung 2 Folk Opera Theater Troupe.  Prior to 1975, Thanh Kim Huệ had already established herself as one of the brightest, young talents of the Southern Vietnamese folk opera theater starring in many successful "cải lương" plays including Chuyện Tình Lan và Điệp with Chí Tâm, Đời Cô Hạnh with Minh Vương, Mỹ Châu, Phượng Liên and Thanh Tuấn and Đường Gươm Nguyên Bá with Minh Vương, Thanh Tuấn, Chí Tâm, Thanh Sang and Hồng Nga.



Married to Thanh Điền since 1975, the couple were parents to two grown children, a son named Nguyễn Đăng Quang (b. 1977) and a daughter named Nguyễn Đức Hồng Loan (b. 1986).  Both she and her husband had been able to maintain successful, uninterrupted careers as performers of Southern Vietnamese folk opera after the Fall of Saigon.  Up until her death, the couple had resided in Ho Chi Minh City where they owned and operated a professional photography studio located on the first floor of their home.  Thanh Kim Huệ passed away on December 23, 2021 in Ho Chi Minh City after a long battle with cancer.  She is interred at the Hoa Vien Cemetery in the provincial town of Binh Duong.  .

  

Truong Giang

Trường Giang (1983-    ) is a famous Vietnamese comedian, actor and scriptwriter.

Võ Vũ Trường Giang was born on April 20, 1983 in the rural district known as Long Thành of Đồng Nai Province, Southern Vietnam.  He grew up in an impoverished household as the fifth eldest in a family of 6 children.

A college dropout, Trường Giang struggled for many years at the beginning of his career while in his twenties.  In 2007, he was discovered by the late stage actor Hữu Lộc who recruited him as a regular performer for Nụ Cười Mới, a popular live comedy theater in Saigon.  After 4 years working as a comedian and scriptwriter at Nụ Cười Mới, it seemed as if Trường Giang was going nowhere in his career.  Finally, on July of 2011, his big break came about when he was asked by singer Đàm Vĩnh Hưng to write him a script for a comedy sketch.  Trường Giang then performed alongside Đàm Vĩnh Hưng in the wildly successful Khó ở Liveshow Bước Chân Miền Trung where he portrayed his signature comedic character role known as "Mười Khó", a wise cracking old man from Quảng Nam Province.  From then on, Trường Giang has become one of the biggest names among entertainers in Vietnam.  For nearly the last two decades, Trường Giang has written, produced and starred in numerous well-received comedy sketches live on stage, television and videotapes alongside some of the top Vietnamese performers such as Trấn Thành, Cát Phượng, Kiều Minh Tuấn, Chí Tài, Hoàng Sơn, Lâm Vỹ Dạ, Thanh Tân, Hồng Nga, Phi Nhung, Hoài Linh, Nhật Cường, Việt Hương and Cẩm Ly.  Among his most popular comedy sketches include Oan Gia (2013), Sinh Nghề Tử Nghiệp (2014), Chuyến Xe Ngày Tết (2015), Ông Tào Ông Lao (2015) and Tình Trai Bèo - Chàng Hề Xứ Quảng 1 (2015).

Nhã Phương and Trường Giang

In addition to his accomplishments as a comedian, Trường Giang has also enjoyed successful careers as a television show host and as an actor of television and film.  On television, he has hosted such successful shows like Hội Ngộ Danh Hài (2013), Ơn Giời! Cậu Đây Rồi (2014), Bí Mật Đêm Chủ Nhật (2015), Ca Sĩ Giấu Mặt (2015), Siêu Bất Ngờ (2016), Kỳ Tài Thách Đấu (2016) and 7 Nụ Cười Xuân (2018).  Among his film acting credits include Năm Sau Con Lại Về (2014) starring Hoài Linh, Nhật Cường, Lê Khánh and Ngọc Giàu, Bí Mật Lại Bị Mất (2014) starring Lý Hải, Sơn Đẹp Trai (2015) starring Bằng Kiều, Lật Mặt 2 (2015) starring Lý Hải and Kim Xuân, 49 Ngày (2015) starring Nhã Phương, Già Gân, Mỹ Nhân và Găng Tơ (2015) starring Hoài Linh and Tóc Tiên, Taxi, Em Tên Gì? (2016) starring Angela Phương Trinh, 49 Ngày 2 (2017) starring Nhã Phương, Ngô Kiến Huy and Hari Won and Siêu Sao Siêu Ngố (2018) starring Đức Thịnh and Thanh Thúy.  Trường Giang has won a total of 8 Mai Vàng Awards (Golden Orchids), 3 for best comedian in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, 3 for best stage actor in the years 2015, 2016 and 2017, 1 for best actor in a television series or film in the year 2016 and 1 for best television show host in the year 2016.  Trường Giang has appeared on 4 volumes of Thúy Nga's Paris By Night video series (volumes 116, 118, 119 and 120) in comedy sketches alongside Thúy Nga, Đức Huy, Hoài Tâm , Hoài Linh and Chí Tài.

Trường Giang is also the owner of a restaurant located in the 3rd district of Ho Chi Minh City called Cơm Quê Mười Khó.  He is engaged to actress Nhã Phương.  The two of them live in his recently purchased beach house located in Phú Quốc Island.

Link(s):

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 6b

Next 25

Here are the next 25 Vietnamese celebrities to be featured.  VietCeleb.BlogSpot.com already has 400 bios of Vietnamese celebs posted.  After these 25 upcoming bios, the total will be 425.  Wow!

Thanh Kim Huệ:  Southern Vietnamese Folk Opera Actress

Duy Trường:  Overseas Vietnamese Pop Singer

Gaile Lok:  Hong Kong Film and Television Actress/Fashion Model of Vietnamese and Chinese Descent

Trường Giang:  Vietnamese Actor 

Trizzie Phương Trinh:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer

Trường Hải:  Vietnamese Singer/Songwriter

Ánh Minh:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer

Thanh Bùi:  Australian Pop Singer/Songwriter of Vietnamese Descent

Chi Pu:  Vietnamese Actress

Khánh Hoàng:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer and Radio Announcer

Ngọc Minh:  Vietnamese Singer and Former Cinema of Saigon Actress

Mai Tiến Dũng:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer

Kelly Marie Tran:  Vietnamese-American Film Actress

Huy Khánh:  Vietnamese Actor

Ngọc Huệ:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer

Anh Ngọc:  Legendary Vietnamese Singer  

Ngọc Hạ:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer

Jowan Le Besco:  French actor, director, scriptwriter and cameraman of Vietnamese, French, Breton and Algerian descent

Thủy Tiên:  Vietnamese Singer/Actress

Hoàng Dũng:  Amerasian Overseas Vietnamese Singer

Phương Hồng Hạnh:  Vietnamese Singer

Ðặng Thế Luân:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer

Lana Condor:  Vietnamese-American Actress

Ngô Kiến Huy:  Vietnamese Singer/Actor 

Chiêu Phương:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer

Kỳ Anh

Kỳ Anh (1968-    ) also known as Thiệu Kỳ Anh, is an overseas Vietnamese singer.

He was born as Bùi Thiệu Kỳ Anh to Roman Catholic parents of Northern Vietnamese origin in Saigon, where he lived with his family until the age of 22.  In 1990, Kỳ Anh and his family resettled in the United States.  Two years later, he entered and won the talent competition known as Tuyển Lựa Ca Sĩ Hải Ngọai held at the Ritz Nightclub in Anaheim, California.  As part of his prize winning, Kỳ Anh was given a contract as a weekly performer at the presitgious nightclub.  In 1993, Kỳ Anh scored a major hit with the recording of what has become known as his signature song, Trở Về Cát Bụi.  The popularity of the song through his recording gave the misconception to many of Kỳ Anh's fans that he had been written the song, himself, when in fact, Trở Về Cát Bụi was a song he had heard sung by a homeless street performer back in Ho Chi Minh City sometime during the 1980s.  The song had touched Kỳ Anh so deeply that he was determined to record it on his debut studio solo album.  For the remainder of the 1990s, Kỳ Anh continued to dish out more studio albums, including duets with various singers such as Ngọc Huệ, Khả Tú and La Sương Sương and performed at live shows for Vietnamese audiences throughout the United States and Canada.

At the turn of the century, Kỳ Anh decided to leave behind his music career.  He left his long-time residence in Orange County, California and moved to Northern California resettling in the Bay Area.  From early on, Kỳ Anh had always possessed a business mind as he had become the owner of several successful businesses such as Cafe Điện Ảnh and Bà Chiểu Food-to-Go while simultaneously maintaining his career in music.  With a series of unfortunate incidents in his personal life including the passing of his father in 2000, Kỳ Anh then decided to take a lengthy hiatus from the music industry and concentrated more on his business ventures. 

Finally in 2007, after nearly 7 years spent away from the spotlight, Kỳ Anh resurfaced with a new studio album, Khi Con Tim Biết Yêu, in which he had recorded together with singer Như Quỳnh and released under his own production label, Thiệu Kỳ Anh Productions.  His return to the music industry, however, would only be brief as Kỳ Anh once again decided to step away from the spotlight the following year and has yet to come out of hiatus since then.  

Nhã Phương (Actress)

For the singer, see Nhã Phương (Singer).

Nhã Phương (1990-    ) also known as Nabi Nhã Phương, is a famous Vietnamese actress of television and film.

Born as Trần Thị Nhã Phương on May 20, 1990 in Đắk Lắk, Vietnam, she is the third eldest in a family of 5 children.  She is the winner of 2 Mai Vàng Awards (Golden Orchid Awards) for best actress.

Among her television acting credits include Những Thiên Thần Áo Trắng (2010) starring Miu Lê, Nam Cường, Midu, Lan Phương, Mỹ Duyên and Phi Thanh Vân, Gia Đình Số Đỏ (2010) starring Quang Minh, Hồng Đào, Ngọc Quyên and Don Nguyễn, 30 Ngày Làm Cha (2010) starring Tấn Beo, Hạnh Phúc Quanh Đây (2011) starring Hải Băng, Anh Chàng Vượt Thời Gian (2011), Hoàng Tử Xấu Trai (2011) starring Duy Khoa and Vi Minh, Trường Nội Trú (2012) starring Kha Ly, Hoa Nắng (2012) starring Lê Bê La, Lạc Mất Linh Hồn (2012) starring Hoàng Anh, Cô Nàng Nặng Cân (2012) starring Lê Khánh, Nơi Tình Yêu Ở Lại (2012) starring Lâm Thùy Linh and Minh Sang, Bản Lĩnh Công Tử (2013) starring Huỳnh Anh, Cuộc Chiến Quý Ông (2014) starring Lương Thế Thành, Tâm Tít and Thân Thúy Hà, Vừa Đi Vừa Khóc (2014) starring Lương Mạnh Hải, Minh Hằng, Ninh Dương Lan Ngọc and Phương Thanh, Hương Bưởi (2014) starring Nhan Phúc Vinh, Tuổi Thanh Xuân (2014) for which she won her first Golden Orchid Award for best actress, starring Kang Tae Oh and Hồng Đăng, Tráo Ông Thổ Địa (2015) starring Ngọc Hùng, Trả Giá (2015) starring Quốc Trường, Zippo, Mù Tạt và Em (2016) for which she won her second Golden Orchid Award for best actress, starring Phạm Anh Tuấn and Bình An and Ngày Ấy Mình Đã Yêu (2018) starring Lương Thế Thành and Nhan Phúc Vinh.

Among her feature film acting credits include Cát Nóng (2012) starring Quách Ngọc Ngoan, Quả Tim Máu (Vengeful Heart) (2014) starring Thái Hòa, 49 Ngày (2015) starring Trường Giang, 49 Ngày 2 (2016) starring Trường Giang and Hari Won, Lôi Báo (2017) starring Cường Seven, Yêu Đi, Đừng Sợ! (2017) starring Ngô Kiến Huy and Hoán Đổi (2017) starring Việt Hương.

Nabi Nhã Phương is engaged to fellow actor Trường Giang.

Link(s):

Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 6b

Nabi Nhã Phương Facebook Page

Kym Purling

Kym Purling (1972-    ) is a famous Australian pianist of Vietnamese origin. 

Originally from Saigon, he was the first international adoption of any nationality in Australia.  Kym Purling graduated from Westminster High School, a private school in Adelaide, Australia and received a bachelor's in music from the University of Adelaide.  He then formed the Kym Purling Trio and recorded albums, Trio Juice, Catherine Lambert & The Kym Purling Trio, and Let's Swing!

He served as Ambassador for the Performing Arts between Australia and Vietnam in 1996.  That same year, Kym Purling held sold-out concerts in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi. 

Kym Purling has since moved to the United States, resettling in New York City.  He has held concerts throughout Australia, the United States, Canada, Japan, Brazil, France, the United Kingdom and Holland.  Kym Purling has opened up for Julio Iglesias, Sandra Bernhard, James Morrison, Ray Brown and Arturo Sandoval.  Kym Purling has also worked as musical director on Broadway for shows such as Footloose, 42nd Street and Miss Saigon.

In 1996, he was awarded Most Outstanding Pianist of the Year by the South Australian Music Industry Awards. 

Link(s):

KymPurling.com

Viet Hung

Việt Hùng (1923-2001) was a famous Southern Vietnamese folk opera actor.

Originally from Nha Trang, he had been given the name, Nguyễn Hữu Hùng, at birth.  After the untimely passing of his father, he along with his mother and older sister moved to Đà Lạt and then finally to Saigon.  At the age of 19, he began his career in entertainment as a pop singer working with the likes of musician Mạnh Phát along with singers Minh Diệu, Minh Trang and Kim Tước.  In 1948, Việt Hùng traveled to Paris, France to record an album for the French record label, Pathé Marconi.

Ngọc Nuôi & Việt Hùng

Việt Hùng eventually made the transition to Southern Vietnamese folk opera.  He found great success starring in such Southern Vietnamese folk opera plays like Tình Tráng Sĩ and Đồ Bàn Di Hận, opposite Út Bạch Lan, and Nửa Đời Hương Phấn with Thanh Nga.  In 1950, he met and married fellow Southern Vietnamese folk opera performer, Ngọc Nuôi.  His first marriage had been to a nurse back during the 1940s in which he had fathered a son.  Together with Ngọc Nuôi, the pair starred in numerous successful Southern Vietnamese folk opera plays such as Khi Đào Hát Trả Ơn, Đàn Chim Sắt, Đường Lên Xứ Thái, Đoạn Tuyệt and Mỹ Nhân & Loạn Tướng.  The couple would have a total of 6 children together who would later on form a popular rock band in Saigon known as The Crazy Dogs.

On April 30, 1975, just hours prior to the Fall of Saigon, Việt Hùng's family would be separated as he along with four of his children, Việt Tài, Việt Năng, Ngọc Châu and Ngọc Quý, were rescued by an American helicopter while his wife, Ngọc Nuôi, daughter, Ngọc Bích, and son, Việt Sinh, were left behind.  He missed with his wife and three children back in Vietnam dearly.  As months turned into years, with no diplomatic relations between the United States and Vietnam during the 1970s and 1980s, it seemed like a reunion for his family was light years away.  During the early 1980s, he met and married his third wife, Gia Mỹ.

Once resettled in the United States, Việt Hùng continued on with his career performing for overseas Vietnamese audiences.  He traveled to Canada, Australia and various countries in Europe performing recitals of classic Southern Vietnamese folk opera plays.  Việt Hùng reprised his roles in numerous video adaptations produced in the United States for overseas Vietnamese audiences such as Tiếng Hạc Trong Trăng, Nửa Đời Hương Phấn and Lan và Điệp.  In 1988, he costarred with Hữu Phước, Hương Lan, Thành Được, Dũng Thanh Lâm, Phượng Mai and Băng Châu in the play, Tấm Lòng Của Biển, at the Anaheim Convention Center in front of an audience of 7,000 people.

In 1989, his wife from Vietnam, Ngọc Nuôi, and two children arrived in the United States.  The family reunion would prove to be bittersweet as he had to break the news of his marriage to Gia Mỹ.

On July 27, 2001, Việt Hùng celebrated his 60th anniversary at a sold out event held in his honor in Orange County, California.  Five months later, on December 31, 2001, Việt Hùng passed away from respiratory failure.  His wife, Ngọc Nuôi, followed him on September 23, 2002.