Aïna Quach

Aïna Quach (1993-    ) is a multilingual pop singer of Belgian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Malagasy descent.

Born on March 22, 1993 in Longjumeau, France to a half Belgian and half Chinese-Vietnamese father and a Malagasy mother, she was raised in Courcouronnes, a suburb south of Paris.  From a young age, Aïna Quach was heavily influenced by the musicians in her family, particularly her aunt who was a famous singer from Madagascar.  At the age of 9, Aïna Quach made her debut live performance in front of an audience of 1,500 at a concert held in honor of the Malagasy ambassador to France in Paris.  From then on, she had realized her dream of one day becoming a professional singer.

As a youth, Aïna Quach learned to play the piano and also acted in theater, most notably in a production of Les Misérables at the Trianon de Paris Theater where she portrayed the role of Cosette.  At the age of 13, she met and befriended famous Malagasy guitarist/singer Erick Manana who would become her mentor in her music career over the years.  The two recorded a duet album together in 2006 in the Malagasy language which would officially introduce Aïna Quach to the national pop music industry in Madagascar.  On July of 2007, Aïna Quach was the featured special guest performer at the 35th anniversary concert of the legendary Malagasy folk music group, Mahaleo, held at the Olympia in Paris where she sang a memorable duet of the song, Mimoza, with the group's lead singer Dama.  The following year, Aïna Quach would embark on several successful concert tours in Madagascar beginning with several sold out dates at the prestigious Palais des Sports de Mahamasina in the capital city of Antananarivo headlining alongside such big names in the Malagasy music industry like Poopy, Dodo and Fafa.  In 2009, she traveled to the United States to collaborate on her solo studio album, What I Want, which consisted of songs recorded in English at a major studio in Miami, Florida, with composer/record producer Mikey Bassie who had worked with the likes of some of the top American pop music artists such as Britney Spears, Gloria Estefan and Joey McIntyre.  Aïna Quach would return to North America on June of the following year to perform in a pair of highly successful concert shows commemorating Madagascar's 50th year of independence held in New York and Canada, as she along with Malagasy pop singer Marius Fenoamby had been selected by the Malagasy overseas mission as featured headliners for the event.  Aïna Quach  has since made numerous triumphant returns to Madagascar to perform live in concert for her many adoring Malagasy fans.

After graduating from high school in 2011, Aïna Quach decided to further her studies and enrolled at the prestigious l'Académie des Arts Urbains in Paris, France.  That same year, she also began collaborating with Jessy Matador, the up and coming rising young star of French pop music who had represented France at Eurovision in 2010.  It was through her association with Jessy Matador that she would later become acquainted with renowned composer Wilson Silva, who had written the music for his hit song, Mini Kaoulé.   In 2014, Wilson Silva and Aïna Quach collaborated in the production of their first hit single together entitled as Come.  During the fall of that same year, Aïna Quach was selected by Khanh Mai, the founder and original member of the legendary French progressive rock group, Tai Phong, as the group's new lead female vocalist for a successful concert tour of Japan.  The album, Tai Phong:  Live in Japan, would be released two years later which featured several live tracks with Aïna Quach on lead vocals.  Earlier in 2016, Je t’emmènerai, another collaboration between Wilson Silva and Aïna Quach, was released as a single.

Since August 30, 2015, Aïna Quach has been engaged to Wilson Silva.  At present, the pair are working on an upcoming studio album and plans for a world tour.

Link(s):

Aïna Quach Facebook Page

Cardin Nguyen

Cardin Nguyễn (1978-    ) is a popular overseas Vietnamese singer, songwriter and musician signed with the prominent music label, Asia Entertainment.

Asia 4

Born on November 11, 1978 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Cardin Nguyễn grew up primarily in Houston, Texas after resettling there with his family in 1989.  His father is famous Vietnamese singer/composer Đình Huấn.  In 2000, he moved to Orange County, California and began his lengthy collaboration with Asia Entertainment as one of the founding members of the all-male quartet known as Asia 4 along with Evan Lê, Spencer and James Nguyễn.  From 2000 until 2003, Asia 4 appeared on a total of 9 volumes of the popular live show video series produced by Asia Entertainment.  Almost instantaneously the quartet made up of 4 talented, young Vietnamese-American male vocalists were able to reach the specific young adult demographics of overseas Vietnamese audiences with their ability of singing bilingually in English and Vietnamese, thus gaining for themselves a large following of fans.  Among their most popular recorded songs for Asia Entertainment included Will You Still, Tell Me, Why Lie to Me and The Last Promise.  Cardin Nguyễn had also written and composed many of the songs recorded by Asia 4.

In 2004, Cardin Nguyễn embarked on a solo career breaking away from Asia 4.  His appearance on volume 41 of the popular video series produced by Asia Entertainment where he performed The Chase, a song he had written, in a duet with singer Trish Thùy Trang was widely received by Vietnamese music lovers worldwide.  That same year, Asia Entertainment released his first solo studio album, Trái Tim Dại Khờ (Foolish Heart), which became the label's bestselling album of 2004.  Cardin Nguyễn has enjoyed an uninterrupted, lengthy association with Asia Entertainment which continues to this day.  He has recorded duets with various other artists including Sỹ Đan, Cát Lynh and Thùy Hương.  Cardin Nguyễn has performed in live concerts for Vietnamese audiences all over the world.

Link(s):

• Cardin Nguyen Facebook Page

Lan Ngoc

For the film actress often credited as Lan Ngọc, see Ninh Dương Lan Ngọc.


Lan Ngọc (1948-    ) is a legendary Vietnamese singer mostly famous for her vocal interpretations  of songs written by the late Vietnamese composer, Trịnh Công Sơn.  

As a young girl, Lan Ngọc had already developed a keen interest in music and often exemplified her natural God-given singing talents in the school choir.  At the age of 19, she officially turned professional upon the introduction from family friends, Mạnh Phát and Minh Diệu, a husband-and-wife team of entertainers to Đài Phát Thanh Pháp Á, the french national radio broadcasting network in Saigon, which debuted her very first recording of the song, Con Thuyền Không Bến (written by Đặng Thế Phong).  Shortly thereafter, Lan Ngọc began recording for various major record labels of South Vietnam such as Nghệ Thuật Tâm Anh, Continental and Dư Âm.  Among her most popular recorded songs included Tiếng Thời Gian (written by Mạnh Phát), Tiếng Tơ Đồng (written by Văn Phụng and Hoàng Trọng), Tiếng Thùy Dương (written by Châu Kỳ), Trở Về Bến Mơ (written by Ngọc Bích) and Biệt Ly (written by Dzoãn Mẫn).  Lan Ngọc became a nightly headliner at some of the top cabarets in Saigon such as Vân Cảnh, Queen Bee, Maxim, Đêm Màu Hồng, La Sirene and Khánh Ly Nightclub, owned by singer Khánh Ly.  

In 1972, Lan Ngọc got married to a doctor.  After the Fall of Saigon, she, like many other established singers prior to 1975, took a break away from the spotlight for a number of years.  After giving birth to her daughter, Bảo Trang, in 1982, Lan Ngọc resumed her singing career.  During the late 1990s, she opened a restaurant/cabaret in Ho Chi Minh City named Ân Nam.  In 2004, she released her studio album, Phôi Pha, a collection of songs written and composed by Trịnh Công Sơn.  Despite her settled life as owner of a successful restaurant along with an established career as a singer in Vietnam, Lan Ngọc and her husband decided to resettle in the United States in 2014 to be near their daughter who now works as a medical doctor in Southern California.  

Lan Ngọc currently resides in Orange County, California with her husband and grown daughter.  She continues to perform at live shows in various cities for Vietnamese communities across the United States.  She is best friends with singer Hồng Vân.  

Here Are 25 More.....

Our next 25 featured Vietnamese celebs are a combination of Viet Celebs of Pre-'75 Saigon, Overseas Viet Celebs Since 1975, World Celebs of Viet Descent, Celebs of Vietnam Today, Blast from the Past Viet Celebs and Tributes/ In Memory Of Viet Celebs.

1. Lan Ngọc: Vietnamese Singer

2. Cardin Nguyễn:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer

3. Aïna Quach:  French Singer of Belgian, Chinese-Vietnamese and Malagasy Descent

4. Noo Phước Thịnh:  V-Pop Singing Sensation
and Actor of Vietnamese Film and Television

5. Hà Kiều Anh:  Actress and Former Miss Vietnam Titleholder

6. Tấn Tài:  Late Legendary Southern Vietnamese Folk Opera Actor 

7. Thúy Khanh:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer and DJ

8. Lee Nguyen:  American Major League Soccer Player for New England Revolution

9. Trang Nhung:  Vietnamese Singer

10. Johnny Dũng:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer

11. Ngọc Đan Thanh:  Vietnamese Singer and Former Saigon Cinema Actress

12. Quốc Khanh:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer 

13. Mayko Nguyen:  Canadian Film and Television Actress of  Vietnamese Descent

14. Đăng Khôi:  Vietnamese Pop Singer

15. Nhật Hạ:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer, Model and Actress

16. Paolo Tuấn:  Legendary Vietnamese Pop Singer 

17. Linda Chou:  Overseas Vietnamese-Chinese Singer 

18. Nicolas Lê Phát Tân:  French Cinema Actor and Producer of Vietnamese Origin

19. Ngô Mỹ Uyên:  Magician, Actress and Former Miss Vietnam Titleholder

20. Lê Tuấn Anh:  Former Cinema of Saigon Actor-Turned-Restaurateur

22. Đoàn Phi:  Overseas Vietnamese Singer
 With Asia Entertainment

21. Bích Thuận:  Legendary Vietnamese Actress
of Film and Stage

23. Vicky Nguyen:  Award-Winning Vietnamese-American News Anchor

24. Hà Anh Tuấn:  Vietnamese Pop Singer

25. Ngọc Quyên:  Vietnamese Model/Actress

Anh Dung

Anh Dũng (1957-    ) is an overseas Vietnamese singer, stage actor and popular television and radio host.

Originally from Đà Lạt, Central Vietnam, Nguyễn Anh Dũng began his career in music as a singer for the Lâm Đồng Troupe while still living in Vietnam.  Prior to leaving his homeland, he had been a popular performer at various nightclubs in Đà Lạt with the exceptional abilities of singing in Vietnamese, French and English.  In 1991, he moved to the United States and resettled in Orange County, California.  After winning a karaoke contest held at Phước Lộc Thọ (Asian Garden Mall) located in the Little Saigon community of Westminster, California, he was encouraged by friends the following year to compete in the Giọng Ca Vàng televised talent competition held at the Ritz Nightclub in Anaheim, produced by Ngọc Chánh.  His effortless performances covering such songs like Áo Lụa Hà Đông (written by Nguyên Sa and composed by Ngô Thụy Miên), Anh Đến Thăm Em Một Chiều Mưa (written by Tô Vũ), a Tom Jones classic, Delilah (written by Barry Mason) and what would later become known as one of his signature songs, Còn Chút Gì Để Nhớ (written by Phạm Duy) resulted in his winning the competition along with another male vocalist, Hoài Nam.  For his winning prize, he was given a contract as an exclusive weekly performer at the Ritz Nightclub joining the lineup of other weekly headliners such as Carol Kim, Jimmy Joseph, Ý Lan, Hương Thơ, Mỹ Huyền. Lilian, Henry Chúc and Đài Trang.  In the winter of 1993, Anh Dũng shot the music video to his signature song, Còn Chút Gì Để Nhớ, for Shotguns Productions.  Shortly thereafter, he would sign as an exclusive recording artist with Diễm Xưa Productions which would release 3 of his solo studio albums.  In 1999, Anh Dũng made his first appearance on volume 49 of the popular Paris By Night live show video series produced by Thúy Nga with a reprisal performance of his signature song, Còn Chút Gì Để Nhớ.  He has since made many return appearances on several more volumes of the Paris By Night series with memorable performances of songs like Bến Xuân (written by Văn Cao), Tiếng Dương Cầm (written by Văn Phụng) and Em Về Chàng Chẳng Cho Về, in a duet with singer Ái Vân.  Anh Dũng has also recorded for various other overseas Vietnamese music production labels such as Thế Giới Nghệ Thuật and Tình Productions.  He has recorded duets with various other artists including Mỹ Huyền, Julie Quang, Như Mai, Thiên Kim and Phi Khanh.

Right around the time his singing career was launched, Anh Dũng had also embarked on another successful career as a radio talk show host.  Toward the end of 1993, he began collaborating with Little Saigon Radio as co-host of the daily afternoon talk show along with Thúy An, which followed the morning program hosted by Việt Dzũng and Minh Phượng.  Throughout the 1990s, Anh Dũng became one of the most popular radio personalities within the overseas Vietnamese communities of the United States.  He had also co-hosted several volumes of the popular live show video series produced by Asia Entertainment along with singer Quỳnh Hương.  Anh Dũng has acted in over 20 Vietnamese play productions alongside such veteran performers like Túy Hồng, Hồng Đào, Quang Minh and Ðoàn Mai Phương.

Anh Dũng currently co-hosts Viet Face TV, a daily news program which airs on Direct TV Channel 2076, with Tyler Diệp.  In addition, since 2002 he has worked full-time as a pharmacy technician at the VA Hospital in Long Beach, California.  Anh Dũng and his wife are long-time residents of Westminster, California.  

Angela Phuong Trinh

Angela Phương Trinh (1995-    ) often credited simply as Phương Trinh, is a beautiful Vietnamese pop singer, actress, model and former child star.

Born as Lê Ngọc Phương Trinh on February 8, 1995 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, she grew up in a working class household.  Her father worked as a tailor and her mother worked at the local street market selling homemade xôi, a Vietnamese dessert made from glutinous rice.  Despite their limited financial resources, her parents still managed to provide an adequate upbringing for her which included proper schooling and private music lessons.  As a child, her parents had already recognized Angela's natural talents and encouraged her to participate in performing arts.  At the age of 7, Angela Phương Trinh was cast in her first professional acting role in the television series, Kính Vạn Hoa, portraying the character, Diệp, as a child during the first two seasons.  She then quickly rose to become one of the most popular child actors on television in Vietnam.  Throughout her adolescence, Angela Phương Trinh starred in a string of popular television mini-series including Mùi Ngò Gai (2005) with Ngọc Trinh, Kim Xuân, Thành Lộc and Hồng Ánh,  Người Mẹ Nhí (2006), Mùa Hè Sôi Động (2009), Thiên Sứ Lông Bông (2009) with Cát Phượng, Những Ông Bố Độc Thân (2010), Thứ 3 Học Trò (2010) with Đông Nhi, Đan Trường and Thanh Thảo, Tiểu Thư Đi Học (2011), Linh Lan Trắng (2011), Tiểu Thư Lọ Lem (2011). Đồng Hồ Cát (2012) and Áo Cưới Thiên Đường (2012) with Huy Khánh, Ngọc Diệp, Trịnh Kim Chi and the late Wanbi Tuấn Anh.  Since turning 18, Angela Phương Trinh as an adult actress has shifted from television more toward feature films.  Among her most popular feature films include Tri Tâm (2013), Biết Chết Liền (2013) starring Chí Tài, Sứ Mệnh Trái Tim (2016) starring Trần Bảo Sơn, Vệ Sỹ, Tiểu Thư và Thằng Khờ (2016) starring Việt Anh and singer-turned-actor Bằng Kiều and Taxi, Em Tên Gì? (2016) starring Trường Giang and Khánh Hiền.

Angela Phương Trinh in Seoul, South Korea 

In addition to her accomplishments as an actress, during her teenage years Angela Phương Trinh had also embarked on a career as a successful Vietnamese pop singer.  Among her biggest hit singles have included Ngại Ngùng (written by Lưu Thiên Hương), My Boy (written by Jong Kay Đặt), Ngày Anh Đến (written by Liêu Hưng), Con Tim Mong Manh (written by Quốc Cường) and Có Khi Nào Anh (written by Phúc Trường).

While still a teenager, Angela Phương Trinh had become the topic of several scandals widely publicized in the Vietnamese tabloids which replaced her image of a wholesome child actress to a wild party girl.  Such rumors started to circulate after it had been revealed that Angela Phương Trinh's grades had suffered immensely due to poor attendance during her 9th grade year.  Ultimately, this led to her decision to drop out of high school altogether at the age of 14.  In order to salvage her reputation, Angela Phương Trinh initially went public claiming that her failure in academics was caused by the demands of her acting career.  However, as countless photos taken by the Vietnamese paparazzi of Angela Phương Trinh carousing about at late night parties surfaced on the internet and tabloid magazines, it was obvious that her credibility was being diminished.  Three years later, Angela Phương Trinh's name would be splattered all over the internet as modeling photos she had taken for a bikini line had gone viral leaving many of her fans shocked at how an underage girl could be seen photographed in such carnal poses.  To make matters worse, another scandal followed immediately that same year of a whirlwind May-December relationship which lasted 5 months involving Angela Phương Trinh, who was then just 17 years old, and her lover, a 41-year-old cosmetic surgeon, Dr. Chiêm Quốc Thái.

Link(s):

• Vietnamese Celebrity Homes Part 6b
• 30 Sexiest Vietnamese Celebs of 2016

Jean-Claude Tran

Jean-Claude Tran (1966-    ) is a French actor of stage, television and film originally from Saigon, South Vietnam.

He was born on February 2, 1966 into a famous Vietnamese showbiz family of performers,  His father was the legendary Southern Vietnamese folk opera actor, Hữu Phước.  Both of his older sisters are famous overseas Vietnamese pop singers, Hương Lan and Hương Thanh.  His youngest brother is accomplished French actor Steve Tran.

While still living in Saigon at the age of 5, Jean-Claude Tran made his silver screen debut in the Vietnamese feature film, Lẽ Sống Đời Tôi, portraying the main character, Minh.  Two years after the Fall of Saigon, Jean-Claude Tran resettled in Paris, France along with the rest of the members of his family.  Throughout his adolescence in Paris, he learned and mastered the French language and enrolled in numerous theater courses to study acting.  In 1982, Jean-Claude Tran made his professional debut as a French actor with a part in the Maxime Gorki classical play, Les Bas-Fonds, at the Théâtre de la Ville in Paris, France.  Two years later, he landed a small part in his first French feature film, L'Arbalète (The Syringe), directed by Sergio Gobbi.  The following year, Jean-Claude Tran began to gain prominence in French cinema after landing a significant role as Loulou in the film, Hors-la-Loi, directed by Robin Davis.  He continued with further success in the 1985 film, Le Fils du Mékong, winning critical praise for his portrayal of one of the main characters, Trung.  Among his other notable acting credits in French cinema include Sept Ans de Mariage (2003), Cabaret Paradis (2006), Protéger et Servir (2010), La Vérité si Je Mens ! 3 (2012), Koan de Printemps (2012), Le Voyageur (2015) and Je Ne Suis Pas un Homme Facile (2017).  In addition, Jean-Claude Tran has starred in, written and directed several short films in French cinema including Le Chemin (2006), 60 Secondes (2010) and Quelques Jours Avec Toi (2016).  He has also provided his voice dubbed for roles portrayed by other actors in several major feature films of French cinema such as Indochine (1992), Les Anges Gardiens (1995) and Holy Lola (2003).

Since the early 1990s, Jean-Claude Tran has also enjoyed success as an actor on French television.  He has made numerous guest appearances on various popular French television shows including Le Voyageur (1991), Le Carmaguais (2004), Dos au Mur (2013), Kim Kong (2017) and Alice Nevers, le Juge Est une Femme (2017).  In 2011, he had a supporting role in the highly rated French television movie, Saïgon, L'été de Nos 20 Ans, which was directed by Philippe Venault and costarred French-Vietnamese Eurasian actress Audrey Giacomini.  In the year prior, Jean-Claude Tran had created his own web series, La Cage, together with Dijby Badiane.

Jean-Claude Tran is married and is a father of two grown children, a daughter , Melanie, and a son, Florent.  Both of his children have since followed in their father's footsteps and now have established established acting careers in French television, credited respectively as Melanie Tran and Florent Tran.

Link(s):

Jean-Claude Tran YouTube Channel 

Huong Thuy

Hương Thủy (1974-    ) is a famous overseas Vietnamese singer.

Nguyễn Hương Thủy was born on August 20, 1974 in Cần Thơ, South Vietnam.  She grew up as the second eldest and only girl in an impoverished family of four children.  Her parents' extreme financial hardships would force Hương Thủy to live apart from her siblings for a significant number of her adolescent years which were spent living in a shelter for disadvantaged and mostly orphaned children at Long Bình Tự Temple in the nearby province of Vĩnh Long of the Mekong Delta under the care of Buddhist monks and nuns.  It was during this difficult period away from her beloved family that she found solace in music.  At the age of 17, she was accepted into the prestigious Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatrical Arts (Đại Học Sân Khấu Cải Lương và Hài Kịch Thành Phố Hồ Chí Minh).  After graduation, Hương Thủy competed in many different national professional competitions for  various genres of Vietnamese music and ended up usually as the winner.  Among the accolades and awards she has been given recognition for throughout her professional music career include the gold medal prize (Huy Chương Vàng) at the 1995 Bông Lúa Vàng Folk Opera Festival, a silver medal prize (Huy Chương Bạc) in the all-around category at the 1995 National Awards for Vietnamese Theatrical Performing Arts while as a member of the Bông Sen Dancing Theatrical Troupe, and for winning first place at the 1999 Tiếng Hát Dân Ca Festival for Best National Singer of Vietnamese Folk Music one year after having formed the successful Vietnamese folk music trio known as Tam Ca Phù Sa together with singers Quỳnh Hoa and Ngọc Loan. 

After 4 years as a member of Tam Ca Phù Sa, Hương Thủy decided to leave the group in 2003 and resettle in Southern California where a solo career would transpire shortly thereafter.  Through a mutual acquaintance, Hương Thủy was formally introduced to Marie Tô Ngọc Thủy, CEO and owner of Thúy Nga, which for the past 40 years has been considered as the most prolific overseas Vietnamese music production label.  Instantaneously taken by her talents and charm, Marie Tô Ngọc Thủy quickly signed Hương Thủy onto her label as an exclusive recording artist and video performer on the Paris By Night live show video series.  On December 20, 2003, Hương Thủy traveled to Toronto, Canada to shoot her debut music video of the song, Ca Dao (written by Đặng Quang Vinh), on volume 72 of the Paris By Night series.  Since then, she has appeared on more than 50 volumes of the Paris By Night video series.  Hương Thủy has successfully exhibited her diversity of talents to the Paris By Night viewer audience members as a singer of Vietnamese pop music, dân ca (Vietnamese folk music) and cải lương (Southern Vietnamese folk opera).  She has recorded many duets with various other artists such as Mạnh Quỳnh, Hà Phương, Ngọc Đan Thanh, Thế Sơn, Tâm Đoan, Duy Trường, Mai Quốc Huy, Tóc Tiên, Hạ Vy, Thái Châu, Hương Lan and Thu Phương.  In addition, she has even acted in several well-received comedic skits on the Paris By Night alongside Chí Tài, Hoài Linh, Quang Lê, Lương Tùng Quang, Minh Tuyết, Như Loan, Việt Hương, Hoài Tâm, Mai Thiên Vân, Bằng Kiều, Thúy Nga, Diễm Sương, Nguyệt Cát and Nguyễn Hồng Nhung.  Among her most popular recorded solo songs include Ước Nguyện Đầu Xuân (written by Hoàng Trang), Mùa Đông Thương Nhớ (written by Hùng Linh), Gặp Nhau Làm Ngơ (written by Nhật Trường), Đoản Xuân Ca (written by Thanh Sơn) and Chuyện Người Con Gái (written by Thái Hùng).