Famous Vietnamese singers to know
By jimwest405.comThe most famous Vietnamese singers span several generations: Khánh Ly and the songs of Trịnh Công Sơn for classic ballads, Mỹ Tâm and Hồ Ngọc Hà for modern pop, Đàm Vĩnh Hưng for big-voiced ballads, Sơn Tùng M-TP for chart-topping V-pop, and Đen Vâu and Hoàng Thùy Linh for newer sounds. Knowing a handful of these names gives you a quick map of Vietnamese music.
Here's a starter guide, grouped by era and style.
Classic voices
Trịnh Công Sơn was a songwriter rather than primarily a performer, but he's one of the most important figures in Vietnamese music. His poetic songs about love, peace, loss and the human condition are still sung widely. Songs like "Diễm xưa" are classics. He died in 2001.
Khánh Ly is closely associated with Trịnh Công Sơn's songs. Her warm, husky voice made many of them famous, and she remains a beloved figure, especially among older listeners and the Vietnamese diaspora.
Thái Thanh is another celebrated voice from the mid-20th century, admired for her technique and her interpretations of many classic Vietnamese songs.
If you're curious about earlier styles, our guides to Vietnamese bolero music and traditional Vietnamese music go deeper.
Pop icons of the 2000s and beyond
Mỹ Tâm is one of Vietnam's most popular pop singers, with a career stretching back to the early 2000s. She's known for her strong voice, energetic live shows and long-lasting appeal across age groups. Fans often call her "họa mi tóc nâu," the brown-haired songbird.
Hồ Ngọc Hà is a singer and former model known for her stylish image and dance-pop songs. She's also been a familiar face on TV as a judge and host.
Đàm Vĩnh Hưng, often called "Mr. Đàm," is famous for powerful ballads and dramatic performances. He's one of the most recognizable male vocalists in Vietnam.
Hà Anh Tuấn is admired for gentle, emotional ballads and carefully staged concerts. He has a devoted following among listeners who prefer softer, more acoustic sounds.
Today's chart makers
Sơn Tùng M-TP is one of the biggest names in modern V-pop, known for polished music videos and hits like "Lạc trôi" and "Nơi này có anh." Our guide to who Sơn Tùng M-TP is covers his story.
Đen Vâu (often called Đen) is a rapper whose relaxed, thoughtful songs reach far beyond typical hip-hop audiences. "Bài này chill phết" is one of his well-known tracks.
Hoàng Thùy Linh is a singer whose recent work blends folk influences and modern pop. Her song "See tình" became a viral hit on TikTok, spreading well beyond Vietnam.
Bích Phương is known for catchy, playful pop songs and colorful music videos.
Indie and singer-songwriters
Vietnam's indie scene has produced singers with strong followings among younger listeners. Vũ is a singer-songwriter known for melancholy, acoustic love songs. Indie bands like Ngọt are popular too.
Diaspora stars
Many Vietnamese singers built careers abroad, especially in the United States after 1975. Variety shows like Paris by Night made singers such as Như Quỳnh well known in diaspora communities, where bolero and classic love songs remain especially popular. Many diaspora families grew up with these performers on VHS and DVD.
How to start listening
- For classic ballads: start with Khánh Ly singing Trịnh Công Sơn.
- For mainstream pop: try Mỹ Tâm and Sơn Tùng M-TP.
- For big ballads: listen to Đàm Vĩnh Hưng.
- For rap and chill vibes: try Đen Vâu.
- For folk-meets-pop: play Hoàng Thùy Linh.
- For indie: explore Vũ and Ngọt.
YouTube is the easiest place to start, since most Vietnamese artists post official music videos and live performances there. Streaming services and Vietnamese platforms like Zing MP3 also carry their catalogs.
Using music to learn Vietnamese
Songs are one of the best ways to practice listening, and karaoke is a huge part of Vietnamese social life. Pick a slow ballad, read the lyrics with a translation and sing along. Karaoke is a big reason so many people know these songs by heart.
Make a short playlist with one song from each era above, and you'll hear how Vietnamese music has changed in a single listening session.