Vietnamese pop music: a starter playlist guide

The easiest way into Vietnamese pop music is to build a short playlist around a few well-known artists, such as Sơn Tùng M-TP, Hoàng Thùy Linh, Đen and Vũ, and then let streaming recommendations do the rest. This guide groups songs and artists by mood so you can start with what you already like.

It is a starting point, not a ranking. Tastes vary, and the scene moves fast.

Before you start: how to search

• Use diacritics where you can. Titles like Lạc trôi are easier to find with the marks.
• Search the artist name plus "official" on YouTube to find official music videos.
• Check streaming playlists. Spotify and Apple Music have Vietnamese pop playlists, and Zing MP3 is a popular Vietnamese platform.

For background on the genre itself, read what V-pop is.

Big pop names to start with

• Sơn Tùng M-TP: one of V-pop's biggest stars. Try Lạc trôi, which mixes pop with traditional imagery, and Hãy trao cho anh, which features Snoop Dogg. Read more in who Sơn Tùng M-TP is.
• Mỹ Tâm: a long-running star with powerful ballads and upbeat pop across many albums.
• Hồ Ngọc Hà: a major pop figure known for polished dance-pop and ballads.
• Tóc Tiên: confident dance-pop with strong visuals.
• Noo Phước Thịnh: smooth pop and ballads with a broad audience.

Folk-pop: modern beats, traditional flavor

This is one of the most distinctive corners of Vietnamese pop.

• Hoàng Thùy Linh: known for folk-inspired pop. Để Mị nói cho mà nghe draws on a character from Vietnamese literature and traditional sounds.
• Hòa Minzy: her song Bắc Bling celebrates Bắc Ninh and its quan họ heritage with a modern pop sound.
• Look for songs with traditional instruments, such as the đàn bầu or sáo trúc, layered under electronic beats.

If you enjoy this style, the originals behind it are covered in Vietnamese folk music: quan họ, ca trù and more.

Catchy and fun

• Bích Phương: playful, catchy pop. Bùa yêu is a good first listen.
• AMEE: bright, youthful pop with a sweet vocal style.
• Min: pop and R&B with a light touch.
• Jack: known for chart hits like Sóng gió, made with producer K-ICM.

Rap and hip-hop

Vietnamese rap has grown into a major part of the mainstream.

• Đen (Đen Vâu): laid-back, thoughtful lyrics about everyday life. Đi về nhà, with JustaTee, is a warm song about going home.
• JustaTee: a rapper and producer who often blends rap with R&B.
• Rap Việt: the TV competition introduced many newer rappers. Searching its performances is a fast way to discover voices.

Indie and singer-songwriter

• Vũ: gentle, melancholy indie songs. Lạ lùng is a popular starting point.
• Ngọt: an indie band with a distinctive, offbeat sound.
• Look for acoustic sessions and live recordings, which are common in the indie scene.

A simple starter playlist

If you want to start right now, try these in order for a mix of moods:

• Lạc trôi: Sơn Tùng M-TP
• Để Mị nói cho mà nghe: Hoàng Thùy Linh
• Bùa yêu: Bích Phương
• Đi về nhà: Đen and JustaTee
• Lạ lùng: Vũ
• Hãy trao cho anh: Sơn Tùng M-TP featuring Snoop Dogg
• Bắc Bling: Hòa Minzy

Tips for getting more from V-pop

• Watch the music videos. Visuals are a big part of V-pop, and many videos reference Vietnamese culture and folklore.
• Turn on lyrics. Many videos have Vietnamese subtitles, which helps learners.
• Notice accents. Singers from the North and South pronounce words differently, so pop doubles as an accent lesson.
• Follow the credits. Producers and featured artists lead you to new names.

For an even wider view, including bolero and traditional styles, see Vietnamese music: a beginner's guide.

Save the seven songs above to a playlist, listen through twice, then follow the artist you liked best; that is how most fans find their way into V-pop.