Vietnamese singers in America

Vietnamese singers in America built a thriving music scene after 1975, when large numbers of Vietnamese refugees resettled in the US. Centered largely in Southern California's Little Saigon, it produced its own stars, record labels, nightclubs and filmed variety shows that reached Vietnamese homes around the world.

How the scene began

After the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, waves of Vietnamese people left the country and resettled abroad, with the US becoming home to the largest Vietnamese community outside Vietnam. Among them were many singers, songwriters and musicians who had been well known in South Vietnam before 1975.

In their new home, those artists kept performing for fellow refugees, at community events, restaurants and nightclubs. Over time, music production companies grew up around them, recording albums and filming shows that were sold on cassette, VHS and later DVD.

Little Saigon as the hub

The biggest center was Little Saigon in Orange County, California, especially around Westminster and Garden Grove. Vietnamese-owned businesses, media companies and music stores clustered there, and it became the heart of the diaspora entertainment industry.

Other cities with large Vietnamese communities, such as San Jose and Houston, have their own lively music scenes, with concerts, festivals and Tết events that bring in touring singers.

The variety show era

Much of the diaspora music industry ran through big filmed variety shows. The best known is Paris By Night, produced by Thúy Nga, which mixed singing, comedy skits, dance and fashion. Another long-running producer was Asia Entertainment (Trung Tâm Asia).

These shows were watched in living rooms everywhere, and for many families they were a regular part of life, especially around Tết. There's a full explainer in Paris By Night.

Styles of music you'll hear

The diaspora scene preserved and developed several styles:

• Nhạc vàng: "yellow music," sentimental pre-1975 popular songs from the South.
• Bolero: slow, emotional ballads about love, loss and homesickness. See what is Vietnamese bolero.
• Tình ca: love songs, including songs by major songwriters.
• Nhạc trẻ: "young music," upbeat pop and dance songs, often covers of Western and Asian hits.
• Cải lương excerpts: Southern reformed opera, appearing in some shows. See cải lương.

Songs about longing for home, called nhớ quê themes, carry special weight in the diaspora, where homesickness was a shared experience.

Names many families know

Plenty of singers who were famous before 1975 continued their careers in the US. Khánh Ly, closely associated with the songs of Trịnh Công Sơn, is one of the most famous. Elvis Phương and Tuấn Ngọc are also widely known names from that generation, and Như Quỳnh became one of the best-known voices of the variety show era.

A long list of other performers built careers in the diaspora, and many moved between the US, Europe, Canada and Australia for tours. If you ask Vietnamese American families for their favorites, you'll get a wide range of answers, often tied to the songs they grew up hearing.

The newer generation

Younger Vietnamese American artists work in many genres, from pop and R&B to indie and hip-hop, in English, Vietnamese or both. Some perform in the diaspora circuit; others are part of the mainstream American scene. Meanwhile, singers from Vietnam regularly tour US cities, and streaming has blurred the line between the two scenes.

For a look at music from Vietnam itself, see famous Vietnamese singers to know.

Where to listen

• YouTube: many classic variety show performances and official channels are there.
• Streaming services: search for genres like bolero, nhạc vàng or V-pop.
• Community events: Tết festivals, county fairs and concerts in cities with big Vietnamese communities.
• Karaoke: diaspora classics are karaoke staples. See Vietnamese karaoke classics.

Why this music matters

For refugee families, music was a way to keep language and memory alive. Songs carried the sound of home, and singing them together at parties, weddings and Tết gatherings connected generations. Even kids who didn't speak much Vietnamese often learned these songs by heart.

A good starting point is to ask an older relative or friend which song always comes on at family parties; that one song can open up the whole scene.