The Best of Vietnamese Pop Music

Son Tung M-TP is undeniably the biggest star in Vietnamese pop music today. His face looks out from countless billboards, and if you’ve spent any considerable time in Vietnam, then you’ve definitely heard his songs. In 2017, he became the first Vietnamese singer to reach one million YouTube subscribers, earning him the Gold Play Button – just one of his many awards. He is at the forefront of Vietnamese musicians who are blending styles from around the world to change the local music landscape, combining raw talent with style and entertainment value.

MIN emerged as a solo talent from the famous Vietnamese dance group, St.319, releasing her debut album in 2013. Her videos, famous for their style and dramatic storytelling, are packed with trendy fashion and eye-catching scenery. Two of her videos – Có em chờ and Ghen – were among the top nine most viewed Vietnamese music videos on YouTube in 2017.

Mỹ Tâm first became a household name in Vietnam in the early 2000s, when her ballads became cult classics among university students. Since then, she’s had a stellar career of chart-toppers and international fame. Her ninth album, Tâm 9 (2017), even reached number nine on Billboard’s World Album Chart, making her the highest ranking Vietnamese singer of all time.

After years in the Hanoi underground scene, Soobin Hoàng Sơn rocketed to superstardom in 2016 with his breakout song, Phía Sau Một Cô Gái (Behind a Girl). Even though Soobin Hoàng Sơn is in his prime, he makes himself available as a coach to many young and talented Vietnamese singers, which has earned him a lot of respect. Every new song he releases amasses millions of views in just days, and he’ll be a mainstay of the Vietnamese pop scene for years to come.

Singing competitions are the most popular things on TV in Vietnam, but before the market became saturated with all kinds of copycats, there was just one: The Voice of Vietnam. Hương Tràm won the first season, back in 2012, and has been on the ascent ever since. Her video, Em Gái Mưa (2017), has over 100 million views, making it one of the most viewed videos by a Vietnamese singer in 2017.

With several Green Wave awards, which is an annual ceremony featuring the best in Vietnamese music, Only C is regularly among the top names in the scene. His song, Yêu Là “Tha Thu”, was the title track for the smash hit film, Em chua 18 (2017), which became the biggest Vietnamese movie of all time.

Đông Nhi’s singing career had a slow start when she was unable to find success on popular singing competitions, but she persevered and developed her talents in the studio. After a brief hiatus from music in 2009, she returned as one of the biggest names in Vietnamese music, winning many prestigious awards along the way, including the Best Asian Artist at the 2016 MTV Europe Music Awards.

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