Midu

Midu (1989-    ) is a famous Vietnamese model and actress.

Born as Dang Thi My Dung on October 5, 1989 in Ho Chi Minh City, she was raised as the eldest in a family of two children.  She is six years older than her brother.  Upon graduating from Gia Dinh High School in Ho Chi Minh City in 2007, she was accepted into the Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture.  Midu began modeling while still a teenager.  In 2010, Midu landed major parts in a pair of well-received mini-series, Nhung Thien Than Ao Trang starring Miu Le, Nam Cuong, Nha Phuong and Lan Phuong and the long-running Co Nang Toc Roi (Messy-Haired Girl) starring Trinh Kim Chi, Phi Thanh Van, Ngoc Quyen, Minh Khue and Xuan Lan.  In 2012, Midu starred in a couple of feature films, Thien Menh Anh Hung (Blood Letter) with Huynh Dong, Van Trang, Khuong Ngoc and Minh Thuan and Mua He Lanh (Cold Summer) with Ly Nha Ky, Hieu Hien and Nhu Quynh.

After graduating from Ho Chi Minh City University of Architecture as a fashion design major in 2013, Midu launched her own fashion line called The Mysterious Tibet.  She also owns and operates Midu Boutique located in the third district of Ho Chi Minh City.  In 2014, Midu became engaged to real estate heir Phan Thanh.  However, the engagement was called off a few months later.

Link(s):

Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time
Midu Facebook Page
Midu Boutique Facebook Page

Cat Tien

Cat Tien (1982-    ) is a popular overseas Vietnamese singer.

Born as Vu Thuy Tien on November 24, 1982 in New Orleans, Louisiana, she grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania as the third eldest in a family of four children.  Cat Tien began her singing career right after high school with a local Vietnamese band, Blue Ocean, based in Philadelphia.  In 2002, she was discovered by emcee Viet Thao during a performance at a show in Philadelphia.  He was so impressed with her style of singing and youthful stage presence that he asked audience members if Cat Tien should become the next star performer for Van Son Entertainment.  The overwhelming positive response from the audience was followed by a contract offer with Van Son Entertainment.  It was an offer she could not turn down.

Cat Tien made her debut video appearance in 2002 on volume 22 of Van Son Entertainment entitled Hoa Hau The Gioi Vietnam performing Oi Tinh Yeu, a cover of a popular Thai love song in Vietnamese lyrics she had written herself.  She quickly became one of the most popular performers on the Van Son Entertainment video series joining the ranks of Tam Doan, Truong Vu, Nguyen Khang and Luong Tung Quang.  Among her most popular songs include Em Van Cho, Tinh Da Lang Quen and Khi Xua Yeu Nhau.  Cat Tien has recorded duets with several other artists, most notably Andy Quach, whom she reportedly had previously been romantically linked with.

Known as one of the prettiest overseas Vietnamese female singers, Cat Tien has a Vietnamese fan base that spans all four corners of the world.  She has performed for Vietnamese audiences all over North America, Europe, Asia and Australia.

Link(s):

Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time
30 Most Beautiful Viet Celebs of 2015

Nguyen Le

Nguyen Le (1959-    ) is an acclaimed French jazz musician of Vietnamese descent.

Born as Le Thanh Nguyen on January 14, 1959 in Paris, France to Vietnamese parents, he developed a keen interest in music at an early age.  His primary instrument is the guitar.  Nguyen Le is also an accomplished composer.  Her has worked with some of the biggest names in the international music industry such as Randy Brecker, Vince Mendoza, Michel Portal, Marc Johnson, Peter Erskine, Terri Lyne Carrington, Me'shell Ndegeocello and Art Lande.  Nguyen Le has released albums for music labels, Musidisc and ACT.  Among his most acclaimed albums include Miracles (1990), Zanzibar (1992), Maghreb & Friends (1998), Purple - Celebrating Jimi Hendrix (2002) and Songs of Freedom (2011).  Nguyen Le worked with Vietnamese singer Huong Thanh blending traditional Vietnamese music with jazz in three albums, Tales of Vietnam (1996), Moon and Wind (1999) and Fragile Beauty (2007).

In 2015, Nguyen Le and acclaimed Vietnamese-American musician Cuong Vu performed in several numbers including Ly Ngua O, Da Co Hoai Lang, Trong Com and Ly Cay Da on volumes 114 and 115 of the popular overseas Vietnamese live show music video series, Paris By Night, produced by Thuy Nga together with Huong Thanh, Jason Long, Vo Van Anh, Alex Kelly, PC Munoz, Stomu Takeishi and Ted Poor.

Link(s):

Nguyen Le's Official Website

Hong Nga

Hong Nga (1945-    ) is a famous comedic actress and performer of Southern Vietnamese folk opera known as Cai Luong.  

It can be said that Hong Nga's personal life filled with heartaches resembles some of the most tragic Vietnamese plays she has acted in.  Orphaned at the age of 3, her childhood years were spent living in uncertainty as she was shuffled from different households of distant relatives and acquaintances who would look after her.  By the age of 14, she was on her own earning a living as a street vendor.  As a way of escaping her harsh reality. from a young age Hong Nga became fascinated by the Cai Luong theater and dreamed of one day becoming a Vietnamese folk opera actress.  Blessed with a natural clear yet dramatic singing voice for Vietnamese folk opera, Hong Nga was taken under the wings of legendary Cai Luong theater coach Tam Den as one of his pupils.  At the age of 15, Hong Nga turned professional as a performer of Southern Vietnamese folk opera.  Standing only at 4 feet and 11 inches tall and weighing 130 pounds, she was often cast in parts playing the mother of the lead character in Cai Luong plays.  Among her most well known performances in Cai Luong and dramatic plays include Co Gai Do Long, Tuyet Tinh Ca, Me Yeu, Tinh Nghe Si and Don Con Ve.  

Like many performance artists in Vietnam during the initial years after the Fall of Saigon Hong Nga who was divorced with five children to raise, she struggled to make ends meet.  In order to get more work, she delved into comedy.  Hong Nga would soon find her niche as a comedic actress as she would bring the house down with her wacky antics making audiences laugh uncontrollably at playhouse theaters in Ho Chi Minh City and throughout Vietnam.  Despite her success, due to economic conditions in Vietnam then Hong Nga continued to face financial hardships raising 5 children on her salary as a theater actress.  She then turned to a close friend for assistance in raising her two oldest daughters.  The painful decision she had to make in giving up her two oldest daughters would turn out to be one of her biggest regrets in Hong Nga's life.  In 1980, both of Hong Nga's oldest daughters, then ages 5 and 3, went missing after traveling to Switzerland under the guardianship of her close friend.  For the next 15 years, Hong Nga had to hold back her tears and forge ahead in her career in order to provide for her 3 younger children.  She toured Switzerland on numerous occasions, each time hoping to find the whereabouts of her missing daughters.  Finally, in 1995 through the help of an audience member who had heard her cry Hong Nga was reunited with her two long lost daughters.

Hong Nga and Dam Vinh Hung
at her live show in 2008

Thanh Sang and Hong Nga

In 2005, Hong Nga had a supporting role in the comedy movie, Khi Dan Ong Co Bau (When Men Get Pregnant), alongside an all-star cast including Nguyen Phi Hung, Truong Ngoc Anh, Bao Quoc, Ngoc Giau, Hong Van and Phuong Thanh.  On January of 2008, Hong Nga performed for 3 nights a live concert show held in her honor, 48 Nam:  Nu Cuoi va Nuoc Mat, at the Trong Dong Venue in Ho Chi Minh City to commemorate her 48 years as an entertainer.  Featured guest celebrity performers at the show included Bao Quoc, Viet Anh, Hoang Son, Anh Vu, Thuy Nga, Thoai My, Diep Lang, Hoai Linh, Thanh Sang, Le Thuy, Kim Tu Long, Phuong Thanh and Dam Vinh Hung.  On May of that same year, Hong Nga appeared on volume 92 of the popular overseas Vietnamese video series, Paris By Night, produced by Thuy Nga in a duet number, Vong Co Long Me, with singer Huong Lan.  In 2015, to celebrate her 70th birthday Hong Nga performed at her second live concert show, Nua The Ky Con Tam Van Nha To, held in her honor at the Hoa Binh music venue in Ho Chi Minh City with returning featured guest celebrity performers Bao Quoc and Hoai Linh along with Ngoc Giau, Dieu Hien, Ngoc Huong, Phuong Hong Thuy, Linh Tam, Que Tran, Mai Quoc Huy, Hoai Lam, Truong Giang, Minh Vuong, Viet Huong and Cam Ly.

Ut Tra On

Ut Tra On (1919-2001) was a famous stage actor of Southern Vietnamese folk opera known as Cai Luong.

He was born in Can Tho, South Vietnam.  Affectionately nicknamed as Muoi Ut, he was the youngest in a family of 10 children and had been given the name of Nguyen Thanh Ut at birth.  At the age of 16, he began studying the craft of Southern Vietnamese folk opera.  Two years later, he began working as a Cai Luong performer on Radio Vietnam in Saigon.  It was there when he started using his professional stage name as Ut Tra On.  Shortly after, he would gain national prominence with his performance of the Vong Co song, Thuc Trot Canh Thau.  Ut Tra On was then invited to record for the Asia label, one of South Vietnam's most prominent record companies.  And from 1942 until 1954, he collaborated with various Cai Luong theater troupes such as He Lap, Thanh Long, Tien Hoa, Mong Van, Sao Mai and Thanh Minh.  In 1954, Ut Tra On formed his own Cai Luong theater troupe called Kim Khanh.  Eight years later, he and fellow performer Hoang Giang formed Thong Nhut Theater Troupe, which became one of the most lucrative Cai Luong theater companies of South Vietnam prior to 1975.  Ut Tra On starred in many popular Cai Luong plays including Tuyet Tinh Ca alongside Hung Cuong, Bach Tuyet, Ut Bach Lan and Thanh Sang, Nang Con Roi alongside Bach Tuyet, Tan Tai, Ngoc Huong and Diep Lang, Luu Binh Duong Le with Thanh Nga, Tieng Hat Muon Tenh and Quan Vuong va Thiep, both of which costarred Ngoc Giau.

After the Fall of Saigon in 1975, Ut Tra On still managed to continue with his career as a performer on the Cai Luong stage.  He collaborated with prominent theater companies such as Sai Gon 1, Tran Huu Trang and San Khau Tai Nang.  Ut Tra On passed away on August 13, 2001.  He was 82.  His daughter, Bich Phuong, is a popular singer of traditional pop and folk music in Vietnam.  

Diem My

Diem My (1962-    ) is a beautiful Vietnamese film actress and model.

Born in Nha Trang in 1962, Diem My grew up as the middle child in a family of three children.  At the age of 10, her father died unexpectedly and the family moved to Saigon.  During her senior year at Nguyen Ba Tong High School in Saigon, she was cast in a small role in the film, Trang Giay Moi (1979), which was directed by Le Dan.  Four years later, she was cast as the lead in another film directed by Le Dan, Tieng Song (1983).  Although it was intended as a starring vehicle for Diem My, Tieng Song bombed at theaters and further delayed her rise to stardom as a Vietnamese film actress.  After a chance meeting with renowned photographer Nguyen Ky in 1984, Diem My agreed to pose for a photo shoot.  Unbeknownst to her, Nguyen Ky would submit her photographs to the publisher of Vietnam's national calendar.  For the next 4 consecutive years, Diem My was selected as one of the 12 models featured on the prestigious annual calendar publication in Vietnam.  She was then dubbed as Vietnam's Calendar Queen.  Right around the same period, Diem My also reached her peak in popularity as a film actress.  She starred in a series of well received films on Vietnam's silver screen and television such as Rung Lanh (1985), Vet Thu Nam Thang (1986), Dong Song Hoa Trang (1989), Bi Mat Thanh Pho Cam (1990), Nghe Bao (1991) and Phia Sau Cuoc Chien (1992).

Diem My and Nguyen Chanh Tin (1986)

 In 1994, Diem My married wealthy businessman Ha Ton Duc.  She then put her acting career on hold in order to start a family.  A decade and two children later, Diem My would come out of retirement when she resurfaced with a supporting role in the film, 39 Do Yeu, starring Ho Ngoc Ha and Binh Minh.  Her critically acclaimed performance in 39 Do Yeu brought about a strong comeback in Diem My's acting career.  Among her most popular film and television acting credits since then have included Chuyen Tinh Cong Ty Quang Cao (2009) starring Le Quy Binh, Vu Thu Phuong and Thai Hoa, Co Le Nao Ta Yeu Nhau (2009) starring Hong Hanh, Trung Dung and Ngoc Diep, Giao Lo Dinh Menh (Inferno) (2010) starring Vu Thu Phuong, Tran Bao Son and Hua Vi Van, Ngoc Vien Dong (Pearls of the Far East) (2011) starring Truong Ngoc Anh, Kieu Chinh, Ngo Thanh Van, Huy Khanh, Nhu Quynh and Tu Trinh, Cuoi Ngay Keo Lo (Love Puzzle) (2012) starring Ngoc Diep, Johnny Tri Nguyen, Thai Hoa and Nguyen Chanh Tin and Nguoi Dung Trong Gio (2014) starring Dao Ba Son, Than Thuy Ha and Nha Phuong.

Diem My and her husband reside in Ho Chi Minh City.

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Quan Yeomans

Quan Yeomans (1972-    ) is an Australian rock musician.

Of mixed European and Southeast Asian parentage, Anglo-Australian from his father and Vietnamese from his mother, Quan Yeomans was born on December 18, 1972 in Sydney, Australia.  At the age of 12, he and his family relocated to Brisbane.  In 1989, he graduated from Kelvin Grove State High School at the age of 16.

Prior to forming Regurgitator with bassist Ben Ely in 1993, Quan Yeomans had been a drummer for another Australian punk band, Zooerastia, based in Brisbane.  As lead vocalist and guitarist of Regurgitator, Quan Yeomans would rise to international prominence in alternative rock and punk music genres.  While signed with Warner Music, Regurgitator recorded and released a total of 5 studio albums, four of which had made the Australian Top Ten albums chart.   Their debut studio album, Tu-Plang (1996), was recorded in Thailand.  It was certified platinum by the ARIA (Australian Recording Industry Association) and took home accolades for Best Alternative Release and Best Debut Album at the 1996 ARIA Music Awards.  The highest charted single from their debut album was Kong Foo Sing which became a Top 40 hit on the Australian singles chart.  Regurgitator's second studio album, Unit (1997), was their biggest commercial success.  It spawned 3 Top 40 hits on the Australian singles chart including Polyester Girl which has become the biggest selling single for Regurgitator peaking at #14 in Australia and #16 in New Zealand.  The single was certified gold by the ARIA.  Unit was certified 3x Platinum by the ARIA and picked up 5 awards including Best Album at the 1998 ARIA Music Awards.  That same year, Quan Yeomans also formed another alternative rock band, the short-lived Happyland, with his girlfriend, Janet English, bassist/vocalist for Spiderbait.  They released their album, Welcome to Happyland, on August of 1998.  Regurgitator followed up the success of Unit with their third studio album, ...art (1999).  Although the album did manage to reach #2 on the Australian Top Ten albums chart and was certified gold by the ARIA, it failed to match the commercial success and critical acclaim of their previous two previous albums.  This was during a time when Regurgitator was experiencing a change in personnel as Martin Lee, their longtime drummer, was being replaced by Front Ends Loader and Hard-Ons drummer Peter Kostic.  The biggest hit single from ...art was Happiness (Rotting My Brain) which failed to reach the Australian Top 40 singles chart, but peaked at #16 in New Zealand.  Their next album under the Warner Music label, Eduardo and Rodriguez Wage War on T-Wrecks (2001), was recorded in London and would be Regurgitator's last appearance on the Australian Top Ten albums chart reaching #7.  It was both a critical as well as a commercial failure, despite achieving some success in Japan.  Regurgitator's final album under the Warner Music label, Jingles:  The Best of, a compilation of their hit singles was released on November of 2002.

Quan Yeomans at the Big Day Out Concert Tour
in Brisbane, Australia (2008)

After leaving the Warner Music label, Regurgitator went on to record albums that would be released under their manager's label, Valve Records, such as Mish Mash! (2004), Love and Paranoia (2007), SuperHappyFunTimesFriends (2011) and Dirty Pop Fantasy (2013).  Although none of the albums matched the level of commercial success Regurgitator had experienced while under contract with Warner Music, with each released album the band would put on successful concert tours playing to sold out crowds all over Australia, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Hong Kong, China and Japan.  As of October of 2013, Regurgitator has been on an indefinite hiatus.

Quan Yeomans has taken up residence in Hong Kong since September of 2013 and has embarked on a solo career.  He is a father of a young son.

Audrey Giacomini

Audrey Giacomini (1986-    ) is a French model and actress.

Born on January 20, 1986 in Rueil-Malmaison, France, Audrey Giacomini began her modeling career at the tender age of 4.  She is of Vietnamese and Breton descent.

In 2009, Audrey Giacomini embarked on an acting career.  Her rise to prominence began on the small screen in France with recurring roles in popular shows such as Mon Pere Dort Au Grenier, Seconde Chance and Drôle de famille.  Audrey Giacomini also landed roles in several French television movies such as La Taupe 2 (2009), Ma femme, Ma Fille, Deux Bébés (2010) and Saïgon, l'été de Nos 20 Ans (2011).  In 2010, she made her feature film debut in Mr. Nobody (2010) as Jeanne, which was portrayed by actress Linh Dan Pham as an adult.  That same year, Audrey Giacomini also became a regular member of the original cast in the French television series, Strictement Platonique, which ran for two seasons.  Among her other popular feature films include Ceteris Paribus (2013), 24 Jours, la Vérité sur l'affaire Ilan Halimi (2013) and Ciel Rouge (2015).  

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Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time