Chi Tai

Chi Tai (1958-    ) is a famous Vietnamese musician, comedian and actor.  He had first risen to prominence in the Vietnamese-American community in the 1980s as the lead guitarist of the popular band, Chi Tai Brothers.

Nguyen Chi Tai was born on August 15, 1958 in Saigon, South Vietnam.  At the age of 23, he left Vietnam to resettle in the United States.  A few years later, he and his brother, Chi Thien, along with four other band members formed Chi Tai Brothers which initially played at weddings and parties.  As their popularity grew, Chi Tai Brothers landed a steady weekly gig at Au Baccara Nightclub in Fountain Valley, California and also toured throughout the United States, Canada and Europe playing at live shows for Vietnamese audiences.  In 1987, Chi Tai wrote the lyrics to the song, Nguoi Yeu Dau, which became a big hit for singer Ngoc Lan.

In the 1990s, Chi Tai owned and operated Chi Tai Recording Studio in Santa Ana, California.  He did music arrangements and recorded for some of the biggest names among overseas Vietnamese singers.  In 1992, Chi Tai began collaborating with Thuy Nga and made his debut appearance on Paris By Night Volume 18 as the lead guitarist accompanying his wife, singer Phuong Loan.  He would make many more appearances on Paris By Night as a musician.

Hoai Linh and Chi Tai

During a live show performance in 1997, Chi Tai filled in at the last minute as Hoai Linh's sidekick in a comedy sketch.  The overwhelming positive response of his performance that night paved the way for a new career for Chi Tai as a comedic actor.  Since 2000, Chi Tai has performed in numerous comedy sketches on Paris By Night alongside Hoai Linh, Hong Dao, Quang Minh, Trang Thanh Lan, My Huyen, Bang Kieu, Viet Huong, Thuy Nga, Kieu Oanh and Huong Thuy.  He has also performed in comedy sketches on video for Van Son Entertainment and Tinh Productions.  In recent years, Chi Tai has appeared in many Vietnamese feature comedy films and television serials such as Cong Chua Teen va Ngu Ho Tuong (2010) starring Bao Thy, Yen Trang and Khong Tu Quynh, Oan Gia Dai Chien (2011) starring Miu Le and the late Kieu Linh, Gia Su Nu Quai (2012) starring Bao Thy and Tran Thanh, Nha Co 5 Nang Tien (2013) starring Hoai Linh, Viet Huong and Ngan Khanh, Nam Sau Con Lai Ve (2014) and Trung So (2015) starring Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc and Dustin Nguyen.

Happily married to wife, Phuong Loan, former lead singer of Chi Tai Brothers, since 1997, Chi Tai divides his time between homes in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and Orange County, California.  They have no children.

Kha Tu

Kha Tu (1972-    ) is a famous singer of traditional Vietnamese pop music.

Ngo Kha Tu was born on June 11, 1972 in Saigon, South Vietnam.  She is oldest in a family of two children.  At the age of 19, Kha Tu along with her younger brother and parents left their native homeland to resettle in the United States.  Upon the introduction of singer Chung Tu Luu in 1992 she signed with Hai Au Productions for two years as a recording artist.  Her very first song recorded was Noi Buon Hoa Phuong written by Thanh Son.  While under contract with Hai Au Productions, Kha Tu appeared on many audio recordings and music videos alongside Chung Tu Luu and My Huyen.

During the 1990s, Kha Tu was one of the highest in demand recording artists among overseas Vietnamese singers.  She collaborated with numerous overseas Vietnamese music production labels such as Nguoi Dep Binh Duong, U-Sing-Along, Hai Dang, Mai Productions, Bien Tinh Productions and Love Music.  In 1997, Kha Tu formed her own label, Kha Tu Productions, and released her first solo studio album, Don Bong Tinh Ngheo.  To commemorate the release of her first solo studio album, Kha Tu held an event at the Majestic Nightclub in Huntington Beach, California where she performed in front of a sold out audience in September of that same year.  Among her other well received studio albums include Hoa Mong Ngay Xua (1998), Co Nang Mat Nai (1999) with Phuong Hung and Thien Phu, Bach Phong Lan (1999), Nam 17 Tuoi (1999) and Dat Phuong Nam (2000).  In 1997, she appeared on a music video for Lang Van in a duet performance with Phuong Dung of Con Gai Cua Me written by Giao Tien.  Kha Tu has recorded duets with Manh Quynh, Thai Chau, Tuan Vu and Hoai Nam.  She has performed for Vietnamese audiences all over the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan and Australia.

In the 2000s, Kha Tu experienced a series of difficulties in her personal life that interfered with her professional career.  She was involved in a near fatal automobile accident that left her with facial and neck injuries.  Unable to walk, it took Kha Tu months in order to make a full recovery.  This would be immediately followed by an armed robbery incident at her residence in San Jose, California.

After an absence of five years, Kha Tu decided to resume her career.  On August 17, 2008, Kha Tu made her return to the stage in a live show entitled as Vu Lan Bao Hieu held at the Mandrion Banquet Hall in San Jose, California.  Among the special guests featured at the show included Phuong Dung, Che Linh, Kim Tu Long and Hong Nga.

In addition to traditional Vietnamese pop music, Kha Tu has also performed in various reprisals of cai luong productions such as Thai Binh Cong Chua, Doi Co Luu and Thuy Kieu Gia Tu Thanh Lau.  She has acted in comedy sketches for Asia Entertainment and Van Son Entertainment.

Link(s):

Kha Tu Facebook Page

Tran Van Trach

Tran Van Trach (1924-1994) was a famous Vietnamese singer, actor and musician.  He became known as "quai kiet" which means king of comedy in Vietnam.

He had come from a long show business legacy in Vietnam.  His great grandfather was Tran Quang Tho, a famous musician from Hue.  His grandfather was musician Tran Quang Diem.  And his father was Tran Van Trieu, a famous Vietnamese folk opera actor.  Tran Van Trach was born in 1924 in My Tho, South Vietnam in a family of three children.  His older brother was singer Tran Van Khe and his younger sister is singer Tran Ngoc Suong.  His name given at birth was Tran Quang Trach.

At the age of 18, he graduated from College de My Tho.  From a young age, he had developed a strong interest in music.  Other than singing, Tran Van Trach was also trained to play the mandolin, as well as the violin.  In 1945, he relocated to Saigon and began singing nightly at a cabaret called Dancing Théophile.  From 1946 until 1947, he toured the Mekong Delta performing in support of the South Vietnamese army against the French.  Tran Van Trach would then find his niche as a character singer.

While touring in support of South Vietnamese troops, Tran Van Trach met songwriter Le Thuong.  The two would then collaborate on a series of hit songs with a comical theme along with a subliminal political message written by Le Thuong and sung by Tran Van Trach.  Their most popular hit songs were Hoa Binh 48, Lien Hiep Quoc, Dot Hay Khong Dot and Lang Bao Sai Gon.  Because of the political message of anti-French colonialism with these songs, both Tran Van Trach and Le Thuong were arrested and sent to jail for several days in 1951 by the French authorities.  That same year, Tran Van Trach also wrote his very first song, Anh Phu Xich Lo.  Among the other songs he had written and performed include Cai Téléphone, Cai Dong Ho Tay, Cay But May, Anh Chang That Nghiep, Khi Nguoi Ta Yeu Nhau, Toi Dong Xi Ne and his most popular signature hit, Xo So Khien Thiet Quoc Gia.  

During the 1950s, Tran Van Trach took on another career as a film actor.  His first two films were Long Nhan Dao (1955) and Giot Mau Roi (1956), both of which he starred alongside actress Kim Cuong.  Tran Van Trach had founded his own film production studio, Viet Thanh, in 1956 starring in and directing two more films, Thoai Khanh Chau Tuan (1956) with Kim Cuong and Van Hung and Truong Chi My Nuong (1956) with Trang Thien Kim and La Thoai Tan.

Songwriter Hoang Thi Tho and Tran Van Trach

In 1960, Tran Van Trach traveled to Paris, France and performed at the prestigious cabaret, La Table du Mandarin, for six months.  This was the same nightclub that had featured such Vietnamese artists like Bach Yen, Tiny Yong and Bich Chieu.  The following year, Tran Van Trach returned to Saigon and recorded Chieu Mua Bien Gioi written by Nguyen Van Dong for the Shotguns record label.  It became one of his biggest hits as a singer.  From 1965 until 1975, he became one of South Vietnam's most prolific show promoters.  He found success promoting live shows held at nightclubs and venues that catered mainly to US military personnel patrons.

On December of 1977, Tran Van Trach left his native Vietnam to resettle in Paris, France.  As an overseas Vietnamese artist, he recorded several studio albums including Hai Huoc Tran Van Trach (1982) for Thuy Nga Paris, Con Duong Hanh Phuc (1983) for Thanh Lan and Allo Paris (1986) for Giang Ngoc.  In 1983, he released a solo videotape also entitled as Hai Huoc Tran Van Trach.  He performed for overseas Vietnamese audiences in various European countries, the United States and Australia.  In 1989, he hosted volume 9 of Paris By Night, the popular music video series produced by Thuy Nga.


Tran Van Trach passed away on April 12, 1994 at the age of 70.  In a video clip featured on a tribute to him on Vietnam Performing Arts Television, Tran Van Trach had confessed he had been secretly in love with singer Thai Thanh.  During the 1940s, he was married to a French national and had one child.  

Ngoc Diep

Ngoc Diep (1984-    ) often billed as Dinh Ngoc Diep, is a famous Vietnamese actress, columnist and former fashion model.  She first gained national prominence after she had written a series of interview articles entitled "The Gioi Nguoi Mau" ("The World of Fashion Models") featured on six editions of Tuoi Tre Magazine at the age of 18.

Dinh Ngoc Diep was born on October 11, 1984 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  At the age of 16, she began her modeling career with the Hoa Hoc Duong Modeling Agency.  While a freshman at the University of Ho Chi Minh City, she co-wrote a series of six interview articles entitled "The Gioi Nguoi Mau" for Tuoi Tre Magazine.  Ngoc Diep entered and won several major beauty pageants earning such titles as Hoa Khoi Tay Do (Miss Tay Do) of 2004, Miss Thai Tuan of 2005 and Hoa Khoi Dai Hoc Quoc Gia Thanh Pho Ho Chi Minh (Miss University of Ho Chi Minh City) of 2005.  In 2006, she was honored with the prestigious Vietnam's Most Favorited Model of the Year Award.  That same year, Ngoc Diep graduated from the University of Ho Chi Minh City with a bachelor's degree in journalism.


Prior to her college graduation, Ngoc Diep had already begun her career in television when she was selected as hostess for one season on Thoi Trang va Cuoc Song, a television show about fashion which aired on HTV7.  Long before her stint as the television fashion hostess, viewer audiences in Vietnam were able to see her beauty, poise and charm through many television commercials endorsing various products as a model.  It was of no surprise that the next step for Ngoc Diep was to take on another career as a professional actress.  After two critical and commercial failures with Anh Chi Co Minh Em (2006), a joint Vietnamese-Thai produced television movie, and Hoa Da Quy (2007), Ngoc Diep finally was cast in a well received television project, Mua Thuy Tinh (2008), a miniseries costarring Ly Hung and Thanh Truc.  Her next television role was in the series, Ao Cuoi Thien Duong (2008).  Ngoc Diep had also been the narrator of Sieu Mau My, the Vietnamese airing of the popular television show, America's Next Top Model.  

On Vietnam's silver screen, Ngoc Diep made her debut and breakthrough in the 2009 film, Chuyen Tinh Xa Xu (Passport to Love) costarring Binh Minh, Kathy Uyen and Kim Xuan.  The film went on to win the 2008 Canh Dieu Vang Award for people's choice of best film.  Her other popular films include Co Dau Dai Chien (Battle of the Brides) (2010) starring Huy Khanh, Van Trang, Ngan Khanh, Le Khanh and Phi Thanh Van, Bong Ma Hoc Duong (2011) starring Hoai Linh, the late Wanbi Tuan Anh and Truong Quynh Anh, Lenh Xoa So (2011), Giua Hai The Gioi (Between Two Worlds) (2011) starring Dustin Nguyen and Tam Tit, Cuoi Ngay Keo Lo (Love Puzzle) (2012) starring Johnny Tri Nguyen, Thai Hoa, Diem My and Nguyen Chanh Tin, Nang Men Chang Bong (2012) starring Ngo Kien Huy and Cat Phuong, Lua Phat (Once Upon a Time) (2013) starring Dustin Nguyen and Ngo Thanh Van and Loc Phat (2016).

In 2011, Ngoc Diem resumed her career as a writer when she joined the staff at Thoi Trang Tre Magazine.  Her first book, Cocktail, Giay va Khoi, a collection of 33 profiles and interviews of prominent figures in the fashion modeling world, was published on August of 2013.

On August 10, 2015, Ngoc Diep married Vietnamese-American film director, Victor Vu.

Link(s):

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

Thai Hoa

Thai Hoa (1974-    ) is a famous Vietnamese actor of film, television and stage.

Born as Ho Thai Hoa on August 10, 1974 in Saigon, South Vietnam, he started out his career as a stage actor.  Although Thai Hoa from early on had clearly proven his diversity as an actor taking on such a wide array of different roles, he quickly found his niche in comedy.  He quickly made a name for himself through his portrayals of wacky main characters in comedy sketches such as Anh Chong Nhat, Vo Chong Thang Dau, Rinh Trom, Tinh Ban, Do That andMua Xuan Cuoi Em, often playing opposite his then wife, actress Cat Phuong.  Thai Hoa would eventually land roles in both dramatic and comedic plays such as Phong Tro Ba Nguoi, Cuoi Dum, 3 Sui Gia 2 Dam Cuoi, Thong Diep Xanh and Tu Hy Lam Mon, which he had also directed.   His two biggest successes on the stage were Nguoi Vo Ma and Qua Tim Mau, both of which he had written as well as directed.  Thai Hoa was awarded with a Mai Vang Award, Vietnam's equivalent to a Tony, for best director in the play, Nguoi Vo Ma (2006).

In 1998, Thai Hoa landed his first film role in Nhung Dua Con Thanh Pho.  He has since been in many films by Vietnamese-American filmmaker Charlie Nguyen such as De Mai Tinh (Fool for Love) (2010) starring Dustin Nguyen, Kathy Uyen and Binh Minh, Long Ruoi (2011) starring Tinna Tinh, Phi Thanh Van and Khuong Ngoc, Cuoi Ngay Keo Lo (Love Puzzle) (2012) starring Johnny Tri Nguyen, Ngoc Diep, Nguyen Chanh Tin and Diem My, Teo Em (Little Teo) (2013) starring Johnny Tri Nguyen, Ninh Duong Lan Ngoc and Than Thuy Ha and De Hoi Tinh (Let Hoi Decide) (2014) starring Quang Su and Huy Khanh.  His other films include Vo Lam Truyen Ky (2007) starring Dan Truong, Hoai Linh and Chi Bao, Lan Moi Trong Mua (2012), Lua Phat (Once Upon a Time) (2013) starring Dustin Nguyen and Ngo Thanh Van, Tinh Cu Lan (2014) and Mat Lua (2015).  In 2014, he costarred with Nha Phuong and Kim Xuan in the film version of his comedy play, Qua Tim Mau, directed by Victor Vu.


Thai Hoa was once married to actress Cat Phuong, whom he has a son with, from 2004 until 2006.  He remarried in 2012 to wife, Hong Thu, and resides in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Barbara Bui

Barbara Bui (1956-    ) is a world renowned fashion designer originally from Paris.

Born to a Vietnamese father and French mother, Barbara Bui entered the fashion industry when she opened up her first boutique called Kabuki in Paris, France in 1983.  Her lifelong love of fashion then escalated when she began designing while running her own boutique.  Four years later, she presented her first full collection at a fashion show in Paris covered by the international press and attended by some of the world's major buyers.  Barbara Bui, the brand name, was then launched.  The following year the very first Barbara Bui Boutique was opened Etienne Marcel Rue in Paris.  The overnight success of the first Barbara Bui Boutique has led to the expansion of four more Paris locations.  At present, there are a total of 13 Barbara Bui Boutiques operating in five countries including two in the United States, three in Russia, two in Turkey and one in Ukraine.  In 1999, Barbara Bui held her first fashion show in New York City followed by the grand opening of her boutique in Soho.

Barbara Bui Pre Fall Collection in Paris, 2013.

Barbara Bui is a multi-million dollar empire and one of the world's top fashion and luxury goods brand names.  The company went public in 1988 on the stock market along with a second brand name line, Initials Barbara Bui.  In 2004, her first perfume line, Barbara Bui Le Parfum, was launched.

As of 2003, Barbara Bui has been a member of Chambre Syndicale de la Couture Francaise et des Createurs de Mode.  Her fashion designs and accessories have been featured on Vogue, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Harper's Bazaar.

Link(s):

BarbaraBui.com

Eric Le Hung

Eric Le Hung (1937-    ) is an acclaimed French film director and screenwriter.

Born on September 23, 1937 in Hai Phong, Northern Vietnam, Eric Le Hung resettled in Paris, France after graduating from high school to study law.  While in college, he found his true calling in theatrical arts after participating in a few school plays.  In 1957, Eric Le Hung was cast in a small role in the French film, Les Feux Aux Proudres.  His brief acting career in films would also include small roles in Chéri, Fais Moi Peur (1958) and Samedi Soir (1961).

In 1965, he dropped out of college to begin his careers in French television movies as a director and a screenwriter.  Among the most popular French television movies directed by Eric Le Hung include La Part du Pauvre (1965), Ésope (1965), Embrassons-nous, Folleville! (1965), Doctor Gundel (1967), Handicap (1967), Le Secret de Wilhelm Storitz (1967), Ambroise Paré (1968), La Possédée (1971), L'Atterrissage (1981), Les Ephélides (1985) and Arthur et Théa (1997).  In 1967, he was signed by producer Alain Poiré with a three film contract for Gaumont Film Studio.  The first out of the three projects while under contract with Gaumont was Delphine (1969), a film starring Eurasian French-Vietnamese actress Dany Carrel and Maurice Ronet.  Other French films directed by Eric Le Hung include Le Droit d'Aimer (1972), La Rage au Poing (1975), Moi, Fleur Bleue (1977) and À deux minutes près (1989). 


Eric Le Hung has retired from the French film and television industries.  He resides in Paris, France.