10 Viet Celebs Who Don't Look Vietnamese

Contrary to the perception that many Westerners have of Vietnamese being a homogeneous society, here is a strong argument that it is otherwise.  Looking back in our history, Vietnam is a country that has been colonized and occupied by several foreign powers starting with the Chinese, Portuguese, French, Japanese and Americans.  The resettling of Vietnamese people in various countries after the Vietnam War has resulted in the Vietnamese diaspora consisting of strong overseas communities in all four corners of the world.  Even the geographic location of Vietnam being situated in between China and India alone plays an important role in the diverse ethnic makeup of Vietnamese people.  This is why it is not so uncommon to see a Vietnamese person with predominantly European, South Asian or even African features.  The 10 Viet celebs listed here in alphabetical order are familiar faces among Vietnamese entertainers easily recognized in Vietnamese communities all over the world.  You might not think they look Vietnamese, but indeed they are Vietnamese.

Link(s):

20 International Celebrities You Didn't Know Are Vietnamese

1. Carol Kim: of Vietnamese and Malaysian Descent, Dubbed as Vietnam's Queen of Soul 

2. Dai Trang:  Eurasian Singer of French and Vietnamese Descent 

3. Julie Quang:  Singer of Vietnamese and East Indian Descent 

4. Lilian:  Hip Hop and Dance Music Singer of Vietnamese and Anglo-American Descent 

5. Luu Hong:  Eurasian Singer of Vietnamese and German Descent 

6. Quoc Anh:  Singer of Vietnamese and African-French Descent 

7. Randy:  Amerasian Singer of Vietnamese and African-American Descent 

8. Thanh Ha:  Amerasian Singer of Vietnamese and German-American Descent 

9. Thuy Hang:  U.S. Born Singer of Vietnamese
and Anglo-American Descent

10. Tinna Tinh:  Singer/Actress
of Vietnamese and Czech Descent

Miu Le

Miu Le (1991-    ) is a famous V-Pop singer and Vietnamese actress.

She was born and raised in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.  Her given name at birth on July 5, 1972 was Le Anh Nhat.  Miu Le first rose to prominence while still a senior at Vo Thi Sau High School in Ho Chi Minh City when she landed the lead role in the television series, Nhung Thien Than Ao Trang (2009), which costarred Nam Cuong, Nha Phuong, Midu, Lan Phuong and Phi Thanh Van.  Her wholesome good looks and innocent charm appealed massively to television viewer audiences of Vietnam.  In 2011, she also starred in the popular television series, Oan Gia Dai Chien, alongside actors Chi Tai and the late Kieu Linh.  On Vietnam's silver screen, Miu Le's acting credits have included Thien Su 99 (2011) starring Huynh Anh, Diem My 9X and Khong Tu Quynh, Toi Nay 8 Gio (2011) starring Hoang Phi, Nha Co 5 Nang Tien (Five Fairies in the House) (2013) starring Hoai Linh, Viet Huong and Ngan Khanh, Yeu Anh!  Em Dam Khong? (2013) starring Ma Dai (2015) starring Hoai Linh, Ngan Khanh, Hari Won and Thai Hoa and Em La Ba Noi Cua Anh (Sweet 20) (2015) starring Ngo Kien Huy, Hua Vi Van and Hari Won.

In addition to her career as a Vietnamese actress, Miu Le has also found major success as a V-Pop singer. Her most popular hit songs are Vut Tan Di, Em Yeu Anh, Ngay Anh Xa and Giac Mo Than Tien.  Miu Le has recorded several solo studio albums including Cong Chua Mat Nai (2011), Nhan Ra (2011) and Quen Nhu Chua Tung Yeu (2014).  As of the end of 2011, Miu Le has been represented by Avatar Entertainment.  She was previously represented by NewGen, the same talent management firm largely responsible for having launched the careers of Khong Tu Quynh and Dong Nhi.  In 2012, Miu Le was honored by the Zing Music Awards as one of ten top Vietnamese singers of the year.

Link(s):

Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time
Miu Le Facebook Page

Tinna Tinh

 Tinna Tinh (1985-    ) is a famous Vietnamese singer and actress of Czech and Vietnamese descent.

She was born in Prague, Czech Republic to a Czech mother and a Vietnamese father.  Her names given at birth were Tinna Dinhova by her mother and Dinh Thi Tinh, in Vietnamese, by her father.  At the age of 11, Tinna Tinh's parents divorced.  For the next five years, she was shuffled back and forth between living with her mother and her father.  At the age of 15, Tinna Tinh decided to move out on her own.  In 2001, she relocated to Hanoi, Vietnam where she made her first attempt at pursuing a career as a professional singer.  After 6 months struggling and getting nowhere in the Hanoi pop music scene, Tinna Tinh returned to Prague where she resumed work in retail and as a Vietnamese interpreter.  Two years later, she had managed to save up some money and returned to Vietnam to once again pursue her dream of becoming a professional singer.  This time around, Tinna Tinh would resettle in Ho Chi Minh City and her dream of a career in music would finally come true.

Prior to her rise to stardom, she had used various professional stage names such as Thien Cam, Phuong Tu Phuong and Dam Tu Ca before settling with Tinna Tinh.  After relocating to Ho Chi Minh City in 2003, she was cast as the lead female role in the Vietnamese comedy film, Tro Dua Cho Thien Loi (Thunder's Joke) starring Minh Tiep and Trung Hieu.  The following year, Tinna Tinh would be honored with a Canh Dieu Vang Award (Golden Kite Award), Vietnam's equivalent to an Academy Award, for most promising female newcomer.  Although her acting career had brought her initial prominence, Tinna Tinh still relentlessly pursued her dream of a career in music.  Her debut album, Chiec Guong (The Mirror), which featured a collection of 11 alternative rock and dance music songs she had written herself was released in 2006 by Lac Hong Productions.  In 2007, Tinna Tinh appeared for the first time on music video for Van Son Entertainment performing Tra Lai Cho Toi, a song she had written and recorded for her upcoming second studio album, Mu Tat (2009).  She appeared on 13 consecutive volumes of Van Son Entertainment's music video series from 2007 until 2012 and joined the ranks in popularity with such established performers with the same label like Truong Vu, Tam Doan, Nguyen Khang and Cat Tien.  Among her most popular performances on the video series produced by Van Son included songs she had written such as Vong Xoay, Khoang Cach, Du Biet, Thi Tham, Vi Sao? and Hoa Lai Mau Xanh.  Her most well received studio albums were Nghiet Nga (2008) released by Monster Music Productions, Tinna Tinh Dance (2009), Sang Toi (2010) released by Viet Tan Studio, Tai Tieng (2010) and Pho Dong (2011) recorded with singer Don Nguyen.  Tinna Tinh's beauty, unique vocals and energetic stage presence led her to performances in live concerts for Vietnamese audiences all over the world.

Tinna Tinh in Mat Xac (2014)

In 2009, Tinna Tinh was offered the lead role in De Mai Tinh (Fool for Love), a film produced by Dustin Nguyen, but turned it down due to unspecified health matters.  Her secrecy about her health brought about unwanted, false rumors which circulated at a national level in Vietnam of her being HIV positive.  The role was subsequently taken by actress Kathy Uyen.  In 2010, Tinna Tinh was one of the key featured performers at Rock Storm, Vietnam's largest rock and roll music festival concert to date.  The following year, she accepted the lead female role starring opposite actor Thai Hoa in Long Ruoi, a Vietnamese comedy also produced by Dustin Nguyen which became one of Vietnam's largest grossing cinema releases of 2011.  In 2012, she costarred with Binh Minh in the television movie, Giấc Mơ Cỏ May.  In 2014, Tinna Tinh starred alongside Hoang Phuc and Phi Thanh Van in Mat Xac, a thriller directed by Do Thanh An.

Link(s):

10 Viet Celebs Who Don't Look Vietnamese
Another 50 Most Beautiful Vietnamese Women of All Time

Jim Parque

Jim Parque (1975-    ) is a former pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, as well as for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.

Born on February 8, 1975 to an Anglo-American father and a Vietnamese mother in Norwalk, California, Jim Parque grew up in a low income household.  While at Crescenta Valley High School, he was coached by former All-Star pitcher Jerry Reuss.  During his senior year, he was voted by the Pacific League as player of the year and most valuable player.  In 1996, Jim Parque played for the United States baseball team at the Summer Olympics held in Atlanta, Georgia and took home the bronze medal.  He attended UCLA from 1994 until 1997 and led the Bruins to the 1997 College World Series.

Standing at 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing only 132 pounds, Jim Parque had trouble being scouted by professional sports agents.  That is until he was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in 1997 becoming the second American athlete of Vietnamese descent in Major League Baseball.  (The first American athlete of Vietnamese descent to play in Major League Baseball is Danny Graves who had been selected by the Cleveland Indians in 1994.)  In his debut year playing in Major League Baseball, Jim Parque pitched in 21 starts for the Chicago White Sox.  His best season was in 2000 with a record of 13-6 and a 4.28 in 33 games, 32 of which were starts.  Unfortunately, after a shoulder injury in 2001, he was benched for the duration of the season.  His injury would be followed with several subsequent surgeries which caused him to exit the major league.  In 2003, he signed with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in Minor League Baseball.  After being released by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, he signed with the Diamond Backs in 2004.  On June of that same year, due to his recurring injuries Jim Parque announced his retirement after seven seasons as a professional baseball player.

On February 2, 2007, Jim Parque went out of retirement and returned to Major League Baseball when he signed with the Seattle Mariners.  However, his tenure with the Seattle Mariners was short lived.  Jim Parque was released by the Seattle Mariners on July of 2007.  

Tran Nu Yen Khe

Tran Nu Yen Khe (1968-    ) is a French film actress of Vietnamese descent.  She is the wife of worldly renowned filmmaker Tran Anh Hung.

She first rose to prominence in 1993 starring in her husband's directorial feature film debut, The Scent of Green Papaya.  The film went on to win two Cannes Film Festival Awards, a César Award and was nominated for an Academy Award for best foreign language film.  Tran Nu Yen Khe has acted in most films directed by her husband including Cyclo (1995) starring Tony Leung Chiu Wai, The Vertical Ray of the Sun (2000) starring Nhu Quynh and Do Thi Hai Yen and I Come with the Rain (2009) starring Josh Hartnett.  She was the costume designer in Norwegian Wood (2010), a Japanese film also directed by her husband.

Tran Nu Yen Khe in
The Scent of Green Papaya (1993)

Married to Tran Anh Hung for more than 20 years, the couple make their home in Paris, France.  

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