Voices of Vietnam: The Men

Kasim Hoang Vu

View Photos (3) Image © 2007 Adam Bray

As travelers we always come to countries with preconceived notions about what qualities in the culture make it "authentic." Much of the time, these expectations are rooted in the past. In Vietnam, tourists look for French colonial architecture and visit ancient Cham temples, but ignore modern architecture and the equally authentic hustle and bustle of daily life in trendy department stores, cafes and restaurants. Tourists flock to water puppet performances but ignore modern plays and films. The same is true of music. Vietnamese opera and traditional ethnic music is highly sought by tourists (in the few places where it's accessible to them), yet they ignore the thriving popular music scene.

Without an understanding of the modern culture in Vietnam, it's unlikely we'll develop an accurate, relevant view of its people. We might as well stay home and watch old documentaries, war movies, and read outdated textbooks and travel guides. We'll probably relate to the people just as well.

If you find yourself in Vietnam, don't miss a chance to look through this window into modern Vietnamese culture and gain a better understanding of Vietnamese people. Below I've recommended three popular male signers (I'll cover female singers in Part 2) who I feel represent modern Vietnamese music well.

Kasim Hoang Vu

Kasim Hoang Vu is an international superstar in the making with his biracial background and multilingual skills. Hailing from central Vietnam, his mother is native rock star Bich Phuong and his father is an influential Egyptian engineer. Kasim speaks (and sings) both English and Vietnamese fluently.

He studied music in Hanoi and he is a true artist. Not only does he have a great voice, he is a talented songwriter, plays the piano beautifully, and has cool moves too.

Since 1996, he has competed in and won prizes at numerous music competitions, including two gold prizes at the Central Highlands Music festivals in 1996 and 1998, and third prize at the national TV singing festival in 1999. In 2004 he won top honors at the Sao Mai - Diem Hen (Morning Star - A Rendezvous) contest, organized by Vietnam Television (VTV)--It's a bit like American Idol.

Kasim's performances included hip hop, rock, and softer romantic ballads. Kasim contradicts the old saying that you can't please everybody. He has something to offer listeners of a variety of genres yet pulls them into a cohesive and delightful stile that is uniquely his own. The closest comparison I can make for his sound in Western music would be Enrique Iglesias.

Kasim is getting noticed by corporate executives, and it is no surprise with his face plastered across half the billboards and cafes in the region. This spokesman for Pepsi and LG is going places and no one can stop him. He frequently tours across the USA, Canada, Europe and Australia. In Saigon, he can often be seen performing at M&Toi.

Kasim is known for his songs "Vi Sao","Vi Dau", and "Vi Yeu" (also the titles of his 3 albums), and covers of "Sorry Seems to be the Hardest Word" and "I Need to Know." Sadly for fans, his original album sold out in stores, but bootleg copies abound.

Quach Thanh Danh

Toi La Toi was the official debut album for Quach Thanh Danh (he released a previous, independent album now only found in bootleg form), and the single of the same title took the country by storm. It has a lively beat with a catchy melody and tight rap interlude. Danh's deep, distinctive voice begs comparison to Rick Astley and Josh Groban, but his mood and style to the likes of Julio Iglesias.

This native of Saigon occasionally performs in the USA. Don't miss a chance to hear him if he comes to your area. In Vietnam he constantly travels to perform at venues across the country.

Be sure to check out the song "Nuoi Tiec" on his first album, with its exotic Indian-style beat and accompaniment. His albums include "Toi La Toi","Tinh Chia Doi","Nhung Giai Dieu Du Dyong", and "Trai Tim Lanh Gia."

Danh is one of my favorite singers in Vietnam, as well as a personal friend. Visit his website at www.quachthanhdanh.net.

Le Hieu

Le Trung Hieu was born near Hanoi, in a family of four. His father loved music, and exposed him to all kinds from a very early age. Hieu has received voice lessons from his teacher Minh Hue and artist Tran Hieu (father of the famous singer Tran Thu Ha).

He released his first album in 2003 and his second followed in 2004. The earlier CD was more upbeat and popish, while his second is slower and more contemplative. His music has frequently appeared in films, including the recent "39 Do Yeu" (39 Degrees of Love) with Ho Ngoc Ha and Binh Minh, and "Nhung Co Gai Chan Dai" (Girls with Long Legs) with Minh Anh and Anh Thu. Le Hieu calls Saigon home now, but often flies up to Hanoi to perform.

Le Hieu's music has a soothing, romantic feel. At times his songs are reminiscent of a young Frank Sinatra or older Sting. Listening to his music is sure to bring back sweet memories of older, golden times with the sentimental jazzy style of many of his songs (giving away his Hanoi musical roots). One thing that sets his music apart from many contemporary singers in Vietnam is the acoustic sound. You will not detect the cheesy synthesized-karaoke style music that plagues the albums of many singers.

Hieu has been most influenced by Thanh Lam (who has been a mentor and much like an older sister to him), My Linh, and Tran Thu Ha (who sings a duet with him on his first album, track 3). His favorite foreign singer is Sting, whose song "Fragile" (Mong manh) appears on Hieu's second album.

His albums include "Dem Tan Va Ngay Len","De Tron Doi Thyong Nho", two self-titled albums, and the most recent,"Ve Day Em."

Where to See Them

M&Toi is a ritzy sit-down nightclub across from the American embassy. It's the priciest venue in town, but it also has the best acts. Expect to pay as much as $10US per person on the weekends. Music starts around 8pm and featured performs show up between 10pm and 11pm. Address: 39 Le Quan Q1, TTTM Saigon Square, Saigon.

Club 888 is the liveliest spot in town with a dance club atmosphere. Shows can start as early as 8pm. It's a bit cheaper than M&Toi but not much. Address: 08 Nguyen Trung Truc, Q1, Saigon.

Planet Coffee Bar is a relaxed café setting, and the cheapest of the three. Shows often start around 8:45pm. Address: 98 Cach Mang Thang 8, Q3, Saigon.

Kim Loi Studio is one of the most popular sites for ordering music shipped directly from Vietnam to the USA. They are just as fast as Amazon, and accept PayPal. Website: http://www.kimloistudio.com/. You can also find a lot of Vietnamese singers on YouTube.

Published on 6/15/07