Top 10 Most Searched Personalities in Vietnam in 2022

The next person on the list is Chinese artist Lý Dịch Phong. Lý is a popular Chinese actor and singer, known for his role as Bách Lý Đồ Tô in the drama series *The Ancient Sword Fairy Tale*. In 2015, he ranked 9th on Forbes' list of Chinese celebrities with an estimated income of 69 million yuan. Once a rising star, Lý's career was derailed after he became embroiled in a scandal involving prostitution. On September 11, 2022, CCTV reported that Lý Dịch Phong was under investigation by Beijing police for repeated involvement in illegal activities, including purchasing sexual services. The police confirmed on Weibo that Lý had admitted to his actions and was placed under detention. Although the police did not release his name, CCTV confirmed Lý's arrest. The case is still under investigation.

Triệu Quân Sự, born July 14, 1991, is a Vietnamese inmate notorious for escaping prison three times by 2022. He is currently serving a life sentence for crimes including murder, theft, desertion, escape, and intentional injury. On May 31, 2022, he made his third escape from prison. By the following day, June 1, police in Yên Dương, Thanh Hóa Province, captured him along National Route 1, about 30 km from the prison, as he was attempting to hide. During questioning, Sự admitted to stealing two bicycles from local residents and selling a damaged one for 100,000 VND to buy food before being caught. After his arrest, the Minister of Public Security, Tô Lâm, praised the Thanh Hóa police for their role in capturing Sự and recommended rewards for those involved. Thanh Hóa's People's Committee Chairman, Đỗ Minh Tuấn, also issued commendations two days later, rewarding the police and locals who assisted in his capture. Police acknowledged significant help from residents who had reported Sự's whereabouts. After being transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department, on November 25, 2022, the Military Court of the 4th Military Region sentenced him to an additional six years for escaping and theft.

Trương Mỹ Lan, also known as Trương Muội, is a Vietnamese-Chinese businesswoman and billionaire. She is the founder and current chairwoman of the Vạn Thịnh Phát Group, a conglomerate in Vietnam. The Trương family is one of the wealthiest in the country. She is married to Eric Chu Nap Kee, a Hong Kong-based real estate entrepreneur. In 1992, she founded Vạn Thịnh Phát Ltd., initially operating in commerce and the restaurant-hotel industry. The company later expanded into real estate. In 2007, VTP Group Holdings was established with a registered capital of 6,000 billion VND, and Trương Mỹ Lan owns 80% of the shares, worth approximately 4,800 billion VND. On October 8, 2022, she was arrested for fraud related to the issuance and trade of bonds, embezzling billions of VND through the An Dong Investment Group and associated entities. Investigators also charged several other individuals, including Trương Huệ Vân, CEO of Windsor Real Estate Group; Nguyễn Phương Hồng, assistant at Vạn Thịnh Phát Group; and Hồ Bửu Phương, former chairman of Tân Việt Securities Company and former CFO of Vạn Thịnh Phát Group.

Vachirawit Chiva-aree, known as Bright (Thai: ไบร์ท), born on December 27, 1997, is a Thai-American actor, singer, MC, and model. He completed his middle school education at Suankularn Witayalai School and high school at Triam Udom Suksa School. Bright initially pursued an English Language Program (TEPE) at Thammasat University’s Faculty of Science, before switching to an International Marketing Bachelor’s program at Bangkok University. He gained fame for his role as Sarawat in the 2020 series '2gether: The Series' and its sequel 'Still 2gether.' In 2021, he starred as Thyme (Dōmyōji Tsukasa) in the Thai adaptation of the Japanese manga 'Boys Over Flowers,' F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers. Bright has captured the public’s attention not only for his good looks but also for his acting skills. His rising popularity, especially in Vietnam, indicates that he could soon become one of Southeast Asia’s most sought-after actors.

Lý Nhã Kỳ, born Trần Thị Thanh Nhàn on July 19, 1982, is a Vietnamese actress and businesswoman. She gained fame for her role as Diễm Kiều in the 2008 TV drama 'Kiều nữ và đại gia.' In 2011, she was appointed as the first-ever Tourism Ambassador of Vietnam. In 2016, she was honored with the title 'Princess of Asia' by Mangacop Unipa Saud Al Hadj, representing the Mindanao tribe in the Philippines. The title was later officially recognized by President Rodrigo Duterte, who also sent congratulations to both the Mindanao Royal Family and Lý Nhã Kỳ. Lý Nhã Kỳ remained a prominent figure in 2022, ranking eighth in search trends. She starred alongside South Korean actor Han Jae Suk and participated in the Cannes Film Festival in May, as well as being the lead in the dating show 'Người Ấy Là Ai.'

Hài actor Hữu Tín faced a public downfall after being charged and arrested for drug use on June 17. This shocking incident left many fans stunned, as the comedian had never been involved in any scandals before. The situation also sparked controversy, with several fellow artists defending Hữu Tín despite widespread criticism from the online community. Notably, NSND Hồng Vân expressed her sorrow for the actor: "I couldn't sleep last night, feeling angry, sad, and sympathetic... Life is what you make of it, your future is in your hands. As long as you're alive, keep fighting, fix your mistakes, and rise from your falls. Keep going for the people who care about you...". In response, NSND Việt Anh also commented on the situation, hinting that someone might have tipped off the police: "I just found out last night, maybe someone is jealous and reported him. How did the police know to come and arrest him? Friends with friends!". This exchange sparked a storm on social media, with many fans expressing disappointment over the careless comments made by the artists defending Hữu Tín.

Nguyễn Tuấn Hải, born in 1967, grew up in a family known for its ironwork business on Hàng Cót Street in Hanoi's Hoan Kiem District. His nickname, "Bánh", came from his father's name. Hàng Cót at the time was infamous for social issues and criminal activities, which heavily influenced Hải "Bánh". From a young age, he led a gang that would rob citizens, even taking from other criminals. His notoriety grew as he accumulated six convictions for theft, assault, and disorderly conduct before reaching adulthood. At just 13, he befriended Long "Máy Chém", a notorious figure known for violent attacks, and together, they grew their gang, gaining power and control in Hanoi. Over time, Hải's group expanded, offering protection to pickpockets in the bustling Đồng Xuân Market.

After more than a decade of dominance in Hanoi, Hải "Bánh"'s criminal activities caught up with him, and in early 1993, when the Hanoi police intensified their search for him, he fled to Ho Chi Minh City. There, he established a new gang called "Trà Bắc", operating in Tan Binh District. However, Hải was eventually apprehended and brought back to Hanoi, charged with public disorder. He became infamous for his involvement in the Nam Cam Z5.01 case. Hải's name resurfaced in 2022 when he was released from prison after completing his sentence, sparking public interest due to his time in rehabilitation and the mystery surrounding his return.

Lê Hồng Đăng is a well-known Vietnamese actor, recognized for his roles in popular TV shows such as *Cầu vồng tình yêu*, *Chỉ có thể là yêu*, *Tuổi thanh xuân*, *Zippo, mù tạt và em*, *Mátxcơva - Mùa thay lá*, *Người phán xử*, *Cả một đời ân oán*, *Mê cung*, *Hoa hồng trên ngực trái*, *Hướng dương ngược nắng*, and the program *Nhật ký Vàng Anh*. His name became widely searched after he was involved in a highly controversial incident. In late June, he, along with musician Hồ Hoài Anh, was accused of sexual assault during a trip to Spain. At the time, Hồng Đăng was one of the most prominent names on Vietnam’s television scene, and the scandal quickly propelled him to the top of search lists, sparking intense public backlash.

After returning to Vietnam, Hồng Đăng kept a low profile and limited his public appearances. According to Google's search results, both he and singer Hiền Hồ were among the most searched personalities in 2022.

In late March 2022, Hiền Hồ found herself embroiled in a scandal involving a wealthy man in his sixties who was already married with children. Social media was flooded with photos that appeared to confirm the affair. Initially silent on the matter, Hiền Hồ took the drastic step of deactivating her Facebook and personal fanpage. As a result, several of her performances were canceled, and fans began calling for her to be blacklisted due to her personal controversies.

After nearly a month of silence, Hiền Hồ publicly admitted to her mistake. She wrote a heartfelt letter apologizing to her fans, recognizing the criticism as a significant life lesson that prompted self-reflection. She stated: "Now I must face the consequences, and regardless of whether the rumors are true or not, explaining them is no longer important. I take full responsibility for my actions and sincerely apologize to everyone affected by this situation. I ask for your understanding and forgiveness."

After a six-month hiatus, Hiền Hồ made a surprising return to the music scene in September 2022. However, the public backlash was still strong, exemplified by an incident where a university removed her from a performance roster due to overwhelming student opposition. The scandal significantly impacted Hiền Hồ’s career and sparked a broader discussion about public figures and their moral standards.