Top 7 Most Famous Foreigners in Vietnam

Bui Vu Thanh, born January 12, 1983, known professionally as Thanh Bui, is an Australian-born Vietnamese singer who specializes in pop and overseas Vietnamese music. He also writes music and gained fame when he reached the Top 8 in the 2008 season of Australian Idol, becoming the first Vietnamese (from a minority community in Australia) to do so. Thanh Bui is also the founder of Soul Academy, a music school in Ho Chi Minh City, where he trains students in various disciplines including vocals, piano, guitar, violin, drums, dance, music production, and talent development. His parents moved from Vietnam to Australia in 1982, and Thanh Bui was born in Adelaide. The family later moved to Abbotsford, Victoria, and then to Melbourne. At the age of 10, he started formal training in vocals and piano. His passion for music was ignited after watching Michael Jackson perform at the 1990 Grammy Awards. In April 2009, Thanh Bui performed on the Paris By Night 96 stage, presenting his own compositions such as 'Gương Thần' and 'ABBA.' He gained further recognition in Vietnam with the release of his debut single 'Lặng Thầm Một Tình Yêu' in 2010, a duet with Hồ Ngọc Hà, which became the theme song for the film 'Để Mai Tính.' In April 2010, he held his first live show in Vietnam, featuring guest appearances from renowned artists like Dương Khắc Linh and Vân Anh Nguyễn, followed by a second show, 'Love Heart 2010,' later that year. During this show, he auctioned a diamond pendant to raise funds for a charity to build a clinic in Bến Tre.

Joe Ruelle is a Canadian-born author and blogger of Vietnamese descent. Born in 1978 in Terrace, British Columbia, and raised in Vancouver, Ruelle moved to Hanoi in 2002 to study Vietnamese at the Vietnam National University. In 2006, he began blogging in Vietnamese, quickly attracting media attention and launching his career in Vietnam's entertainment and arts scene. Besides his real name, Ruelle is also known by the playful Vietnamese pseudonym 'Dâu Tây' (Strawberry), a wordplay on 'Joe (Dâu) from the West,' with 'Tây' referring to Westerners and 'dâu' meaning strawberry. Ruelle published his first autobiography, 'My Name is Joe,' in July 2007, which became a bestseller in Vietnam. His second book, 'Zigzagging Against Traffic,' was released in January 2012 and received similar success. Both books were later republished with new content. Ruelle has also contributed to various Vietnamese publications, such as 'Đẹp Magazine' and the online news site 'Dân Trí.' From 2007 to 2008, he hosted the youth debate program 'Kết nối trẻ' on VTV6. He appeared in supporting roles in TV series and comedies like 'Chàng Trai Đa Cảm' (2007), 'Âm Tính' (2009), and 'Tìm Nơi Đón Tết' (2012), and has been featured in several talk shows. Additionally, he performed in plays for the Hanoi Youth Theatre.

Like Hari Won, Han Sara also comes from the land of South Korea. She gained recognition from Vietnamese audiences when she participated in The Voice Vietnam 2017, impressing the judges with her rendition of 'Haru Haru' by Big Bang during the blind auditions. Despite being Korean, Han Sara was praised for her fluent Vietnamese. With a sweet, youthful voice and a charming, respectful demeanor, she captured the hearts of the audience and quickly amassed a loyal fanbase. Although she didn't win the competition, Han Sara found a mentor in the renowned singer Đông Nhi and joined the entertainment company co-managed by Đông Nhi and Ông Cao Thắng.

After her training, she made her debut as a singer with the adorable and catchy music video for 'Tớ thích cậu.' The song quickly went viral, amassing 4 million views within two weeks of its release and marking a major milestone in her musical career. She followed up with songs like 'Đếm Cừu,' 'Lỡ Yêu Mất Rồi,' and 'Tận Cùng Nỗi Nhớ,' although these did not receive as much attention as her debut single. Expanding her career beyond music, Han Sara also ventured into acting, appearing in the 2018 sitcom 'Thần Tượng Tuổi 300' as Princess Bích Chi from the Fox Clan, alongside Uni5 members Toki (as Anh Tú) and K.O (as Tâm Đức). The show garnered significant attention and became successful at the time. Han Sara has since returned to the V-pop scene, continuing to work hard and build a reputation as an energetic, cheerful, and humorous Korean-born singer adored by Vietnamese fans. We look forward to seeing her career continue to flourish in the future.

Amandie Thùy Trinh is a French beauty who has captured the hearts of many Vietnamese fans. She first gained public attention in March 2020 when she appeared alongside Châu Bùi in the music video for 'Cần gì hơn' by rapper JustaTee and Tiên Tiên. With her effortless, elegant beauty and the grace of a French muse, Amandie left a lasting impression. She later appeared in the music video for 'Trốn tìm' by rapper Đen Vâu, receiving widespread praise from netizens. These key moments marked the beginning of Amandie’s deepening involvement in the Vietnamese entertainment scene.

Amandie frequently shares stunning, seductive images of herself on her personal social media accounts, garnering thousands of likes and comments. Her Instagram account now boasts nearly 300,000 followers—an impressive number. On her page, she posts short videos showcasing simple cooking recipes, body care tips, and lifestyle hacks, all with a light, fresh aesthetic that naturally draws in viewers. Although she is relatively new to the Vietnamese arts scene, Amandie has already achieved remarkable milestones that many young local talents haven't reached even after years of experience. It’s clear that her efforts will continue to be recognized in the future.

Kyo York was born in 1985 in New York City and first visited Vietnam in late 2009. After his program concluded, he decided to settle in Ho Chi Minh City and pursue a career in music. He gained fame through the VTV3 show 'Gương mặt thân quen', where his impressive ability to speak and sing in Vietnamese astounded audiences. His journey into Vietnamese music began with a fortuitous love story—falling for a Vietnamese girl from the Mekong Delta, which sparked his interest in learning the language and singing Vietnamese songs, even before fully understanding their meaning. Over time, he grew deeply connected to Vietnam, which he now considers his second home.

In the Mekong Delta, Kyo learned the local dialect from friends and, with persistent dedication, quickly grasped the language. He began to appreciate the music of artists like Ngô Thụy Miên, Trịnh Công Sơn, and Thanh Tùng, collecting their albums and practicing. His self-taught proficiency in Vietnamese allowed him to further explore the works of composers such as Phú Quang, Tuấn Khanh, Trần Tiến, Trọng Đài, and Nguyễn Cường. Kyo's first real performance was in 2010, when he duetted with Siu Black on the song 'Ly cà phê Ban Mê' at Siu Black Coffee in Ho Chi Minh City. Since then, he has become a popular figure at local music venues, performing regularly in Ho Chi Minh City.

Lưu Esther, known by her stage name Hari Won, was born on June 22, 1985, in Seoul, South Korea. She is a singer, actress, and TV host of both Vietnamese and Korean descent. Hari officially began her career in Vietnam in 2014. During her college years, she enrolled in the Vietnamese Studies program at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, where her fluency in Vietnamese allowed her to complete the course successfully. In addition to Korean and Vietnamese, she is also fluent in English and Japanese. After returning to South Korea, she entered the entertainment industry, joining a K-pop group called KISS, which was formed in 2012 by her manager. Despite its early success, the group only gained limited recognition, appearing on SBS and performing in various locations. However, in early 2013, Hari left the group to return to Vietnam, following a promise of a 1 billion won investment from a Japanese investor. She revealed that her decision was influenced by her early-stage cancer diagnosis.

Hari Won gained wider recognition in Vietnam after participating in the 2013 reality show 'Cuộc đua kỳ thú' (The Amazing Race) alongside her boyfriend, rapper Đinh Tiến Đạt. This show helped her become a household name, and she continued to pursue her music career by releasing singles like 'Hoa Tuyết' and 'Hương đêm bay xa', while also performing in popular music programs like Mai Vàng. She made her acting debut in the movie 'Chàng trai năm ấy' alongside Sơn Tùng M-TP, and appeared in films like 'Bệnh viện ma', 'Trùm cỏ', and '49 Ngày'. In 2016, Hari joined the judging panel of the TV show 'Biến hóa hoàn hảo' with Trấn Thành, Chí Tài, and Việt Trinh. In October 2017, she released her first autobiography titled 'Cỏ hạnh phúc' (Grass of Happiness), which tells the story of her life. That same year, she starred in and produced the web drama 'Thiên Ý'. On the personal side, after dating for a while, she married the famous comedian and TV host Trấn Thành on December 25, 2016, at the Gem Center Conference Center in Ho Chi Minh City.

Harry Lu was born on April 17, 1992, in Taipei, Taiwan. He is a Taiwanese actor who works and resides in Vietnam. Fluent in Mandarin (including both Hokkien and Chaozhou dialects), English, and Vietnamese, Harry comes from a family of entrepreneurs. His parents, originally from Taiwan, moved to Vietnam for business after the reunification and gave birth to him there. Harry first gained recognition in Vietnam when he starred as the lead in the 2013 film 'Thần Tượng' (Idol) directed by Quang Huy. His acting received positive reviews, and he gradually built a reputation as a skilled actor.

Harry Lu has been surrounded by rumors of romantic involvement with several famous Vietnamese actresses such as Hoàng Thùy Linh, Khả Ngân, and Midu, due to his appearances in various films and the show 'Điệp vụ tuyệt mật'. However, he clarified that they are just close friends. With his handsome looks and perfect physique, he was offered leading roles, including the one in the box-office hit 'Thần Tượng'. Since then, his career has taken off, with Harry becoming a sought-after figure in advertising and acting. He later returned to Taiwan to work on film projects, where he got stuck for two years. This allowed him to further his career in Taiwan’s entertainment industry, starring in two films and appearing in advertisements for several brands. Previously, Harry had worked on some web dramas, so the transition wasn’t difficult for him. Living alone in Taiwan while his parents remain in Vietnam, Harry dedicates himself to honing his acting skills, learning from international professionals, and staying in shape by playing sports during his free time.