Positioning through ethnic materials
Instead of taking the easy path with catchy EDM or pop hits, Phuong My Chi Making its mark at Sing! Asia 2025, Vietnamese folk music , revamped with modern arrangements, features songs such as... Ball flush Flowers , a mashup of Northern Vietnamese folk songs (e.g., " The Hunchbacked Woman Goes to the Market in the Rain," "The Banyan Tree Song," "The Woman Who Spoke and the Woman Who Ripped," "Driving the Ox Cart ")...
Phuong My Chi's performances showcased her vocal talent, earning praise from Chinese audiences as "the voice of a dolphin." A highlight was her incorporation of cultural elements such as Vovinam martial arts, the traditional four-panel dress, and the traditional drum dance into each performance. Her costumes were also meticulously chosen, ranging from modernized ao dai (Vietnamese traditional dress) to lotus-patterned dresses, helping her tell a story of the interplay between tradition and modernity.
Phuong My Chi's path is strategic, allowing her to showcase her talent while also acting as a "cultural ambassador." Her overwhelming victory over opponent Hoang Linh in the quarter-finals is a testament to this. Sing! Asia (15-6 votes) indicates recognition from the international judging panel.
Focusing on contemporary folk music, while artistically excellent, is unlikely to create the same "breakthrough" as more popular genres in the Chinese market. Audiences in China, accustomed to K-pop, J-pop, and upbeat domestic songs, don't seem to be truly captivated by this distinctly Vietnamese style.
The Phương Mỹ Chi craze from Sing! Asia is clearly evident in the Vietnamese market. According to the Billboard Vietnam Hot 100 chart, the "folk song girl" has equaled Sơn Tùng M-TP's achievement with six songs appearing simultaneously on the chart this week. "Fleeting Shadows," "Moon Trading," "Clown," "Music, Chess, Poetry and Painting," "Pushing an Ox Cart," "Rice Grain Rock." Meanwhile, the level of discussion and digital music sales of Phuong My Chi's songs in the Chinese market remain quite lackluster.
Compared to Chi Pu, who effectively utilized the power of media and social networks in the 2023 "Riding the Wind" competition, Phuong My Chi is somewhat more "reserved." If Chi Pu... build While Phương Mỹ Chi's image is that of a youthful, trendy idol with captivating dance moves and a well-planned media strategy, she focuses on artistic depth, requiring listeners to absorb both cultural meaning and vocal technique. This has earned her high professional praise, but she lacks the widespread reach on platforms like Douyin or Weibo, where an artist's appeal is often measured by media coverage.
The "explosions" and the lessons learned.
Hoang Thuy Linh with See love and Tang Duy Tan with Songs like "Night Dance," "Innocence," and "Cutting Sorrow in Half " are testaments to the potential of Vietnamese music to reach international levels. See love It not only became a sensation in Vietnam but also spread strongly across the Asian market. In China, the song became popular on Douyin (the Chinese version of TikTok), dubbed a "divine song," with Angelababy, Zhu Zidan, and others enthusiastically dancing along. Similarly, Cut the sorrow in half. Tang Duy Tan's song reached high positions on Chinese charts and was covered by many local artists.
Both artists share the ability to create catchy, viral songs that appeal to international tastes. Hoang Thuy Linh utilizes modern elements combined with folk materials to create sounds that are both fresh and distinctly Vietnamese. Tang Duy Tan, with his EDM and remix music, also captivates young audiences with vibrant melodies that easily spread on Douyin. However, both face the challenge of maintaining long-term popularity.
Many argue that Vietnamese hit songs often only create a short-lived buzz, lacking sustainability and profitability, partly due to limitations in management strategies and commercial exploitation in international markets.
Opportunities and obstacles for Vietnamese music on the international stage.
The appearance of Phuong My Chi, Hoang Thuy Linh, and Tang Duy Tan on international stages and charts is a positive sign for Vietnamese music. To truly reach international levels, Vietnamese music needs to overcome significant obstacles.
International audiences, especially in China, still favor domestic music genres, Kpop, or J-pop. Songs with strong folk characteristics, like those by Phuong My Chi, while unique, struggle to compete with mainstream products.
In addition, communication and management strategies play a crucial role. Chi Pu is a prime example of someone who leveraged social media and collaborated with local stars to increase her brand recognition.
Meanwhile, artists like Tang Duy Tan and some other Vietnamese artists who have participated in Chinese shows, such as Suni Ha Linh and Lyly, lack support from strong management companies in the international market, leading to limitations in revenue generation and maintaining popularity.
With a direction deeply rooted in culture and art, Phuong My Chi is forging a unique path for Vietnamese music on the international stage. She chooses a long-term storytelling approach, prioritizing depth over instant success.
However, for Vietnamese music to truly reach a wider audience, it requires a combination of artistic identity and communication strategies, along with support from professional management systems. Only by overcoming these obstacles can Vietnamese music make a lasting mark on the global music map.
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/cai-kho-cua-phuong-my-chi-3366288.html






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