The Life Story of Bui Yen Ly - 'The Undefeated' Asian Muay

Bui Yen Ly was born in 1995, and started competing professionally for Hanoi in 2012. She has been Vietnam's number one in kickboxing and Muay for more than 10 years, with achievements: 16 national Muay gold medals, 16 national kickboxing gold medals, 4 SEA Games gold medals and 4 world gold medals.

Bui Yen Ly's other notable achievements include: Muay Thai gold medal at the 2017 World Games - a tournament considered the second Olympics; the title of outstanding fighter in 2019 at the International Muay Thai Championship (IFMA). At this time, she was officially recognized as the "undefeated" female Muay.

From 2024, Yen Ly started working as a coach. She not only trained young athletes for Hanoi but also contributed to the Vietnamese team winning the first place at the 2025 Asian Championship. Her achievements helped Yen Ly receive the First Class Labor Medal.

In mid-July 2025, after nearly 20 years of martial arts, she decided to stop her top sports career because "she wanted her child to feel the full love from her parents".

Boxer Bui Yen Ly was once the "undefeated" Vietnamese female Muay Thai champion for more than 10 years. Photo: HUYNH MINH TUAN

Overcoming prejudice and adversity

Bui Yen Ly is one of the first female athletes to publicly reveal her true gender and personal love life despite receiving many negative reactions, including family threats to "cut her name from the household registration book".

“I choose to face it because I did not choose myself to be like that. I do not advocate or encourage anyone to be like me. And I always try my best to bring glory to my country. After speaking out a few times, it seems like people are used to me being like that,” Yen Ly shared.

In mid-2024, Bui Yen Ly welcomed her first daughter. To have this joy, her family experienced a shock that could not be more painful.

“We did IVF. Initially, my wife was pregnant with twins, a boy and a girl, but after 2 months, she lost one of the boys. It was a huge shock. When the doctor announced the news, everything inside me fell silent and empty. The only thing I could do at that moment was to stop crying and suppress my emotions so that I could be a spiritual support for my wife,” Ly said.

Having gone through many ups and downs in life, the couple Yen Ly-Quynh Lam have now received the trust of both families, nurturing their happiness as a couple. Yen Ly's mother-in-law always supports in taking care of her grandchildren and is not afraid to show off her son-in-law, especially every time Yen Ly competes at the SEA Games.

Bui Yen Ly was happy with his wife and children on the day he received the First Class Labor Medal. Photo: NVCC .

Self-made with the first pair of Muay pants

For a long time, Yen Ly has been familiar with the martial arts community on social networks through her martial arts teaching videos. She has been self-taught in order to promote her personal image and create an online business channel for herself.

Ly's passion for business started in 2011. "At that time, I really wanted a pair of competition pants but had no way to buy them. When I went to Ho Chi Minh City to compete and won a gold medal, I was awarded money by coach Duong Ngoc Hai. I immediately asked a coach in Ho Chi Minh City to help me find a pair of Muay pants. I wore those pants from the ring to my breaks, even on the plane from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi. From that moment on, I thought I had to sell martial arts equipment. I've been gradually exploring since I was 16 years old."

Currently, Yen Ly has opened her own gym, which is also the way she chooses to keep her passion for martial arts alive after leaving her top sports career.

Because now, the former boxer's top priority is family and raising children.

“I have been practicing martial arts since I was 12 years old, almost 20 years now. I cannot quit right away. But it is also difficult to continue. I go to work before my child wakes up, and when I come back I only have time to put him to sleep. I am afraid that my child will lack family affection and will not feel the love from his parents. Therefore, I choose the best way for my child before it is too late,” Yen Ly confided.

Source: https://znews.vn/chuyen-doi-cua-bui-yen-ly-doc-co-cau-bai-muay-chau-a-post1571107.html