'Pretty Gen Z Girl' Ngo Lan Huong: Gentle start, brilliant results

A truly “multiverse” journey: both profound and chill like a cup of coffee at night, and bright and youthful like the morning sunshine of Saigon. Huong admits: “Sometimes I’m a bit old, but sometimes I’m younger than my age.” Hearing that, you can immediately feel Huong’s vibe - half nostalgic, half rebellious. Between those two worlds , Ngo Lan Huong still has the perfect balance: singing old music that’s not old, singing new music that’s still soulful. It’s that “mixed vibe” that creates a very unique color, Huong’s color: chill, fiery, and making people smile happily.

From foreign trade student to musical "destiny"

Born in Thanh Hoa in a non-artistic family, Lan Huong studied Foreign Economics at the Foreign Trade University. It may sound far from music, but in fact, melody has never left Huong. “Since I was little, I loved singing and being on stage. My parents thought it was just to build confidence, but unexpectedly, music stuck with me forever” - Lan Huong shared.

Joining the school's music club, Huong began to have a "playground" to sing, to live true to her passion. Then one day, Huong was invited by a friend to compete in The Voice 2017 - initially just for fun, unexpectedly it became the biggest turning point in her life. From then on, Huong officially changed direction, entering the path of professional singing.

Before that, Huong was already familiar to many young audiences thanks to her million-view covers online with a sweet, vibey and profound voice. After The Voice, the name Ngo Lan Huong is no longer strange, especially when she was nominated for Lan Song Xanh in the category of "Outstanding New Face". From a foreign trade student who loves to sing for fun to a Gen Z singer with her own color, Lan Huong's journey is typical: starting gently, but the results are brilliant beyond expectations.

Singer Ngo Lan Huong. Photo: TGCC

From "Dream" to "Walking in the Bright Sky"

Before creating a fever with "Di giua troi ruc ro", Ngo Lan Huong once made the audience "melt their hearts" with covers of Trinh, Lam Phuong, Pham Duy's music... and especially #Tram show - where the young singer opened a door full of nostalgia, leading listeners back to old memories through the eyes of modern youth. In that space full of memories, Huong sang "Con tuoi nao cho em" with a clear but sad voice, as if she was telling an old story that everyone had experienced. "I have a special love for old music. When singing Trinh or Pham Duy, I feel like their music comes back to life in me" - Huong shared. And true to its name, #Tram is not only the first live music show, but also the "door" for Huong to enter the world of emotions, of gentle and nostalgic things.

It was that "#tram" quality that made many people think Lan Huong would stick with old music forever - the type of "a girl born in 1998 but with a heart of the 70s". But no. After #Tram, Huong surprised the TV audience again when she brought the OST for the TV series "Di giua troi gua roc" - which was commissioned to be composed when the film was released in 2024. From here, a completely different version: bright, full of energy, still emotional but no longer sad. And it was this transformation that made people realize: no matter what she sings, Huong is always Huong - real, emotional and colorful.

Singer Ngo Lan Huong. Photo: TGCC

If #Tram is the warm brown color of memories, then "Di giua troi hong roc" is a sunny sky - where Huong allows herself to be happy, to breathe, to live fully in the present. It's still the same girl, still the same clear voice, but this time, Huong sings with a free spirit and belief in the beautiful things that lie ahead. "Music to me is like life, sometimes deep, sometimes bright. I want to be myself in every stage" - Huong shared.

And indeed, among the Gen Z generation of artists who are constantly searching for their identity, Ngo Lan Huong chose her own way to approach music: gentle, sincere, but not afraid of challenges. Not wanting to stop at the role of a singer, Huong started writing music for herself. “Inspiration can come from yourself, from others, or simply… imagination”.

Huong shared: “Anh muon dua em ve khong is a song I wrote at 3am, the melody just came naturally, so I sat down to write it”. Huong added: “When I wrote Di giua troi hong roi, I just let my emotions guide me. The song was honored as “Phenomenal Song” at the 2024 Green Wave Awards and was nominated in the category “Song of the Year” at the Devotion Music Awards. I myself also received a nomination from the Green Wave Awards for “Outstanding New Face”.

After the "bright" are longer dreams

After the success of "Di Giua Troi Ruc Ro", Ngo Lan Huong is nurturing many new projects for 2025. Huong has not revealed any details, only revealing: "In the near future, I want to sing and tell stories more." It seems that Huong is entering a new chapter - where she not only sings with her voice, but also with her own experiences and emotions.

For Huong, music has never been just a job. It is the way she lives, feels and appreciates life. “Maybe if I had chosen a different path in the past, it wouldn’t have been bad. I think everything has a reason. Now somehow music is with me. So now I just live life to the fullest, be grateful for every opportunity and cherish every moment,” Huong said.

In 2025, Huong was one of 30 artists participating in the first season of Em xinh "say hi". Although she stopped after the second round of performances, this experience was still a memorable small step in her journey of discovering music and herself. After leaving the competition earlier than expected, Lan Huong chose to face it through music. During her 3 days in the foggy city, Huong only brought her guitar and "Thank you, thank you" was born.

Image in MV "Thank you, thank you". Photo: TGCC

The song is not elaborate or showy, just words of gratitude to teammates, to the audience, to the music. And that itself has become a milestone, showing the emotional maturity and outlook on life of this Gen Z girl.

Ngo Lan Huong has gradually become a familiar face in the playlists of young people, but still maintains her modesty and eagerness to learn. She is an artist who dares to try - dares to make mistakes - dares to change. Her music is a blend of the calmness of old music and the freshness of young music, making many people call Huong "Gen Z of nostalgia" - a young artist who knows how to stand between two worlds while still maintaining her identity.

Thanh Thuy

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/bao-dong-nai-gen-z---chuyen-nguoi-tre/202511/em-xinh-gen-z-ngo-lan-huong-bat-dau-nhe-nhang-ket-qua-ruc-ro-5f5090f/