Pressure when stepping out of the "safe zone
For many years, the story of Vietnamese artists reaching out to the international market has often been mentioned as a beautiful dream but not easy to realize. The domestic market can help artists build a name, fan community and their own position. However, when stepping abroad, everything almost has to start over.
Chi Pu is a clear example. Before participating in the "Dap Gio 2023" program in China, she was a name that caused much controversy in Vietnam, especially in terms of voice. Appearing in a program that gathered dozens of famous Chinese artists put Chi Pu under great pressure. She not only competed in performance ability but also had to overcome the prejudice of "beautiful people singing". However, this playground helped Chi Pu change her position. She is known more by Chinese audiences, continuously appearing in television programs, events and commercial activities in the billion-people market.
After Chi Pu, Trang Phap continues to choose the path of conquering Chinese audiences with professional skills. If Chi Pu attracts attention thanks to her progress in performance, Trang Phap creates an impression with her ability to sing, compose, play musical instruments and master the stage. When participating in the program "Dap Gio 2026", she carries the expectation of becoming the next Vietnamese artist to make her mark in this playground. Although she did not win a group spot, reaching the final and receiving many positive feedbacks from Chinese audiences is still considered a remarkable success, contributing to helping the image of Vietnamese artists become more widely known.
The common point of Chi Pu and Trang Phap is that they both entered a market with a very high level of competition. There, fame in Vietnam has almost no advantages. Audiences directly evaluate each performance, stage presence and personal appeal. An excellent performance can help artists break through, but just one poor performance can easily become a topic of debate.
Son Tung M-TP chose a different direction. He does not participate in international TV shows but gradually builds a brand through music products. The song "Hay trao cho anh" caused a stir when collaborating with American Rapper Snoop Dogg, while "Making My Way" and recently "Come My Way" continued to show the ambition to release products aimed at international audiences. Son Tung M-TP is also the first Vietnamese artist to achieve the Diamond YouTube button with more than 10 million subscribers and once had a song appear on the Billboard Global Excl. US chart, showing the early internationalization thinking of V-Pop.
However, Son Tung's path has never been smooth. Each new product comes with pressure on achievements, views, music quality and even controversies surrounding the writing style. This shows that when heading to the international market, artists are not only subject to the evaluation of domestic fans but also have to meet stricter standards from the global market.
Another notable case is Phuong My Chi. From the image of a "folk song girl", the female singer gradually reinvented herself by combining traditional materials with modern music. When participating in the "Sing! Asia 2025" program, Phuong My Chi brought many performances imbued with Vietnamese identity and excellently won the runner-up position. This achievement not only affirms the female singer's ability but also shows that folk music can still reach international audiences if invested methodically.
Success is not only measured by glory
The internationalization efforts of Vietnamese artists should not only be viewed with the question "have they become globally famous or not". For an entertainment market that is still developing like Vietnam, every time an artist appears in an international arena is a test.
Chi Pu's success in China does not mean that all domestic controversies disappear. She still faces mixed opinions about her voice and ability to maintain her appeal after the gameshow effect. However, it is undeniable that Chi Pu has turned the opportunity into a turning point to expand her professional activities.
Trang Phap also showed another form of success. Before participating in the program "Dap Gio 2026", she was highly appreciated by experts but did not really create a strong breakthrough in fame. The international arena helps the audience look back at the image of a multi-talented artist who has persistently worked in the profession for many years. Although not yet able to form a team, Trang Phap is still considered one of the Vietnamese faces that made the most positive impression on the program.
Meanwhile, Son Tung M-TP continues to show the difficult problem of Vietnamese artists when they want to reach out to the world. Success on YouTube or Billboard are noteworthy milestones, but to build a long-term position, artists need more "hits". It is also an international development strategy, the ability to cooperate with foreign partners and a musical identity that is different enough to compete in the global market.
For Phuong My Chi, the path has its own color. Instead of following international trends, she chooses to bring Vietnamese folk music to regional audiences with modern arrangement thinking. This is a difficult but rich in identity direction, contributing to promoting Vietnamese culture through music.
Reality shows that not all efforts lead to long-term success. One time causing a fever on social networks, a television program or a product mentioned by international media is not enough to affirm a position. The biggest challenge is still the ability to maintain attractiveness, continuously create quality products and build a sustainable development strategy.
For Vietnamese artists, the international market is both an opportunity and a test. An opportunity to expand audiences, cooperate with many partners and elevate personal brands; at the same time, it is also a place where they have to face higher standards, fiercer competition and greater pressure.
However, the steps of Chi Pu, Son Tung M-TP, Trang Phap or Phuong My Chi show that Vietnamese artists are no longer satisfied with domestic success. They are willing to take risks to find new positions on the regional entertainment map. Although each person chooses a different path, those efforts are contributing to bringing the V-Pop image closer to international audiences.
