Who is singer Son Tung?
Son Tung M-TP, whose real name is Nguyen Thanh Tung, is a Vietnamese singer-songwriter, actor, record producer, and founder of M-TP Entertainment. Born on July 5, 1994, in Thai Binh, Vietnam, he is widely recognized as one of the most successful pop artists in modern Vietnamese music. Combining electronic dance music, pop, hip-hop, and R&B, Son Tung has established a signature music and performance style that earned him the title "Prince of V-pop" alongside numerous awards, including a Golden Kite Award and a Dedication Music Award.
Background/biography
Son Tung grew up in Thai Binh Province in northern Vietnam. His father worked as a businessman, while his mother worked in local cultural arts and played multiple traditional instruments, introducing him to music at an early age. He has a younger brother, Nguyen Viet Hoang, who later entered the music industry as a singer under the stage name MONO.
During his high school years in Thai Binh, Son Tung taught himself keyboard performance and song composition, participating in underground hip-hop communities under the alias M-TP. After finishing high school, he moved to Ho Chi Minh City and earned the top valedictorian score in the vocal music entrance examination for the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music in 2012. As his early original releases quickly captured widespread public attention, he eventually paused formal academic studies to pursue his professional music career full-time.
Music career
- "Con Mua Ngang Qua" (2012) – Debut breakout single that gained viral attention across online music platforms.
- "Em Cua Ngay Hom Qua" (2013) – Hit single that launched his mainstream music career nationwide.
- "Chac Ai Do Se Ve" (2014) – Lead soundtrack single for the feature film Dandelion.
- "Lac Troi" (2017) – Landmark single blending classical Asian visual motifs with modern electronic music.
- "Noi Nay Co Anh" (2017) – Popular pop ballad single with millions of streams.
- "m-tp M-TP" (2017) – Debut compilation album commemorating his first five years in the music industry.
- "Run Now" ("Chay Ngay Di") (2018) – Dark pop-trap single accompanied by a cinematic music video.
- "Give It to Me" ("Hay Trao Cho Anh") (2019) – Latin pop single featuring American rapper Snoop Dogg.
- "Co Chac Yeu La Day" (2020) – Pop single released alongside a virtual concert presentation.
- "Chung Ta Cua Hien Tai" (2020) – Retro-styled narrative single.
- "Muon Roi Ma Sao Con" (2021) – R&B-pop single produced and composed independently.
- "Dung Lam Trai Tim Anh Dau" (2024) – Hit pop single with vibrant production visuals.
Son Tung transitioned from an underground artist to mainstream prominence following the viral success of his early compositions. In 2014, he made his acting debut as the lead character Dinh Phong in the biographical film Dandelion (Chang Trai Nam Ay), receiving praise for his performance and winning the Golden Kite Award for Outstanding Young Actor.
In late 2016, Son Tung established his own independent record label, M-TP Entertainment, giving him full creative control over his productions and artist management. Under his label, he released major record-breaking projects and launched successful concert tours, including the M-TP Ambition Tour and the Sky Tour. The latter was chronicled in a documentary feature film released in theaters and on streaming platforms in 2020.
Sky fandom and record-breaking releases
Throughout his active years, Son Tung built one of the largest and most organized fanbases in Vietnam, officially named Sky. The fan community has played a pivotal role during his major project rollouts, driving streaming figures on digital platforms like YouTube and Spotify to regional and global chart milestones.
He is also recognized for pioneering high-profile international collaborations within Vietnamese pop music. His 2019 single "Hay Trao Cho Anh," featuring Snoop Dogg and American model Madison Beer, accumulated tens of millions of views within its first 24 hours and introduced V-pop to a broader global audience.
Public reception
Public and media reception toward Son Tung has undergone notable transformations over time. In the earlier phases of his mainstream breakthrough, his work generated extensive public discussions regarding stylistic influences and copyright controversies in V-pop.
Despite these early debates, music critics and industry experts widely recognize Son Tung as a major trendsetter in contemporary Vietnamese pop culture. He is frequently commended for his high standards of music video production, songwriting abilities, visual aesthetics, and entrepreneurial role in raising professional standards within the local music industry.
