Vietnamese singer Hamlet Truong eager for Vietnam Phở Festival in Singapore

Hamlet Truong is a Vietnamese singer, songwriter, and author known for his heartfelt ballads and inspirational books for young readers.

He has previously performed at the Vietnam Phở Festival in South Korea and Japan in 2023 and 2024, where he helped liven up the atmosphere with his warm voice and engaging stage presence.

“In South Korea, after my performance, some local audiences looked me up on YouTube and used Google Translate to leave comments in Vietnamese,” Hamlet Truong recalled, adding that music, like pho and food in general, can transcend language barriers and bring people from different countries closer together.

Meanwhile, he described the festival in Japan as "incredibly fun and heartwarming," with an enthusiastic crowd that sang along to almost every song.

This year, the Vietnam Phở Festival is organized by the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore, Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, and Saigontourist Group, in coordination with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Industry and Trade and the Vietnamese Community Liaison Committee in Singapore.

The event, which is held under the guidance of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, will take place on October 18 and 19 at Our Tampines Hub in Singapore.

Hamlet Truong said he is proud to continue performing at the Vietnam Phở Festival because for him, it is not just a concert but a cultural event that promotes pho abroad.

The singer said he often enjoys bowls of pho at Pho Le or northern-style eateries in Ho Chi Minh City, and even when traveling abroad, he never misses a chance to seek out a good pho shop.

“Pho in Vietnam is always better than anywhere else,” he said. “Enjoying an authentic bowl overseas is a rare and special experience that brings great joy to overseas Vietnamese.”

He added that this year’s festival in Singapore will be a meaningful gathering for the Vietnamese community, local residents, and international tourists to enjoy pho, chat, and meet Vietnamese artists.

“I’ve promised myself that after three years of joining the Vietnam Phở Festival, if Tuoi Tre invites me again next year, I’ll write a song just for pho,” Hamlet Truong said.

“I planned to write one this year but couldn’t make it in time.”