Why is Chi Pu shining so brightly in China?

VTC News•10/02/2024

Prior to his visit to Vietnam, General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping sent an article to be published in the Nhan Dan newspaper. The article included the following passage:

"Many Vietnamese pop songs are very popular on Chinese social media, and Vietnamese singers gain a large number of Chinese fans when participating in Chinese entertainment television programs. Cultural exchanges are becoming increasingly close, like small streams that stretch on and on, converging into a vast river of friendship and exchange between the two countries."

Chi Pu's career skyrocketed in China. She constantly appeared on television programs in the country of over a billion people, was in high demand for events, and her pho restaurant in Shanghai was always packed…

The golden star shines brightly.

Like a drop in a small stream, 2023 marked a milestone in Chi Pu's career. She became the first Vietnamese female artist to achieve success in the Chinese market.

Entering the Vietnamese showbiz scene in 2009 after reaching the top 20 of the Miss Teen competition, Chi Pu became synonymous with the title of "hot girl." She was in high demand as a model, acted in several television dramas, and made her debut in film with the movies "Yêu" (Love) and "Chị chị em em" (Sister Sister).

In 2017, Chi Pu shifted her focus to singing. Her decision to venture into this field was similar to that of many other artists before her, who recognized the "endless gold mine" of the music market.

When news broke that Chi Pu would be participating in "Riding the Wind 2023," domestic audiences were bewildered. They didn't believe the female artist had the ability to compete with 29 other beautiful women – all famous artists from China and several other countries.

However, contrary to the worries of domestic audiences, Chi Pu not only performed well but also shone in the country of over a billion people. Throughout her time on the show, she was continuously loved by her fellow contestants and the audience.

After leaving the show with a high ranking, Chi Pu continuously appeared on television programs and collaborated with many well-known artists in China.

Not only focusing on her artistic activities, Chi Pu also quickly launched her La Ganh pho restaurant in Shanghai.

Besides her personal success, Chi Pu is also actively promoting Vietnamese culture abroad. She affirms her aspiration to elevate the Vietnamese entertainment and culinary industries globally by seizing the opportunity while having an advantage in terms of influence with a segment of foreign audiences.

In terms of music, Chi Pu provides arrangements of traditional Vietnamese instruments or Vietnamese songs for the other female artists to practice singing. During her activities in China, she uses a 100% Vietnamese team, partly to show international friends that Vietnamese people are very talented and professional, not inferior to their international counterparts, and partly to create opportunities for Vietnamese staff to interact and learn new things.

Chi Pu's position is increasingly solidified through her endorsements of Vietnamese branded clothing, gifts of traditional ao dai dresses and trips to Vietnam for guests, and promotion of Vietnamese delicacies such as Vong village sticky rice cakes, sticky rice patties, fried fermented pork rolls, and chili salt rice paper rolls… And, the most recent proof is her startup of a chain of Vietnamese pho restaurants in China.

“After all, I’m starting to see the first fruits of my labor as many Chinese fans have decided to travel to Vietnam. They praise the beautiful scenery of Vietnam. They also searched for and bought a lot of the fashion items Chi Pu wore in the show. This is truly a very good sign in promoting Vietnamese culture,” Chi Pu excitedly said about the initial success of herself and her team in “taking the show on the road.”

Tireless effort

Huu Anh - Chi Pu's manager - shared about Chi Pu's turbulent period working in the Chinese market: "With a new market where artists are just taking their first steps, it takes more time to understand and plan for the long term."

After the two programs "Riding the Wind 2023" and "A Delicious Guess," Chi Pu was fortunate to gain recognition and affection from Chinese audiences. Her newly opened La Ganh pho restaurant in Shanghai has also received support from both locals and tourists. We view this journey as a successful debut, allowing us to better understand the market and discuss future plans with our partners.”

Speaking about the risks of expanding operations in China – a market with great potential but also "demanding" and harsh due to the widespread boycott movement – Huu Anh affirmed that the team has always strived for meticulousness in every activity since their first steps into China.

Chi Pu always makes sure she looks presentable whenever she's filming or appearing in public.

“Chi Pu will continue to work simultaneously in both the Vietnamese and Chinese markets. Wherever she is, we always strive our best and seize every opportunity to develop Chi Pu's career in all fields, as well as bring audiences invested and passionate projects that can further promote the image of Vietnam, its people, and its culture to international friends,” said Huu Anh, Chi Pu's manager.

Coming up closest to the stage at the Asian Youth Music Festival, as the only Vietnamese artist, Chi Pu practiced intensely to deliver an energetic performance in front of 30,000 spectators.

Chi Pu has also just been named in the list of Outstanding Entertainment Stars of 2023 nominated by Weibo/Sina. This is a recognition of Chi Pu's efforts in this massive Chinese market.

"Throughout our operation to date, we have always appreciated and acknowledged everyone's contributions, especially our audience, to continuously improve. Constantly working hard, learning, and honing our skills is what we always remind ourselves to do in order to survive in this entertainment industry," Chi Pu's manager emphasized.

Journalist Huyen Thanh, the founder of the "Green Wave" program, believes that in the vast world of showbiz, there are many talents, but not everyone with talent and ability will become famous. Those who become famous, those who become stars, must certainly possess star qualities.

"Heaven didn't bless Chi Pu with a voice that captivates thousands, but it compensated her with other outstanding qualities that make her special and successful. To put it simply, Chi Pu is a product of the market. Where there's supply, there's demand; she couldn't have succeeded without being widely accepted and loved."

Meanwhile, media expert Nguyen Phong Viet assessed that Chi Pu's successful foray into the Chinese market, to some extent, demonstrates her efforts and determination to transform herself into a highly professional and systematic professional in the industry.

"This is something few artists in Vietnam can do so meticulously. Chi Pu is currently an idol among young Vietnamese artists," said Mr. Nguyen Phong Viet.

Music producer and songwriter Duong Khac Linh commented: “Chi Pu has a great stage presence. Showbiz has many types of singers, and Chi Pu is a talented one. Chi Pu has all the qualifications to perform. Her vocals are improving day by day, and sometimes the audience overlooks a few simple things because they like and want to see her perform.”

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