How rich are Vietnamese singers

VietNamNet Bridge - “If you say that star singers are very rich, then you don’t really understand them. Few people get rich by singing alone,” said pop star Thanh Thao.
Earning billions and spending billions
Top-tier pop singers like Thanh Lam, My Linh, Hong Nhung, Lam Truong, Dan Truong, Phuong Thanh, Dam Vinh Hung, My Tam, Ho Quynh Huong and Thanh Thao are generally considered very wealthy.

Singer Thanh ThaoIndeed, they earn at least VND10million (US$625) dong for a show, and their monthly earnings from shows are estimated to be around VND100million (US$6,250).
Many singers say that there are months when they earn VND100million, or much less, or much more. And they all remind one not to calculate what they earn without mentioning what they “invest”.
Most top-tier singers have their own managers, fashion designers and make-up artists. An outfit designed exclusively for a Vietnamese star may cost as much as US$1,000. The price for make-up services for a show is around VND500,000 (US$31).
A manager costs from VND3-5million (US$188-313)/month. Gasoline is around VND4-6million/month. Dancers for a song cost VND1million. Other expenses include brand-name shoes, bags, and hats to accompany different sets of clothing.
Asked about money, singer Thanh Thao said: “Indeed I have a lot of money but I also spend a great deal. A CD often costs VND200million and a VCD may be as much as VND400-500million. I release 2-3 albums a year and spend more than VND10million on clothes monthly, not to mention make-up, shoes, family expenses and charity work. All of these expenses may take up half of my earnings.”
At the peak of her career 4 or 5 years ago, Thanh Thao was able to buy a nice small house and a car. “If you say that star singers are very rich, then you don’t really understand them. Few people get rich by singing alone,” added Thanh Thao.
Making the best of stardom

Dan TruongPeople consider Dam Vinh Hung and My Tam to have the highest income among Vietnamese singers at present. Asked about this, Dam Vinh Hung said, smiling: “Compared to international stars, our incomes are specks of sand.”
“After 10 years of singing, I’m satisfied that I’ve bought a house for my family, sent my nieces and nephews to the best schools, helped my younger sister and some friends start up their own businesses and done charity work.”
When asked what the highest amount he’d ever received for his appearance in a show was, Hung answered without hesitation that it could be as high as VND40-50million. "But such a show is rare,” added he.
As for whether he considers himself rich, Dam Vinh Hung said he was just “comfortable” since he still had many ambitions.
"When people still love you, you have to make the best of your opportunity and focus all of your heart and mind and energy on singing in order to have high incomes. Some days I pocket tens of millions of dong only to spend much more on things,” said Hung.
Thanks to their efforts and the public, not only do star singers have houses and cars but also their own companies, studios and other things despite all of their expenses. Yet, some singers confidently say they deserve whatever they receive after all those days of sweating and even crying.
Ho Quynh Huong, for instance, recalled her tearful first days in Saigon begging for a chance to perform for a very little amount of money and even for free.
Her income now is high enough to be ranked as a star singer but she said she wasn’t rich, though there has been news that she wore a US$5,000 suit in a show.
Ho Quynh Huong didn’t deny it. But she said she had a passion: shopping for unique things. She bought the suit on a trip abroad. Yet, afterwards, she regretted such extravagance.
As for Phuong Thanh, she has billions dong on hand one moment but can be empty-handed the next after mortgaging her house to have money for a live show. She said as long as audiences still wanted to listen to her sing, she must try to sing and all of her money would be spent on her singing career.
(Source: Tien Phong