She realizes that there are many obstacles to overcome as an aspiring singer, but this does not take away from her passion for music. She has many musical influences, including world artists like the “Madonna of Japan” and the “Britney Spears of Korea.”

“I like to sing, and this is a chance for me to perform. I love being in the spotlight and singing my heart out, hoping that the audience enjoys my performance,” says Leena.

Like Leena and Christine, finalist Cindy DT Tran also has a love for singing and finds it therapeutic.

“Singing helps me when I’m stressed out or bored, so it’s really important to me,” says Tran.

With three finalists from the same college, Cindy sees Vietnamese Idol as a bonding experience for her fellow Sacramento State VSA sisters. Within VSA, there is a small singing troupe that performs at many community events in the Sacramento area. Many of the girls in the troupe decided to compete in Vietnamese Idol, and Cindy saw this contest has a chance to expand her horizons.

“You gotta go out there and explore and have some fun. A lot of my friends were competing, so we decided to make a big trip out of it,” says Tran.

Cindy, Leena, and Christine have made several joyous road trips from Sacramento to San Jose throughout the various rounds of competition. As Christine puts it, “We’re all here to make new memories.”

Every Community Needs Entertainment
For Thuy Tien Entertainment, Vietnamese Idol is more than a singing competition. It is an attempt to fill a glaring void in the entertainment industry: the lack of recognized Vietnamese-American artists in the mainstream.

When asked about this lack of diversity, Tien replies, “Every community needs entertainment. It is a part of our daily lives. This is why we’re working with the youth to promote them and find new talent.”

Many of the finalists have also identified the absence of Vietnamese Americans in entertainment.

“We gotta stand up and tell the world that we are very bright and talented people and pursuing our entertainment careers is a step in this direction,” says competitor Nam Tao.

While Vietnamese Idol provides a stage for emerging Vietnamese-American talent, finalist Tran understands the need for additional platforms.

Tran explains, “I believe that there are many talented young Vietnamese people out there, but there are not enough opportunities or connections. We need more.”

Another factor in the lack of Vietnamese-Americans in entertainment is the parental pressures of pursuing traditional careers, which many of the finalists have encountered in their own lives. Many of the contestants at Vietnamese Idol are still students, so they must weigh the pros and cons of chasing an entertainment career.

“For me, my mother would not be very happy if I choose entertainment to be my career because as you know, Vietnamese families in America want their children to become doctors and engineers, and definitely not singers,” says Lanthy Le.

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