Đông Nhi

Mai Hồng Ngọc was born in Hanoi but her family moved to Ho Chi Minh City when she was two years old. Đông Nhi developed her music ability at a young age, and won many awards in high school. Đông Nhi enrolled as a student at Ho Chi Minh National University, but left to pursue her a career in music. Đông Nhi failed at many singing contests like Vietnam Idol, before officially being signed to be a singer for a recording company which is NewGen. At that time, teen pop was popular, two of her songs Chang Baby Milo and Du quay tinh yeu became hits and had been requested numerous times on the radio. However, NewGen assumed that her strong image wasn't suitable for the current trend, as they decided to push Khong Tu Quynh instead whose image was certainly sweet and more trendy at the time. She was dropped after a few months.

In 2008, Đông Nhi independently released her first single, "Khóc" (Cry). The song became a minor hit which helped her to become well-known and later get signed to Tinu Production Company which she co-managed with Dang Phuong. She began making teen-pop songs and achieved fame. Some noticeable songs from Nhi currently include "Khóc", "Bối Rối", "Bí Mật Của Hạnh Phúc", "Lời Thú Tội Ngọt Ngào",... She also starred in a few movies and films like Giải cứu thần chết, Thứ ba học trò, Công chúa teen và ngũ hổ tướng.

Nhi announced her hiatus in 2009, during her hiatus, it was rumored that she was pregnant, therefore she decided to raise her voice that it was just a rumor.[2] She eventually came back with her official debut album, The First Step, which won a prize on HTV Favorite Albums. The album also reached the top 10 on Zing Music Awards. The same year, Đông Nhi's song "Từng Thuộc Về Nhau" became a big hit and received positive reviews from the social media.

In September 2011, Đông Nhi released the EP The Singer, collaborated with many popular musicians of Vietnam including Duc Tri, Luu Thien Huong, Mr. Siro, Manh Quan. She then won Zing Music Awards' prize for the Best Female Singer, and the EP The Singer made it to the top 10 Album of the Year.[3]

In early 2012, she voiced over in Hollywood animation The Lorax with TV host Thanh Bach.[4] At the end of April 2012, Đông Nhi debuted her MV Sau Mỗi Giấc Mơ, which featured 80% of scenes underwater. The song and music video topped many music charts of Vietnam and gained her another award for "Favorited Female Singer" of the Zing Music Awards. At the end of 2012, she and Bo tu hoan hao cast held a mini concert which was sponsored by Zing Mp3.[5] In 2013, her music video Tìm Về was the first in Vietnam that featured 3D scenes and technology.

In early 2013, she hosted Dancing with the Stars season 4 (with actor Luong Manh Hai). Also in this year, she stopped working with her manager Dang Phuong and signed with Ong Cao Thang's 6th Sense Entertainment. After the contract, her music products were carefully designed and executed. She had a breakthrough by delivering sexy image with popular electronic dance music genre. I Wanna Dance is the opening song of her new style era. Along with this success, she still gained many successes for her pop songs: Tim ve, Xoa[6],..."Tim ve" is the first 3D music video in Vietnam at that time. 2013 was her successful year as she won several awards. She became the face of many brands and being supported by a big fanbase.[7]

In 2014, Đông Nhi released her second album I Wanna Dance, featuring pop-electronic songs like I Wanna Dance, Bad Boy. The album's lead single, I Wanna Dance, topped many music charts in Vietnam as well as China, Spain... and won "Favorite Pop- Electronic Song" of Zing Music Awards 2014. This song was a great turn of her career as she was building sexy image featuring dance - EDM genre. Đông Nhi also won the Favorite Female Singer Award for the 4th time. In 19th Golden Apricot Blossom Awards, she won Favorite Ballad Singer Award for the first time.[8] In September, she was confirmed to be one of the judges with Ong Cao Thang of Vo Chong Minh Hat TV show.

On March 28, 2015, she was the official judge of Toa Sang Tai Nang Chau A contest along with Midu and Lam Vinh Ha. On April 5, 2015, she won Favorite Female Singer Award at HTV Award with more than 73,07% votes via SMS.

In early February, at 20th Golden Apricot Blossom Award, she continued to win Favorite Ballad Singer Award. In early 2015, she competed in the first season of The Remix, a contest between popular singers which focused on renewing and remixing songs. On May 3, 2015, Đông Nhi eventually won the competition after weeks leading the votes.[9] Đông Nhi was praised for her consistent performances throughout the show. At the end of March 2015, in Liveshow 6 of The Remix, she performed her latest single Stop Loving You, which immediately topped in many music charts such as Top 1 Zing MP3.[10]

On May 15, 2015, she released the 3D technology music video for Vi Ai Vi Anh featuring Isaac, the music video reached more than 1,000,000 views and charted 1st place in Zing MP3 music chart in first day of release.[11] This song won Music Video of the Year at Zing Music Award 2015, and this was the 5th time in a row she won Favorite Singer Award. At Yan Vpop Award 2015, Vi Ai Vi Anh won Best Song Award.

On May 16, 2015, she was one of the judge of Ngoi Sao Phuong Nam contest, alongside Quang Ha and Duong Ngoc Thai. On May 31, 2015, she came back to Vietnam Idol as a guest, in which she performed "Hot" in first night gala. On July 2, 2015, she was the judge of BeU with Honda 2015 contest along with Noo Phuoc Thinh, Ho Hoai Anh and John Huy Tran,..

On December 2, 2015, Đông Nhi became the youngest Vietnamese singer ever to win an award of Mnet Asian Music Awards. Although she didn't appear, she had a thank you speech on big screen.

On December 14, 2015, she released the music video Boom Boom featuring trap effect.

On January 22, 2016, at 21st Golden Apricot Blossom, she won 3rd time in a row for Favorite Ballad Female Singer award and Top 10 artists of the Year award. On January 25, 2016, she was enlisted in 30 Under 30 list by Forbes Vietnam, under her real name which is Mai Hong Ngoc.[12]

On April 8, 2016, Đông Nhi confirmed to team up with her boyfriend Ông Cao Thắng to become a duo of coaches in the fourth season of The Voice Kids of Vietnam. Đông Nhi and Ông Cao Thắng's final team member Trịnh Nhật Minh won the show, making her the winning mentor. On October 2, 2016 Đông Nhi had her first liveshow in 8 years, called It's Showtime - Dệt Giấc Mơ Bay. On October 8, 2016 (Vietnam time zone), via official fanpage, Big Apple Music Awards 2016 sent her a congratulation for winning Best Vietnamese Female Artist. On November 6, 2016, she won Best Asian Artist Award of MTV EMA 2016.

On January 3, 2017 Đông Nhi confirmed joining The Voice of Vietnam as a solo coach for its 4th season, alongside Thu Minh, Tóc Tiên, and The Voice Kids fellow coach Noo Phước Thịnh. During the same month, Đông Nhi won Artist of the Year award at the Yan Vpop 20 Awards as well as her 6th consecutive Favorite Female Artist at the Zing Music Awards.

On February 2, 2017, she released music video Cam On (We belong together) composed by Huynh Hien Nang. This is the product in cooperation with Trinh Nhat Minh and filmed in Japan. Also in February, she continued to release the music video Love me too which was sponsored by Samsung. On September 24, 2017, she joined Asia Song Festival 2017 in Busan, Korea in which she performed two songs: "Xin anh dung" and "Bad boy". On October 5, 2017, she released ballad music video Sao chang the vi em marking her comeback to ballad genre, the video was filmed in Taiwan featuring Ông Cao Thắng. Next month, she continued to release music video Co Ba Sai Gon written by Only C, became popular among the young audience.

On October 4, Đông Nhi was the representative of Vietnam to perform at The 2nd ASEAN - Japan Music Festival 2018, held in Tokyo, Japan. She remixed the song "Nụ cười Việt Nam" and the first time performed a new song, "Xin lỗi anh quá phiền". Đông Nhi continuously released music videos for her singles "Giả vờ say" and "Gọi em đi" from her third studio album, Ten On Ten. On December 9, the full album was released and topped the Vietnamese iTunes chart.