The designer said the dress conveyed a message about Vietnam's soaring dreams. The dress features a high collar, stylized from the "ao dai" (traditional Vietnamese dress), while the lower part uses light material. The highlight is the shoulders adorned with feathers and hundreds of sequins. Hoa Nguyen incorporated details including a chest-level belt and red lace gloves, exuding a youthful spirit.

Phuong My Chi competed alongside other Asian singers in the music competition, attracting attention throughout several rounds. In addition to her talent and song choices, she received praise from judges and audiences for her stage presence and costumes.

In the semi-final aired on 11/7, Phuong My Chi collaborated with Chinese singer Kha Lau on a mashup of "Tuy am" and "Luc hai vi vuong". She incorporated "cai luong" (southern Vietnamese opera) into the performance and sang a verse of the Chinese song in Vietnamese. She wore an outfit called "The Heron's Hymn", inspired by herons, designed by Hoa Nguyen.

During the recording in Singapore, Phuong My Chi performed a mashup of "Ly Bac bo" (including folk songs like "Ba cong di cho troi mua," "Ly cay da," "Ba rang ba ri," and "Day xe bo") composed by DTAP, inspired by the cultural aspects of people's daily lives. She wore a modernized "ao dai" with puffed sleeves and colorful tassels.

In her debut performance in May, she sang "Buon trang" (composed by DTAP) and "Rock Hat gao" (by Phuong My Chi and DTAP). The singer chose to wear a "yem" (traditional Vietnamese bodice) and "tu than" (four-panel dress), characteristic of northern Vietnam culture. The outfit, designed by Bui Hoang An, features a heron image on the chest and uses green to represent rice paddies. Phuong My Chi performed barefoot to complement the Vovinam (Vietnamese martial art) performance on stage.

In the quarter-final aired at the end of June, she sang "Bong phu hoa" (composed by DTAP and Phuong My Chi), inspired by the literary work "Nguoi con gai Nam Xuong" by Nguyen Du. The performance was a hit with domestic audiences, garnering millions of listens and topping YouTube's trending music chart. Phuong My Chi's vocals were praised by the Chinese media, and viewers commented that it gave them goosebumps.

She wore a dress inspired by the lotus flower, from the "Dong phu sa" collection by designer Nguyen Hung Bao. As soon as she stepped onto the stage, Chinese judge Zhang Liang Ying exclaimed, "Her outfit is truly remarkable!" Canadian star Faouzia also praised the outfit backstage, saying, "This outfit is so beautiful." Online advisor Anh Hoc Thanh thought that Phuong My Chi "knew how to combine elements like costumes and stage style, making the performance complete."

The outfit was previously worn by singer Hoang Thuy Linh in the "See tinh" music video. To facilitate transportation to Hong Kong on the recording day, Phuong My Chi's team convinced the designer to trim the lotus rim, add an inner shirt, and gloves for comfortable movement. The dress features 3D flower petal embellishments and a crystal fringe effect on the skirt.

She also wore a small drum around her neck and performed playful dance moves.

Stylist Quyen Phuong, Phuong My Chi's older sister, said that after brainstorming and staging the performance, the team focused on the costumes to help the singer shine on stage. Many designs were custom-made for My Chi, with some outfits sewn in about a week.

Phuong My Chi expressed her happiness in wearing these outfits on stage, contributing to sharing Vietnamese culture with international friends.

Phuong My Chi also prepared a conical hat for backstage interactions.

Singer Phuong My Chi with the judges of the round, including To Huu Bang (right) and Dan Truong (left).

Phuong My Chi, 22, is from TP HCM. She rose to fame at the age of 10 after the 2013 "The Voice Kids" competition, with her performance of "Que em mua nuoc lu" (by Tien Luan) becoming a sensation. Over 10 years in her singing career, she has released numerous music videos and albums including "Thuong ve mien Trung" (2017), "16 xuan trang" (2019), "Bat nha thuyen" (2020), and "Vu tru co bay" (2023). She has also acted in films such as "Hai lua" (2014), "Nha gia tien" (2025), and the web drama "Tiem hoa di ghe."

"Sing! Asia" is a 30-day music competition held on a cruise ship, organized by the iQiYi platform (China). The judges include famous Asian artists such as Dan Truong, Zhang Liang Ying, Vuu Truong Tinh, Lam Chi Dinh, To Huu Bang, and Co Cu Co. The ship departs from Shanghai (China) to Okinawa (Japan), stopping at Ha Long Bay (Vietnam), Singapore, and Malaysia, with the final destination in Hong Kong. The program is broadcast live internationally on Saturday evenings on FPT Play.

32 singers and music groups from across Asia compete in the Confrontation, Talent, and Glory rounds to determine the winner.

Tan Cao

Photos: Provided by the artist