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| La Vi radiates a cheerful, open, and approachable personality |
The first days in Hue were not easy. The young girl spent nearly ten months adapting to a new pace of life and overcoming the loneliness that came with living away from her family for the first time. During that period, La Vi joined the university’s Guitar Club as a way to connect with others. From the one who simply enjoyed listening to music and had never imagined singing before an audience, she gradually found herself immersed in a new world that opened up naturally before her.
From the first few baby steps
Before entering university, La Vi had performed in front of an audience only once, during a school cultural performance in her final year of high school. Without any formal training, she began her musical journey guided solely by instinct and emotion. The Guitar Club’s gatherings became a place where she could experiment, and it was there that those around her first recognized the distinctive quality of her voice.
It was not until the middle of her second year at university that La Vi began teaching herself vocal techniques. In 2024, she enrolled in a short-term formal vocal training course. Step by step, her voice became more refined, expressive, and confident, gradually leaving an impression through student music activities.
A major turning point came in mid-2025 when Do Le Dinh Nguyen, leader of the band Nokar, heard her sing in person and invited her to become the group’s vocalist. From then on, La Vi’s name began appearing more frequently at music events across Hue, from Youth Rock concerts and student stages to community gatherings. She is currently the lead singer of both Nokar and Next Step. The latter has given her the opportunity to explore jazz, a genre that demands depth, nuance, and sophistication.
Dinh Nguyen recalls being impressed by her from the very first performance: “La Vi has strong vocal power, a distinctive voice, and the ability to perform across many different genres. At first, she was a little unfamiliar with performing alongside a live band, but after a short time she became much more confident and capable on stage”.
Staying true in music
If Nokar has provided La Vi with energetic stages, Next Step has taught her the value of slowing down and listening. Dang Lam Phuong, founder of the jazz band Next Step, describes her as “a young girl full of positive energy, always cheerful and sociable, yet highly receptive to learning”. According to him, when La Vi first approached jazz, she spent considerable time listening to feedback, actively meeting musicians, and learning from their experiences.
Her introduction to Next Step came through an unexpected encounter. One day, while visiting Be Café to listen to live music, she was invited to perform two songs. Recognizing her potential in jazz and R&B, Phuong later invited her to rehearse with the band, beginning with casual coffee conversations about jazz. “Music is part of who she is. La Vi possesses the free-spirited nature of someone from the Central Highlands. I hope she will become even more confident and proud of her roots, bringing more of the mountains and forests into her musical expression,” Phuong said.
From relying primarily on natural vocal strength, La Vi gradually learned to focus on emotional depth and interpretation. Whenever she explores a new genre, she prepares meticulously. “When I first started singing jazz, I spent a great deal of time simply listening to it and becoming familiar with the style,” the young singer shared.
Though she often appears energetic and confident on stage, La Vi describes herself as quite self-critical in everyday life. After every performance, she reflects on what she could have done better. That high standard has become a driving force behind her constant self-improvement. During particularly busy periods, La Vi performed almost every day of the week. Even now, she averages three to four performances weekly at cafés, hotels, and intimate music venues throughout Hue.
Among the many stages she has appeared on, she holds a special affection for the free concert series “H.U.É - When Beauty Finds Its Voice” along the Perfume River. There, the audience includes not only people who intentionally come to enjoy music, but also passersby who stop because of a melody that catches their attention. “At those moments, I can truly feel the connection with the audience”, she said.
Beyond music, La Vi is also a dedicated student with strong academic results. After graduation, she plans to pursue teacher-training qualifications in accordance with her family’s wishes while continuing to develop her interpreting skills. At the same time, music remains a journey she hopes to continue - a modest path, but one steady enough to preserve her voice amid the nights of Hue.