Famous people of Vietnam: past and present
Over its long history Vietnam has given the world many remarkable people — from the generals who defended the country's independence to today's billionaires, musicians and athletes. We've gathered the most famous Vietnamese and split them into two parts: heroes of the past, honoured here for centuries, and celebrities everyone is talking about right now.
Part 1. Great figures of the past
Vietnamese deeply respect their history. The names of national heroes mark streets and squares in almost every city — including Nha Trang. Here are five figures you can't understand the country without.
Ho Chi Minh — father of the nation
Ho Chi Minh (1890–1969) is the most revered figure in Vietnamese history. He led the struggle for independence, proclaimed the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945, and headed the resistance first against French colonialists and then against the United States.
Today he is fondly called 'Uncle Ho'. His portrait is on every dong banknote, his mausoleum stands in Hanoi, and the former capital Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in his honour.
The Trung Sisters — the country's first heroines
The Trung Sisters (Hai Bà Trưng) rose up against Chinese rule around the year 40 AD and briefly freed the country, becoming its rulers. Their feat made them a symbol of independence and women's courage — streets, temples and an annual festival are named after them.
Tran Hung Dao — the general who beat the Mongols
Tran Hung Dao (1229–1300) is a national hero who in the 13th century repelled the Mongol invasions of Kublai Khan three times, even though the enemy was far stronger. His clever river tactics and ability to unite the people went into the textbooks. In Vietnam he is honoured almost like a saint.
Nguyen Du — Vietnam's greatest poet
Nguyen Du (1765–1820) is the country's greatest poet. His epic poem 'The Tale of Kieu' (Truyện Kiều) is considered the pinnacle of Vietnamese literature: almost every Vietnamese knows its lines by heart, and UNESCO marked the poet's anniversary worldwide.
General Vo Nguyen Giap — Dien Bien Phu and 1975
Vo Nguyen Giap (1911–2013) was a brilliant commander regarded as one of the finest generals of the 20th century. He led Vietnam to victory at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, ending French colonialism, and in 1975 his strategy culminated in the liberation of the South and the country's reunification.
Part 2. Famous Vietnamese today
Modern Vietnam is no longer only about history. The country is raising its own billionaires, world-class musicians and athletes. Here's who everyone is talking about now.
Pham Nhat Vuong — Vietnam's richest man
Pham Nhat Vuong is the founder of the Vingroup conglomerate and Vietnam's first billionaire. In 2025 his fortune soared past 30 billion dollars, making him one of the 100 richest people in the world and the second-richest in Southeast Asia.
He is the man behind VinFast electric cars, Vincom malls and Vinpearl resorts — including the famous Vinpearl on the island next to Nha Trang.
Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao — first woman billionaire
Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao runs the budget airline Vietjet Air and became the first woman billionaire in Vietnam and all of Southeast Asia. Her planes made flying around the country cheap and popular — many tourists arrive in Nha Trang on them.
Dang Le Nguyen Vu — the coffee king
Dang Le Nguyen Vu founded Trung Nguyen, Vietnam's largest coffee brand. Vietnam is the world's second-largest coffee exporter, and much of that is his doing. A cup of strong Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk is a must-try in Nha Trang.
Son Tung M-TP — the prince of V-pop
Son Tung M-TP (real name Nguyen Thanh Tung) is Vietnam's most famous modern musician, nicknamed the 'Prince of V-pop'. He was the first Vietnamese artist to reach 10 million YouTube subscribers and to chart on the global Billboard, and his videos rack up hundreds of millions of views.
Sport and the football boom
In recent years football fever has swept Vietnam. Under Korean coach Park Hang-seo the national team reached the 2018 Asian U-23 final and the Asian Games semi-final, and stars like Nguyen Quang Hai became idols of the young. When the national team plays, Nha Trang's streets empty out — and after a win they turn into one big celebration.
What it means for a visitor to Nha Trang
Knowing these names is useful: they explain the streets, hotels and brands a tourist sees all around in Nha Trang. Here the past and the present walk side by side.
And if you'd like to congratulate a Vietnamese friend, partner or loved one — flowers are cherished and given here for any occasion. We'll deliver a fresh bouquet or helium balloons to a hotel or office the same day. Message us on WhatsApp, Telegram or KakaoTalk.
