Behind-the-scenes clip of Sing! Asia goes viral: "Fake" runner-up hugs Phuong My Chi to express condolences?

Social networks are buzzing with the news that Phuong My Chi - Vietnam's representative at the Sing! Asia 2025 music competition - only stopped at the final Top 3, although there are no official results from the organizing committee.

Meanwhile, the two names expected to step up to the podium are Chu Phi Ca (China) and Miyuna (Japan).

Although these were just leaked images from the final night, the unexpected results immediately caused great regret in the Phuong My Chi fan community in Vietnam. Many viewers expressed disappointment as the female singer born in 2003 had a convincing journey throughout the season, continuously delivering explosive performances imbued with Vietnamese culture.

Not only Phuong My Chi was pitied, the runner-up position of Chu Phi Ca - the representative of China - also became the center of controversy. According to many opinions on social networks, Chu Phi Ca's voice was not really outstanding, the previous rounds were also quite lackluster and did not leave a clear impression like Phuong My Chi or even Kha Lau - another prominent contestant of the program. This made many people question the transparency of the results, even suspecting bias.

After the results were revealed, a behind-the-scenes clip of the award ceremony continued to spread online. Chu Phi Ca argued with Phuong My Chi.

Specifically, Chu Phi Ca came to Phuong My Chi to hug her goodbye. However, his attitude was said to be gloating when he saw Phuong My Chi fall into the top 2. Not to mention, his hug was quite forced, unfriendly and just stopped at the level of socializing, for the sake of it.

Many people think that Chu Phi Ca is "fake" with Phuong My Chi.

However, there are also opinions that he and Phuong My Chi are not close, saying goodbye or limiting intimate gestures is completely normal.

Putting aside the controversy about the Chinese representative, Phuong My Chi, although only reaching the top, still received a lot of compliments from experts.

Mr. Hong Quang Minh - media and music expert - said that Phuong My Chi's victory in the second semi-final round, helping her reach the final round of Sing! Asia 2025, is a typical example of the strategy of "international-class localization", which means deepening one's identity to the point of attracting the world.

According to Mr. Minh, Vietnamese music, and more broadly other creative industries such as fashion, cuisine, cinema... can also draw on that inspiration.
"The core issue here is not trying to be like the world, because it is impossible to do better, but to make the world pay attention to the unique features of Vietnam. There needs to be a strategy to develop creative products seriously and professionally, not following superficial trends," the expert said.

Mr. Hong Quang Minh gave an example, in cinema, films like Rom or Inside the Golden Cocoon retain Vietnamese cultural materials - from setting, color to storytelling - but still create strong resonance in the international arena.

This, he stressed, requires artists to "think as cultural creators, not just performers."

Hoang Thuy Linh is one of the artists who pioneered that trend. From the album Link to songs like See Tinh, De Mi Noi Cho Ma Nghe, she has skillfully combined folk songs, proverbs, costumes, traditional musical instruments with modern electronic music production techniques.

Without singing in English, nor trying to "internationalize" her product, Hoang Thuy Linh still made See Tinh a phenomenon on international TikTok, especially in China and Korea thanks to being dance covered, remixed, and appearing in videos of KOLs (influencers) abroad.

"The song does not try to 'internationalize' by singing in English, but keeps its Vietnamese character while still making people enjoy it - that is proof of spreading with true identity," Mr. Minh commented.

Ms. Dang Thanh Van - a leading strategic consultant for small and medium-sized Vietnamese enterprises - affirmed that Phuong My Chi's victory is a clear proof: Vietnamese products can completely reach the international market, if they converge all 3 strategic factors.

The first element is deep local culture - to create irreplaceable differences. The second is modern style, contemporary techniques - to overcome the aesthetic barriers of the market. For businesses, the scope of aesthetics will be related to packaging, identity, communication style.

Sing! Aisa releases final trailer: Phuong My Chi is forced to marry Chu Phi Ca, is it offensive? JLO10:14:54 25/07/2025Despite the announcement of a postponement, the Sing! Asia program still posted the trailer on schedule. After the introductory clip aired, people argued over a detail related to Phuong My Chi.