Tuan Ngoc: Tung Duong calls him "dad," My Tam also bows her head when they meet, divorced at nearly 80 years old.

The news that renowned singer Tuan Ngoc has officially divorced singer Thai Thao has come as a surprise to the public. This is because for decades, they were considered a model couple in the entertainment industry, living a private life, free from scandals and media attention.

It is for this reason that the breakdown of the marriage between these two exemplary individuals caused such a stir and regret among the audience. However, for Tuan Ngoc, even personal misfortunes unfolded quietly, true to the way he has lived and worked for nearly 70 years: calm, composed, and putting music above all else.

It is known that the renowned singer Tuan Ngoc, whose real name is Lu Anh Tuan, was born in 1947 and is one of the most prominent voices in Vietnamese music. Tuan Ngoc's forte is lyrical music, jazz, and ballads. His career has spanned over 50 years. Since the 2010s, Tuan Ngoc has appeared more frequently on stages in Vietnam.

Tuan Ngoc: A quintessential singer for many generations.

In Vietnamese music, the name Tuan Ngoc has long transcended the boundaries of a famous singer to become an icon. When mentioning renowned singers, the public almost automatically thinks of Tuan Ngoc – a representative of a civilized, elegant, refined, and intellectually rich style of music. His voice is not just entertainment; it evokes a sense of culture, aesthetics, and spiritual depth.

Throughout his nearly seven-decade-long career, Tuan Ngoc has established a consistent image for himself: a true legendary singer. In him, every element—from his voice, technique, performance style, to his musical personality—reaches a rare standard. Tuan Ngoc may not have been the first to bear the title of "legendary singer," nor the most influential, but he is the most quintessential and complete legendary singer.

Unlike many artists of his time who were closely associated with historical upheavals or personal life's vicissitudes, Tuan Ngoc remained almost entirely detached from the commotion. His life was entirely devoted to the stage and the microphone. He chose a simple, discreet lifestyle, focusing solely on singing. For Tuan Ngoc, an artist only needs to do their best in singing, living life to the fullest for music, without worrying too much about extraneous matters.

It is this absolute focus that creates a special appeal. Tuan Ngoc rarely speaks out or appears in the media, but whenever he steps onto the stage, he seems to radiate a captivating artistic "fragrance," making audiences and even younger generations of singers admire him and seek to learn from him.

In the music industry, few artists are universally adored. No matter how famous they are, there will always be praise and criticism, likes and dislikes. But Tuan Ngoc is almost an exceptional case. When his name is mentioned, the public and professionals alike seem to offer only praise. Without fanfare, controversy, or debate, Tuan Ngoc stands there as an irreplaceable benchmark.

One of the key elements that defines Tuan Ngoc's style is the genre of music he pursues. It's popular music, but not vulgar. Tuan Ngoc's songs are easy to listen to, easy to feel, and suitable for the ears of the masses, but they always maintain an academic quality, subtlety, and aesthetic depth.

Listening to Tuan Ngoc, audiences not only enjoy the music but also feel their taste has been elevated. It is this harmonious blend of popular and academic appeal that has helped him win over many different audiences and earn him high praise from music professionals.

Tuan Ngoc possesses precise and high-level vocal technique, but he never shows it off. He sings technically, but that technique is always hidden behind emotion. This is the second hallmark that creates Tuan Ngoc's "unique space" in the Vietnamese music scene. Thanks to this, he has become an idol and a "living textbook" for many generations of music conservatory students and young singers. Diva Thanh Lam once frankly expressed her admiration: "Tuan Ngoc is a role model for younger singers to learn from in terms of creativity in music."

The senior figure is absolutely respected by the juniors.

Not only is Tuan Ngoc beloved by the audience, but he also receives special respect from young artists. Singer Tung Duong calls him "father," considering it a way of showing his respect. Tuan Hung, despite being in a different musical genre, also acknowledges Tuan Ngoc's calmness and meticulousness as a great source of motivation. Even My Tam, when singing a duet with him in the US, bowed her head in respect.

Tuan Ngoc's influence is evident in the generation of singers who were impacted by his style and musical thinking, such as Quang Dung, Lan Nha, Dinh Bao, and Dinh Nguyen. Many mistakenly believe that a singer of old songs, at nearly 80 years old like Tuan Ngoc, would be conservative and resistant to new ideas. The reality is quite the opposite. Tuan Ngoc is very liberal, open-minded, and always learning. From a young age, he embraced modern European and American music, singing many classic English songs such as "My Way ," " Hotel California ," " Yesterday ," and "Unchained Melody ."

That foundation helped him develop a diverse and unconstrained musical mindset. Tuan Ngoc once shared: "In music, there are no age barriers, only good and artistic merit."

He created the Tuan Ngoc school of thought.

One thing that earns Tuan Ngoc the admiration of professionals is his rare ability to maintain his voice. Nearly 70 years of singing, hundreds of recorded songs, thousands of live performances, yet his voice remains remarkably resilient. At nearly 80 years old, Tuan Ngoc still sings more than a dozen songs each night, maintaining his vocal power and performance until the end of the show.

His off-key singing rate is extremely low, thanks to his meticulous handling of each word, solid breath control, and perfect mouth shape. Tuan Ngoc often opens his mouth in a round shape—a characteristic of semi-classical music—to create a rich, warm, elegant sound that is still full of emotion.

Tuan Ngoc's calm, unhurried singing style helps him maintain vocal balance, allowing him to sing for extended periods without strain. This very style has become his unique signature, a "Tuan Ngoc school" that has strongly influenced many subsequent generations.

In Tuan Ngoc, one sees a rare convergence of talent, character, and artistic vision. Despite personal upheavals, the musical icon named Tuan Ngoc remains, quietly, exemplary, and enduring over time.

Legendary singer Tuan Ngoc divorces Thai Thao in the US, a surprising ending after "three decades". Thảo Vi14:15:21 15/01/2026The marriage, which lasted more than three decades, between renowned singer Tuan Ngoc and singer Thai Thao officially came to an end following a ruling by the California Superior Court, Orange County (USA), leaving many fans feeling regretful.