On June 12 that the Drug Crime Investigation Division of HCM City Police, in collaboration with Tan Hoa Ward Police, conducted a surprise inspection of a house on Lac Long Quan Street, catching a suspect in the act of possessing and trafficking cannabis and cocaine.

Expanding the investigation, police arrested Nguyen Cong Tri (47) and Tran Phu Long (36) for possessing and organizing the illegal use of drugs.

The news shocked the public, as the arrested individuals were designer Nguyen Cong Tri and his communications director.

In Vietnam's entertainment industry, there’s no consensus on who the top singer or actor is, with multiple S-tier stars vying for the spot.

In fashion design, however, Nguyen Cong Tri stood unrivaled.

With his talent and influence transcending borders, he set new standards for Vietnamese fashion, becoming the undisputed icon widely recognized by industry peers, media, and audiences.

Starting his career before graduating university, Cong Tri steadily rose to prominence in Vietnam’s fashion scene, becoming the go-to designer for stars like My Tam, Ho Ngoc Ha, Thanh Hang, Minh Hang, H'Hen Nie and others.

Cong Tri conquered prestigious international awards: the Bay FM Award at the Asia Collection in Makuhari, Japan, and runner-up at the 2001 Asia Fashion Collection in Singapore with the collection The Sublimation of Earth and Water.

In 2002, the decision to establish the high-end fashion brand CONG TRI marked the birth of a fashion empire. 

In 2014, he was honored as the first Vietnamese member of the Asia Couture Federation.

While many local designers are struggling to make their mark, and once rival designer Do Manh Cuong is pursuing maximum commercialization, Cong Tri stunned the fashion world by achieving the near-impossible: taking Vietnamese fashion global.

Within two years, his moments with A-list Hollywood stars grew exponentially.

To date, over 100 international celebrities have worn Cong Tri’s designs, including former US First Lady Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Katy Perry, Adele, Gwen Stefani, and Naomi Campbell, and Asian artists like Rosé, Lisa (BLACKPINK), and Jane Zhang.

The Hollywood Reporter magazine named Cong Tri, alongside Dzojchen and Atafo, as three “rising” designers favored by stars on the Hollywood red carpet.

In the global Vogue network, Cong Tri’s collections were featured in the prestigious Vogue US, as well as other esteemed editions in Italy and France.

Cong Tri wasn’t the only designer whose work was worn by international stars, featured in Vogue, or showcased at prestigious fashion weeks. There are many ways for local designers to collaborate with global stars, but not all carry the same weight.

For instance, designers who reach stars through brands cannot compare to Cong Tri, whose designs were chosen by international stylists because of their quality, not relations or luck.

His inclusion in Katy Perry’s designer lineup for her 2017 Witness tour was a coveted achievement for any Vietnamese designer.

In other words, beyond tangible successes, Cong Tri’s true stature lies in his recognition as an international designer, not someone hyped by domestic media but unknown abroad.

A pity

Cong Tri now faces legal consequences for possessing and organizing the illegal use of drugs.

Under the Vietnamese criminal law, crimes are classified into four levels based on their societal harm: less serious, serious, very serious, and particularly serious ones.

Drug-related crimes are often deemed very serious or particularly serious for good reason.

At the 2023 National Conference on Drug Prevention and Control, PM Pham Minh Chinh called drug crimes “the crime of crimes,” noting that drug issues are a major global threat, causing severe economic, cultural, social, security, and defense impact, harming public health, fueling other crimes, and threatening the stability, prosperity, and survival of nations.

Cong Tri’s involvement in drug crimes means he has crossed both legal and moral lines in Vietnam, a matter that cannot be taken lightly or equated with typical showbiz scandals.

Nor should his scandal be trivialized or turned into memes. The case serves as a stark lesson for him and all artists, famous or not.

The collapse of Cong Tri’s personal brand is inevitable. Beyond legal penalties, he faces reputational ruin, career damage, and public condemnation.

His talent and admirable achievements remain untouched by this scandal. His legal troubles also don’t necessarily mean the end.

After serving his sentence, Cong Tri could return to fashion design or other roles in the industry that need his exceptional talent, aesthetics, and creativity.

However, with this stain, it’s unlikely he can still be seen as a fashion icon, an inspiration, or a source of national pride as before.

Le Thi My Niem