VietNamNet Bridge – Foreign models in Vietnam are living and working very quietly because they are afraid of having scandals.

Foreign models in Vietnam (Part 3)
Foreign models in Vietnam (Part 2)
Foreign models in Vietnam (Part 1)


Afraid of losing job

While local models appear very often in the media with gossips about their personal life, such as love affairs, erotic photos, purchasing new cars or new houses, the small number of foreign models live very quietly. It is very simple to explain because if they make scandals, their opportunity to work as a model in Vietnam will end. Event organizers do not want to hire foreign models who have bad records.

Supermodel Xuan Lan disclosed that Spanish model Andrea flew from Hanoi to HCM City to perform in a show organized by Xuan Lan, but Andrea had to attend the event as a viewer because the show organizers could not get a performing license for her as the time was very short.
The procedures to get performing license for foreign models includes the approval of the authorities of the city or province where the model lives and then a license granted by the local Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. The license is only granted to foreigners who have good records.

Foreign models do not have relationships with rich men like Vietnamese colleagues because they are very self-dependent and they do not want to show off.

More discipline, more professional

A Vietnamese model commented that foreign models in Vietnam have open lifestyle. They can have good time at bars for the whole night without being watched like Vietnamese models because they are not famous as local models.

In general, most foreign models come to Vietnam because their chance of success is very small in their home country since competition is fierce.

It is said that the opportunity to appear on a prestigious fashion magazine in foreign countries is extremely rare while it is very easy in Vietnam. Foreign models work in Vietnam for a period of time to have good resumes to seek better jobs in other countries. Vietnam is not the ground for really famous and professional models.

Most of foreign models cannot live in Vietnam by the income of models. They have to do other jobs like hotel and restaurant manager, DJ or doing their own business…

However, they work very seriously and more professional than Vietnamese professional models.

Russian model Katya Kazanova said she had felt uneasy for a long time after coming late to a photo shot for a fashion magazine. She offered apology for the entire crew though it was not her fault. The reason was her make-up artist came late.

T.N, director of a modeling company, said: “Foreign models never play dirty tricks on their colleagues like some Vietnamese models. They never ask to stand in the centre of stage. They always obey the instruction of show directors and designers. Vietnamese models behave differently. They always want to be the ‘star’ on the catwalk. Foreign models never intentionally hide their colleagues on the stage. They are self-respect and want to prove their positions through their real qualification and professionalism”.
It is unfair to make comparison between Vietnamese and foreign models because foreign models are not famous in Vietnam so they cannot behave like stars. However, they are very disciplined, serious and never come late to any events.

“They know how to highlight the costumers they wear while most of Vietnamese models aim to highlight themselves on the stage by trying to lengthen their show time and do not follow directors or designers’ instruction,” a show organizer said.

Foreign models have contributed to make a fresh to the contingent of models in Vietnam. They are also the motive force for competition.

Thanh Nien