The sixth season of Vietnam Music Talent, held in 2026, ended with the victory of Tran Ngoc Hieu, known by his stage name Hieu Tran, a young man driven by a desire to rise above his circumstances in the historic land of Dien Bien.

Vietnam Music Talent, a nationwide competition that seeks out and honors young singers, is organized by the Center for Communications and Television Service Development, Hanoi Cable Television and Huy Hoang Entertainment JSC.

Hieu Tran said that behind the smile of victory lies a long journey marked by sweat, tears and even periods of exhaustion when he came close to giving up.

A flame nurtured in Northwestern mountains

From grassroots stages in Dien Bien to the Vietnam Music Talent 2026 title, he has gone through a journey defined not only by spotlights and applause but also by difficult days and the loneliness and sense of being lost that can come with pursuing music.

For Hieu Tran, Dien Bien is not only his hometown but also the place where his love of the arts was nurtured. From his secondary school years, he enthusiastically took part in local cultural and arts activities, and winning first prize in the Giai Dieu Tuoi Hong Singing and Dancing Festival in high school became an early affirmation of his talent. Dreaming big, Hieu Tran decided to study Vocal Performance at Hanoi College of Arts.

After graduating, he worked for three years at the Vietnam National Theatre of Song, Dance and Music from 2021 to 2024. He was given opportunities to perform on the Vietnam National Television (VTV), QPVN and HTV channels. 

However, his ambition to become an entertainer and reach a wider young audience pushed him out of his comfort zone, prompting him to move south in search of a breakthrough.

The first four months after arriving in the south were the most difficult period of Hieu Tran's life. 

With no connections and no shows, the pressure of making a living weighed heavily on him, forcing him to take all kinds of jobs. 

“Things were so difficult that at one point I returned to Hanoi and considered following my family's advice to go back home and learn to cut hair,” Hieu Tran recalled.

Watching peers constantly rushing from show to show and appearing in the spotlight, he became so discouraged that it seemed his determination could collapse at any moment. But professional pride and a deep passion for music kept him going. 

Hieu Tran patiently worked and saved every bit of his modest income while waiting for the day he could return to HCMC.

That perseverance, along with tremendous encouragement from his family and friends, helped Hieu Tran stay on his feet. After experiencing the ups and downs of making a living, he realized that a good singer may rely on natural talent or formal training, but a true artist needs the setbacks and experiences of life, which can become a catalyst for singing with greater depth.

New pressure comes with championship

The arduous journey finally bore fruit when Hieu Tran was crowned champion of Vietnam Music Talent 2026. But when the spotlight arrived, he found himself facing a new kind of pressure. 

He described two different forms of loneliness. In the past, the loneliness of an unknown singer was rooted in worries about making ends meet, but it also came with freedom. Now, his loneliness stems from the responsibility he feels toward his audience.

“The title becomes a pressure when an artist has to work constantly and keep creating in order to produce high quality work,” he said.

Fully aware of the harsh realities of showbiz, where a title can quickly be forgotten without follow-up releases, Hieu Tran refuses to rest on his victory. Although he has a versatile voice spanning classical, pop, R&B and rap, he is still working to develop a distinctive sound of his own and wants to focus more on pop ballads, EDM and R&B.

Inspired by stars such as Michael Jackson, BTS and, in particular, Son Tung M-TP, Hieu Tran dreams of presenting himself as a “cool” artist who commands the stage with modern energy. He hopes his upcoming releases will establish him as a “free-spirited, entertainment-focused Hieu Tran” in the music market. 

Tinh Le