Two of Vietnam’s biggest music releases this summer have become the center of heated online debates, often for reasons unrelated to the music itself.
Over the past several days, social media has been flooded with debates surrounding two of the most prominent music releases of early summer 2026: Come My Way by singer Son Tung M-TP and Nguoi Con Thuong Em Khong? (Do You Still Love Me?) by singer Toc Tien.
On May 28, Son Tung M-TP released Come My Way, a collaboration with rapper Tyga. As expected, the production quickly became one of the most talked-about topics across social media.
Alongside discussions about the song’s artistic quality and Son Tung’s English-language performance, the music video also drew scrutiny over a scene depicting the singer standing atop the Lac bird - a legendary symbol and totem associated with the ancient Dong Son culture.
What began as a mainstream entertainment product unexpectedly attracted the attention of numerous cultural scholars and researchers, including Prof. Le Huy Bac, Associate Prof. Bui Hoai Son, Associate Prof. Nguyen Ngoc Tho, Associate Prof. Tran Huu Son, Dr. Tran Long, researcher Tran Quang Duc and researcher Nguyen Hung Vi. Their opinions quickly divided into two clearly opposing camps.
As that debate gradually subsided, another controversy emerged after visual artist Le Giang argued that a ruin-like structure appearing in Come My Way closely resembled her 2017 artwork Vestige of the Land.
The issue escalated after Microwave Soups, the team responsible for the music video’s art direction and set design, publicly acknowledged that they had referenced Vestige of the Land without seeking permission or consulting Le Giang, while also issuing an apology.
Every subsequent statement from either Le Giang or Son Tung M-TP attracted intense public attention. Online discussions surrounding the dispute generated thousands, and in some cases tens of thousands, of interactions.
The structure appearing in the music video (left) was alleged to bear significant similarities to the artwork Vestige of the Land (right). Photos: Archive, screenshots
Son Tung M-TP soon became the target of fierce criticism. Hundreds of overly aggressive social media users even flooded a post about copyright infringement on the Government Information fan page to “report” the singer and demand that authorities “take action.”
Amid the prolonged controversy, Son Tung M-TP’s team announced that the disputed segment had been removed from the music video.
Another major target of criticism during the past week was Toc Tien and her music video Nguoi Con Thuong Em Khong?, released on June 5.
Some social media users reacted strongly to the numerous kissing scenes featuring Toc Tien and actor Tran Ngoc Vang.
More notably, a number of extreme accounts linked the controversy surrounding the video to Toc Tien’s personal life in order to attack her. The singer was subjected to insults such as “Divorced and out of control” and “She has changed completely - becoming reckless, provocative and vulgar.”
One post that attracted tens of thousands of interactions even criticized MisThy, Cara and Dong Anh Quynh, accusing them of being a negative influence on Toc Tien.
Previously, whenever Toc Tien appeared in revealing outfits on stage or on social media, she frequently faced derogatory comments describing her as “immoral,” “attention-seeking,” or “trying too hard to appear fine after divorce.”
Some social media users linked the kissing scenes in the video to Toc Tien’s personal life in order to criticize her. GIF: Screenshot from the music video
Unfair
Viewed objectively, both new music videos meet the standards expected of contemporary professional entertainment productions.
Come My Way belongs to the afrobeats genre, skillfully combining mainstream pop structures with a distinctly American rap and hip-hop segment in the second half of the song, maximizing its potential appeal to international audiences.
Against a vibrant and energetic musical backdrop, the video showcases Vietnamese natural landscapes and cultural symbols, including the Lac bird, conical hats, Xuan Pha dance masks, the UNESCO-listed Trang An Landscape Complex, Khue Van Cac and the traditional bull-racing festival of An Giang.
These elements are presented through the highly artistic and distinctive visual perspective of director Phuong Vu.
If there is a legitimate criticism, it may be that the cultural references do not meaningfully connect to or reinforce a song that is fundamentally about romantic love.
Even so, it would not be an exaggeration to say that, in virtually every aspect, Come My Way surpasses most music releases introduced since the beginning of the year.
Come My Way was produced according to international-quality standards. Photos: ScreenshotsGiven his enormous media appeal, Son Tung M-TP almost inevitably generates controversy whenever he appears in public. Photo: FBNV
On a more modest scale, Nguoi Con Thuong Em Khong? is an entertainment product driven primarily by emotion.
Both the song and its music video tell the story of a beautiful love affair that has fallen apart, leaving behind lingering regret and heartache.
Toc Tien and her team clearly positioned the project as a gentle entertainment product, not one burdened with heavy messages, but rather intended to soothe and comfort listeners as Vietnam enters the rainy season in June. Both the song and the video were produced with appropriate care and investment.
Unfortunately, the controversies surrounding these productions have largely drifted away from the works themselves.
The dispute involving Come My Way remains a matter of differing opinions between parties and has not escalated into legal proceedings or intervention by competent authorities.
Moreover, the allegedly infringing scene appeared only briefly near the end of the video and was not central to its narrative or artistic concept.
From a legal perspective, Son Tung M-TP cannot entirely distance himself from responsibility as the producer, owner, approver and beneficiary of the music video. At the same time, he is also suffering reputational damage caused by mistakes attributed to a contracted creative team, Microwave Soups.
Like Son Tung M-TP, Toc Tien’s media crisis appears to stem largely from prejudice held by a segment of the audience.
At present, aside from the confirmed fact of her divorce, all stories circulating online about Toc Tien and producer Hoang Touliver remain unverified rumors.
Most criticism directed at the singer is based on assumptions linking her embrace of body confidence, personal autonomy and sensuality after divorce to negative judgments about her character.
Whenever she appears in revealing outfits on social media or on stage, Toc Tien is frequently accused of “trying to look fine after divorce.” Photo: FBNV
In other words, what Toc Tien is experiencing is not constructive criticism but rather online abuse that infringes upon her right to dignity, reputation and personal honor.
In the unfortunate cases of both Son Tung M-TP and Toc Tien, it is important to remember that before they are artists, they are citizens protected under Vietnamese law, entitled to the same rights and protections as anyone else.
Their actions and professional activities are subject to legal regulation and oversight by competent authorities. Conversely, attacks on their private lives and personal dignity constitute serious ethical and potentially legal violations.
Both Son Tung M-TP and Toc Tien have earned praise for their measured and civil responses to malicious attacks from extreme social media users.
As the copyright controversy reached its peak, Son Tung M-TP’s team responded through carefully worded written statements focused directly on the core issue, avoiding arguments with aggressive commenters.
Meanwhile, when confronted with harsh insults, Toc Tien responded with humor and grace. On occasion, she addressed matters directly and seriously, but always remained courteous and respectful.
Their restrained and civilized responses have been widely appreciated by audiences and have also helped ease what might otherwise have become even more damaging media controversies.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
