Phương Mỹ Chi releases music video celebrating Khmer Nam Bộ culture

Vietnamese singer Phương Mỹ Chi has released a new music video, ‘Thiên đường với người thương’, which has garnered over 1.1 million views on YouTube and entered the top 20 trending songs in Vietnam. The project marks a significant artistic shift for the singer, focusing on a romantic narrative for the first time in her 13-year career.

The music video heavily incorporates the cultural elements of the Khmer Nam Bộ community. It features traditional Khmer wedding rituals, such as the red thread tying ceremony, as well as traditional dances like Rom Vong and Robam. The visual storytelling, directed by Nguyễn Việt Anh and Ben Phạm, depicts a lifelong romance between two characters, Chi and Định (played by actor Bảo Định), set against backdrops of palm sugar fields and ancient pagodas.

Audience feedback has been largely positive, with many viewers expressing pride in seeing Khmer culture and traditions represented in mainstream Vietnamese pop music. The song blends contemporary Pop with traditional Khmer musical textures, including specific instruments and rhythmic styles.