Vietnamese singer Mỹ Linh criticized for eliminating student Dương Hoàng Yến on The Voice

Mỹ Linh, a prominent Vietnamese singer and coach on the 2013 season of Giọng hát Việt (The Voice Vietnam), praised contestant Dương Hoàng Yến for her vocal strength and technical skill, describing her as flawless. During the live shows, Mỹ Linh chose to keep other team members and eliminated Dương Hoàng Yến before the semi‑finals, a decision that surprised many viewers.

Mỹ Linh explained that the choice was not based on who sang better but on giving an opportunity to a contestant showing a clearer breakthrough at that stage. Dương Hoàng Yến accepted the outcome, expressing gratitude toward her coach and acknowledging each mentor’s strategy. The elimination sparked debate among fans about the fairness of the coach’s strategy and the dynamics of mentor‑student relationships on the show.