Vietnamese-American songtress Le Thu, who was well-known in southern Vietnam in the 1970s, died of COVID-19 in the US on January 15. She was 78. — File photo from vietnamnet.vn

Le Thu, whose real name was Bui Thi Oanh, was born in Hai Phong City in 1943.

She moved to Sai Gon, now HCM City, with her family when she was 10 years old.

She began her singing career in 1959, and became famous for love songs by well-known composers Trinh Cong Son, Pham Duy, Truong Sa, Vu Duc Sao Bien and others from 1968 to 1971.

Her career is associated with many songs by Truong Sa, such as Rồi Mai Tôi Đưa Em (Tomorrow I Send You Away), Xin Còn Gọi Tên Nhau (Please Call Out Our Names), and Mùa Thu Trong Mưa (Autumn Rain).

After 1975, Le Thu emigrated to the US with her family and continued her music career in the Vietnamese community.

She worked with Thuy Nga Paris By Night, a music show produced by US-based Thuy Nga Productions.

She recorded 24 solo albums and numerous albums with famous overseas Vietnamese singers like Khanh Ly, Huong Lan and Tuan Ngoc.

She also performed at music concerts for overseas Vietnamese in the US and other countries.

In 2007, she returned to Vietnam to take part in concert memorialising late composer Trinh Cong Son.

After that, she took part in many concerts and became a judge for several TV music shows.

In 2014, Le Thu hosted her first live show in Vietnam, receiving a very warm welcome from local audiences.  VNS

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