Men: Now and Then

How the ideal man in Vietnamese eyes went from 'swashbuckler' to 'Ken doll' over the course of 20 years

The 80s - 90s: Age of swashbucklers

“Girls look at him with burning desire and insanity. Many would die for him.” That was how Chanh Tin’s co-worker described the movie star, whose “casanova” beauty, as journalists penned, had stolen the hearts of thousands of fangirls nationwide.  ​ In the 1980s, the thirty-year-old Chanh Tin was deemed an icon of Vietnamese male beauty. Few Saigonese could forget the slim Major Nguyen Thanh Luan - Chanh Tin’s role in his hit movie “Van bai lat ngua” (The Upside-down Card Game) -- who overcame all the challenges and dangers of being a spy with his intelligence and bravery. With a square face, deep eyes, mustache and wavy hair, Chanh Tin possesses a total package of what was then considered “a manly man”.

A young Chánh Tín in Ván bài lật ngửa (The Upside-down Card Game)

Thuong Tin, another black-and-white movie star, has sharp features that are highly praised around the country

The majority of Vietnamese, who were shaken from the impact of raging wars at the time, had a taste for wise  men who could play hero. When these bold-looking men hit the screen for the first time, they immediately clicked with the audience and set the bar for Vietnamese men. People grew to love the mature appearance, and so mustache and thick eyebrows became a must. They were attracted to square face that highlights sharpness, broad forehead that was believed to signal intelligence, and deep eyes that speak more than what words can say. Men adopted a gritty clothing style and a nomadic lifestyle to show off their sophistication, wanderlust and romantic spirit. The image of such men vagabonding the country in their camouflage on dusty motorbikes -- or in short, “swashbucklers” -- was carved deep into women’s hearts.

Ly Hung (left) and Le Tuan Anh (right) with contrasting images: one was a heroic protagonist, and the other was an amorous playboy. Nevertheless, they shared a mature look and a desire for wild romance

2000s: Isn't he Taiwanese?

Wars had ended and peace had commenced. Vietnam has been long experienced waves of globalization and modernisation since 1986 which brought about drastic changes in many areas. However, it was not until the arrival of “The Green Wave” that there were remarkable changes in male beauty standard. ​

When “The Green Wave” (Lan Song Xanh -- a popular TV show in the 2000s) hit Vietnam, it brought the pop culture of Korea and Taiwan crashing the shore as well. Young Vietnamese male artists, who were new to the boat of contemporary music, took after their East Asian counterparts in terms of music, fashion and lifestyle. Vietnamese audience were so wide-eyed to the fresh image of pretty boys bursting energetic dance moves that it became a definite trend. People fell in love with youthfulness, so the ideal man took off his cigarette, khaki jacket and… shaved off his beard. 

Dan Truong was one of the first to take on The Green Wave in Vietnam

One ideal man in the 2000s was Dan Truong. He was loved for his youthful appearance as well as his romantic, friendly, and cheerful attitude. His twinkling eyes, round face and clear complexion give him an innocent look that made girls spend many sleepless nights. They still do, though, since these soft features help Dan Truong -- who is now 39 -- stay forever young. 

Quang Vinh (left) and Lam Truong (right), two of the most desirable men during The Green Wave era, also possess soft features and adopted a youthful style...

....which was inspired by Taiwanese pop stars, notably the famous F4

Getting impeccable skin is already hard for men, but Quang Vinh, the true F4 style follower, took it to a whole new level. He was one of the many artists to lead the long hair trend among Vietnamese men. Hair as long and dusty as possible was believed to cultivate an 'artist' aura for men, which reflects a bit of the gritty image from previous 'swashbucklers' era. But their choice of outfit shouted young: comfy trousers and shirt, sometimes with the upper part left unbuttoned. Altogether, these factors turned the image of an ideal man somewhat androgyny -- a combination of masculinity and femininity.

2010 to present: Ken doll

Photos of "nam than" (male deity) Isaac has been hung on every girls' walls since his debut

“He is as handsome as Korean idols”, one Vietnamese youngster would label Isaac, or anyone from the line of Vietnamese hot boys without a doubt. It has been the catchphrase in the country’s pop culture ever since 2010, when Vietnam was dominated by Korean and US - UK entertainment industries due to the boom of social media. The image of foreign male idols with their avant-garde style roots deep in the minds of Vietnamese audience and thus, becomes an ideal beauty.  ​ One thing that does not change is the babyface trend from the Green Wave era; however, it now has got a bit of Western touch. Handsome Vietnamese men now have high-bridged nose and white skin like those of Westerners -- something of a rarity for the Asian community. What makes the most impact on the standard, though, is the invasion of Korean idols, who have made V-line shaped face and glass-like skin highly favoured, hence the persistence of androgyny.

Jang Geun Suk, A-list Korean actor, is a familiar face in lists of 21st century sexiest male celebrities...

...along with G- Dragon, internationally famous K-pop star...

… who inspired Son Tung M-TP, the pop sensation famous for being the Vietnamese version of Korean pop idols

Be Tran is an emerging name on the Internet for his doll-like look.

If the men of the 80s - 90s opted for a gritty image and a careless attitude, men nowadays have to pay extra attention to embellish his appearance if they want to achieve the standard look: hair care to appear neat and smart, and prevent damage of excessive dyeing; diet and exercise to stay in shape; skin and lip care to look shiny and youthful; sometimes makeup; and cosmetic surgery, given their natural Asian features.

​Being a man just keeps getting harder and harder.

Le Thanh Nhien and Tran Ha Nguyen Tam (2016)