Vietnamese
models are typically thought to earn an enormous income, but that has changed
recently after top male model Vinh Thuy has been indicted for allegedly
smuggling to earn extra money.

Thanh Hang

Thuy, 24, entered the Top 15 Mister International
competition and won Mr. Photogenic International held in Taiwan in 2009.
He has been valued for a perfect body and a handsome face, and was previously
thought to earn a lot of money thanks to his reputation among the local fashion
world.

Thuy, who was indicted two months ago for allegedly
smuggling electronic items by plane from Australia
into Vietnam, said it’s not
easy to earn money in Vietnam’s
modeling industry.

Some top models like Vu Thu Phuong, Ngoc Quyen, Thanh Hang,
and Hoang Yen can earn US$10,000 a month, said Thuy Nga, director of Vietnamese
Elite Model Management Company.

Tu, the director of New Talent, said, “Some award-winning
beauties like Miss Vietnam 2010 Ngoc Han, Miss Vietnam 2008 Thuy Lam could be
paid US$1,000 for each appearance on the catwalk.”

However, the price is only on paper. A manager of a
well-known model management company, who requested anonymity, said, “That price
is impossible on the domestic fashion market … Some local models are even
willing to perform free of charge to gain a reputation. The money is also
shared with their managers with the rates of 50-50 or 70-30.”

Vinh Thuy

Khac Tiep, director of Venus Company, said, “There is no
fixed price list for local models. The remuneration mainly depends on their
reputation, experience, and their negotiation with customers.”

Many models have to enter into fierce competition for
advertisement contracts worth US$20,000, Nga said.

Super models not so
super

He added that Thanh Hang, the leading supermodel in the
current local fashion world, is believed to pocket US$10,000 per month from
fashion shows excluding contracts for events or advertisements. Two other
well-known models, Ngoc Quyen and Hoang Yen, can earn around US$4,000 to
US$5,000 per month.

An average model earns between VND15 to 20 million per
month, Tiep said.

Trang Tran, who has often been invited to participate in
events and fashion shows, is regularly seen wearing off-the-rack clothes or
domestic dress.

“I never spend over ¼ of my income on buying jewelry or
brand-name products,” she said. “I occasionally borrow clothing from some
designers for my performances.”

Source: Tuoi Tre/Dat
Viet