Pop singer Ho Quynh Huong is making a name for herself beyond Vietnam’s borders.

The press used to call her “The Girl of Scandals” but these days acknowledge that the 28-year-old is smart and has real talent.

Besides a string of hit songs, Huong has several big awards to her credit, among them a Gold Cup at the Spring International Music Festival in the North Korean capital Pyongyang in 2004, a Certificate of Merit from Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture in the same year, Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper’s Mai Vang (golden apricot) award, and Most Popular Singer in Ho Chi Minh City Radio’s Lan Song Xanh (Green Wave) awards.

Further publicity came from a widely reported affair with the high-profile songwriter Ha Dung and a heated battle with singer My Tam’s fan club.

“As well as a good voice, I think image is very important,” she says.

In 2008, Huong and her gang knew she had it made when she was invited to sing in the Asian Music Night shows for the Olympics. It raised her profile across Asia and generated many career-boosting opportunities.

She had only just returned from Beijing when Huong packed her bags again and headed for Seoul, South Korea for the Asian Pop Music Festival. It was her second appearance in the prestigious event and elevated her standing, if only momentarily, to the level of Asia’s top stars.

Huong’s album “Energy” will soon be released in China, South Korea and Singapore as the next stage of her campaign to conquer the continent.

“I am fortunate to be sponsored by a Korean real estate company with interests in Vietnam. I really feel grateful for their help. They support me in my quest to reach out across Asia,” says Huong.

“I want to prepare meticulously to become better known in China first, starting with Beijing.”

She recently added acting to her resume by landing the main role in a Korean-Vietnamese production called Khi vo toi hanh dong (The Contract).

“I worked very hard practicing martial arts for this movie,” says Huong, who plays a sexy, cold-faced assassin in the action flick.

Many people were openly doubtful when Huong announced the news in June as she had never acted and nobody could find out anything about the film.

“It’s all true. In fact, we have finished shooting. Due to the Koreans’ meticulous postproduction, I don’t know exactly when it will be released,” she says.

“The filmmakers will be present at the launch of my ‘Energy’ video at the end of this month, and will give all the details then. I don’t want to say much at this stage and couldn’t care less if people think I’m a big fat liar. Truth is truth.

“I didn’t seek the role; it came to me. I don’t even know whether it will be good or bad for me.”

If formerly, Huong was a person always seeking perfection, now that perfectionist is gone. She realizes there is no need to be hard on herself.

“I am still the Ho Quynh Huong I was before, but now I know how to balance my life and not let circumstances control me. I’m in charge and can look at everything calmly.”

She does not regret her past love affairs and reckons she has matured emotionally.

“I still believe in true love, I just don’t know where it is now,” she says with a laugh.

“I haven’t lost faith, but I have lowered my expectations. I just let things be. I am devoted to my work and have no time to think about that. Anyway, my ex-lovers and I have remained good friends and I still respect them, sort of.”

As for Ha Dung, Huong says the songwriter is out of her life completely. It was a rough time for her, and she feels she has won a victory over her emotions.

“I wasn’t really in my right mind at the time and felt really bad. But everything is totally okay now!

“I learned that you are the one who must save yourself. And that is what I’ve done.”

Reported by Thu Thuy