Quynh Anh Shyn and Nam Phung share a strong fashion bond

Oct 10, 2025

Cover Quynh Anh Shyn and Nam Phung found each other through the language of materials, colours and tailoring; together they shaped a style, creating a distinctive mark amid countless creative flows

Quynh Anh Shyn and Nam Phung found each other through the language of materials, colours and tailoring; together they shaped a style, creating a distinctive mark amid countless creative flows

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Like an invisible bridge, fashion connects strangers through a shared aesthetic sense. They found each other through the interplay of materials, colours and tailoring, crafting a style that is unmistakably theirs. In that current, the fashion world has never been short of harmonious duos. In Vietnam, Quynh Anh Shyn and Nam Phung are among the most notable examples of such a creative bond.

One stands in the spotlight, living in the instant of the lens; the other works quietly behind the scenes, assembling stylistic elements into a unique visual language. Though their positions seem separate, when they intersect, they form a perfect orbit. In Quynh Anh Shyn and Nam Phung , one sees not only romance but also creative chemistry. Their mutual support allows each to advance on their own journey while together shaping Vietnam’s contemporary aesthetic scene.

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The vibrations are awakened

Above The phrase “double power” often conjures grandeur, as though it demands immense effort to be realise

The phrase “double power” often conjures grandeur, as though it demands immense effort to be realise

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The phrase “double power” often conjures grandeur, as though it demands immense effort to be realised. Yet for Quynh Anh Shyn and Nam Phung, it unfolds in a simpler, more natural way. “Thanks to each other, in both work and life, everything feels lighter and easier to breathe,” they share. This, perhaps, is most evident in Quynh Anh Shyn’s evolution, a top fashionista who shines under the lights, unafraid to embrace diversity and experiment beyond convention.

Back in the 2010s, many still remember Quynh Anh Shyn for her youthful, innocent charm, the quintessential “first love” figure of Vietnam’s early social media era. She was affectionately known as “Hanoi’s hot girl” before transforming into Princess Nana in the sitcom 5S Online (2013). Over time, those titles faded. Today, she stands among Vietnam’s leading fashion icons, a familiar face across fashion capitals, and recently captivated audiences in Em Xinh Say Hi. Behind that transformation stands stylist Nam Phung.

Above In Em Xinh Say Hi, every costume and stage concept began with conversations at home, where ideas were envisioned, refined, and turned into reality

In Em Xinh Say Hi, every costume and stage concept began with conversations at home, where ideas were envisioned, refined, and turned into reality

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Looking back, Quynh Anh admits, “Before, I simply liked unique things but wasn’t brave enough to try. I was still shy and reserved. Nam was like a switch that pushed me out of my comfort zone.” Their shared experiences from fashion weeks to creating designs for her own brand marked the beginnings of their artistic resonance. In Em Xinh Say Hi, every costume and stage concept began with conversations at home, where ideas were envisioned, refined, and turned into reality.

Above For Nam Phung, the memory of first meeting Quynh Anh remains vivid

For Nam Phung, the memory of first meeting Quynh Anh remains vivid

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For Nam Phung, the memory of first meeting Quynh Anh remains vivid. “She has such a strong love for fashion,” he recalls. “I feel lucky to be someone driven by ideas, and even luckier to have met someone who shares that vision and brings it to life.” Milan Fashion Week 2022 was a defining milestone: Quynh Anh’s first official appearance, and the moment when the public quietly recognised them as a couple. Nam remembers the crowd’s gaze as she entered the Moschino show, and the approving eyes of Jeremy Scott, then Creative Director, made him proud. It was not just a fleeting moment, but a testament to their creative journey together.

Walking side by side between two free realms

Today, Nam Phung sees fashion as instinctive for Quynh Anh Shyn. Accompanying her throughout has been a source of endless inspiration. Quynh Anh once revealed, “What’s special about Nam is that when someone poses a question, he almost instantly has an answer in his head. It’s not always the answer everyone wants, but for me, it’s usually the right one.” Between them exists a rare harmony. Once they tune into the same frequency, the outcome is always striking and beyond expectations.

Above When Nam’s ideas run dry, Quynh Anh finds inspiration

When Nam’s ideas run dry, Quynh Anh finds inspiration

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Of course, there are moments when one’s creativity wanes; that’s when the other steps in. When Nam’s ideas run dry, Quynh Anh finds inspiration. When she feels uncertain, Nam opens a new path. And when they touch the core of an idea together, they nurture and expand it into something complete. It is this deep resonance that keeps their shared journey in balance.

Return to the self

Exclusive interview with Quynh Anh Shyn

After Em Xinh Say Hi, are you activating any new versions of yourself?

Quynh Anh Shyn: In fashion… not yet (laughs). I don’t see Em Xinh Say Hi as the start of a new fashion persona, but rather as a space where what already exists within me can be expressed more clearly. If we call it “activation”, then the show was a touchpoint that allowed me to explore other fields like dancing, singing, performing, and developing stage concepts. In fashion, I brought what I’ve always done best: materials that shaped my personal style, tried and tested over time, not an attempt to create something foreign.

Above Quynh Anh Shyn: Em Xinh Say Hi

Quynh Anh Shyn: Em Xinh Say Hi

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Is there a version of the show that you remember most?

Quynh Anh Shyn: It’s hard to pick just one (laughs). Em Xinh Say Hi let me tell a fashion story through each act, most notably in “Dong Dao Xinh Gai” and “Bac Thang Len Hoi Ong Troi”, where I drew inspiration from traditional culture.

If you’ve followed me long enough, you’ll know my love for ao dai, especially modern interpretations. In Dong Dao Xinh Gai, I wore designs from Duc Studio. This past Tet, I even ordered a whole set for my family and wore the first version of that dragon-and-snake ao dai on the first day of the new year. When I became “Em Xinh”, I only upgraded the colours and added personal touches to fit the stage.

The costume for transforming into Hang was a long-term collaboration with designer Do Long, who has been with me since my early Saigon days. We kept the folk spirit while blending modern design and stage elements, creating something familiar yet renewed for the show’s artistic space.

Even the Diesel costume in “How to (Love Rightly)” wasn’t entirely new. I’d worn a Diesel hologram piece before, but this time I chose a different colour scheme, mixing the alien motif with the image of an ant. It was a return to what I loved, reimagined and elevated.

The behind-the-scenes stories of these transformations must be fascinating.

Quynh Anh Shyn: They’re okay (laughs). I’ve gone through many public “versions” of myself, each adding a new hue to my life and fashion. But it’s hard to choose one memory. Every project has its stories. If I had to pick, I’d talk about developing the concept for Em Xinh Say Hi.

Whenever I prepare for a live stage, I start visualising as soon as I know the song and concept. It’s like doing homework. I listen to the track over and over, sometimes 20 or 30 times. Nam and I discuss ideas; one starts, the other builds, and together we shape a full concept.

Once we had a clear direction, we created a mood board showing the concept, colours and materials. Then we shared it with the team, and thankfully, everyone trusted the vision (laughs).

Above Once we had a clear direction, we created a mood board showing the concept, colours and materials

Once we had a clear direction, we created a mood board showing the concept, colours and materials

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Is a more open public creating greater opportunities for experimentation in your work and Vietnamese fashion?

Quynh Anh Shyn: When it comes to “identity”, it sounds big, but to me it’s just about staying true to myself. I used to hesitate when I wanted to change, partly unsure if the market would accept it, partly afraid. The “Hanoi hot girl” image clung to me, and shedding it wasn’t easy.

Now, it’s different. I’m more open and confident to explore new sides of myself. It’s all psychological. I remember moving from Hanoi to Saigon, worried about how people would see me, afraid that being different meant being rejected. But I realised that if I clung to one image, I’d lose motivation first.

So I decided to be myself, and I’ll continue to do so. It’s that simple.

What will you bring to audiences next?

Quynh Anh Shyn: By now, people have seen many versions of Quynh Anh Shyn. But this year, I want the audience to see my core, an aspect I’ve kept more private: the image of a true “Hanoi street girl” (laughs).

I’ve explored many styles and moods, but the one that’s been with me from the beginning has never been fully showcased. Maybe now is the time to return to that self, more mature, more grounded, and certain of what I want.

Above Asia’s Most Stylish is Tatler Asia’s annual celebration of style, uniting cultural icons, stars and tastemakers from fashion, art and lifestyle

Asia’s Most Stylish is Tatler Asia’s annual celebration of style, uniting cultural icons, stars and tastemakers from fashion, art and lifestyle

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Asia’s Most Stylish is Tatler Asia’s annual celebration of style, uniting cultural icons, stars and tastemakers from fashion, art and lifestyle. In 2025, it comes to Vietnam for the first time under the leadership of Tatler Vietnam – Nha Tap Tinh Hoa, marking a milestone in placing Vietnam firmly on Asia’s fashion map. This is an opportunity for Vietnamese style figures to shine in their own language, creative, refined and distinctive. The Asia’s Most Stylish 2025 gala will take place on 16 October 2025, promising to be one of the most anticipated fashion events of the year.

Adapted from the September 2025 issue of Tatler Vietnam.

CREDITS:

Starring: Quynh Anh Shyn - Nam Phung

Editor in Chief: Nikita Chu

Digital Managing Editor: Hong Dang

Art Director: Andy Tran

Photographer: Tran Ngoc Dang Khoa

Stylist: Hong Dao

Makeup: Dang Tri Vien

Hair: Nguyet Minh

Producer : Giang Thao

Producer Assistant: Huynh Hai Dang, Giau Le