The latest scandal, in which famed local singer My Tam allegedly requested nearly US$6,000 for a single song to be featured at the opening of the Danang International Fireworks Competition (DIFC), set for April 29 and 30, has raised a probing question among the public about local singers’ earnings.

Danang city officials refused to sign a contract with Tam, a native of the city, after Son Lam Co., the event organizer, allegedly reported her  exorbitant quote.

However, the singer maintains her innocence, claiming that she never quoted such a price.

Earlier, Vietnamese pop king Dam Vinh Hung was believed to have received VND100 million (US$4,832) for performing in the show at last year’s DIFC.

Chart-topping singers, such as Hung and Tam, usually earn a staggering US$5,000-6,000 for a show at mostly big brand promotion events or discotheques. 

In 2012, Hung received a whopping US$10,000, the record rate for local singers, for performing at a luxury wedding.

Meanwhile, these chart-topping singers charge lower fees at cabaret shows, depending on the rank of the cabaret and the size of the audience.

Their cabaret earnings average some US$3,000-4,000, but such shows are more energy-consuming, as they perform around 30 songs nonstop for two to three hours, compared to only two or three songs at event shows.

Their pay gets even lower with shows held at mass entertainment centers or on television, and varies considerably according to the scale and quality of the programs and the relationship between the singers and the venue. Hung sometimes performs free of charge as a guest singer at the live shows of his colleagues, who are expected to do the same the other way around.

Critically acclaimed singers and ‘divas’ typically earn around US$3,000 for event shows.

Ho Ngoc Ha is currently topping the list of trendy singers, earning some US$4,000 for each event.

Meanwhile, a number of young singers who rely more on their gorgeous, sensual appearances and visually striking dances than their singing skills also earn steady incomes of around VND20-30 million (US$962-1,442) for each show.

However, those who shock show managers and organizers most are the young winners and finalists of singing contests such as Vietnam Idol and The Voice.

Uyen Linh, the 2010 Vietnam Idol, caused quite a stir after she asked for US$2,000 for a show and VND40 million (US$1,923) for three songs in a performance for students shortly after her victory on the television program. Only a few months prior to the contest, Linh still had difficulty getting herself invited to small shows with meager pay.

Bui Anh Tuan was also catapulted into stardom after his success at the Vietnamese version of The Voice last year, and since then has charged exorbitant rates of around VND30-35 million a show, which is equal to that charged by his seasoned predecessors.

As for overseas Vietnamese singers, Bang Kieu is currently leading celebrities in terms of pay. He pocketed US$10,000 for his first live concert in Vietnam late last year.

Next on the list are Tuan Ngoc, Quang Le, and Phi Nhung who charge US$8,000 or less.

According to show managers, despite the  economic malaise in the past two years, singers usually don't quote lower prices.

Composer Huy Tuan revealed that singers sometimes quote staggering prices to turn down a show they don’t want. If the show managers unexpectedly agree to that price, the singers will enjoy a generous, hefty sum.

However, in special, charitable programs, singers only charge nominal sums or no money at all. They also donate money to charity programs and funds.

Celebrities’ pay as judges on reality shows or singing and dancing competitions is also magnificent.

Local film director Le Hoang earned VND15 million (US$721) for two hours on the judging panel of a reality show.

Dam Vinh Hung, who was paid some VND 600 million (US$ 28,848) as one of The Voice's coaches, came second to a choreographer-judge who earned a whopping VND1 billion (US$48,080) from a reality show.