Vietnamese pop singer My Tam has become the country’s first-ever artist to be listed on Billboard’s World Albums chart, after releasing her ninth studio album ‘Tam 9’.

The World Albums chart by American entertainment brand Billboard provides rankings for the 15 best-selling world music albums of each week.

Using combined physical and digital sales data compiled by Nielsen Music, My Tam’s album debuted on the chart in tenth place this week after Billboard updated their rankings, local media have reported.

The Da Nang-born singer made headlines last year when her ninth studio album ‘Tam 9’ sold out its first 10,000 physical copies in just one week after its release on December 3, 2017.

‘Tam 9’ comes four years after My Tam’s previous studio album and contains 13 tracks that lay bear the singer’s emotions and explore the theme of love from various perspectives.

A screen grab showing My Tam’s ninth studio album ‘Tam 9’ ranked in tenth place on Billboard’s World Albums chart

A digital version of the album is available for purchase on iTunes Store in January and quickly became the fastest selling album on the platform in Vietnam after only two days, with all 13 tracks on the best-seller list, according to Vietnamese news site Tri Thuc Tre (Young Scholar).

“My Tam is timeless. Her songs speak to your heart and soul like no other. She is something old, something new, and most definitely everything blue. With heartbreaking melodies and a soulful vocal, My Tam has once again conquered millions of hearts,” one fan wrote in their review of the album on iTunes Store.

Dubbed ‘the Vietnamese nightingale’ by fans thanks to her soulful vocal, My Tam launched her career in the spotlight after her hugely successful first studio album ‘Mai Yeu’ in 2001. What has followed is a stunning career across two decades.

In 2017, My Tam was honored with the Asia's Music Legend award at the 2014 Top Asia Corporate Ball held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, an event that introduced Asia’s excellence in many fields including arts, literature, culture, industry, personalities, and lives.

When ‘Tam 9’ was released in December last year, it became an instant hit, with fans flocking to album signings in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, a rare sight in Vietnam where album sales have been lackluster since the dawn of digital music.

Fans crowd the downtown Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square in Hanoi for a performance by My Tam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

My Tam signs a copy of her album for a young fan in Hanoi. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Vietnamese singers in recent years have shied away from producing costly studio albums in favor of releasing singles, often accompanied by music videos which are uploaded to YouTube and other local music streaming sites for fans to enjoy for free.

The fact that My Tam was still making studio albums in 2017 came as a surprise to some people when she announced it last October, but not to her loyal fans who have always admired Tam’s talent, work ethics and lovable personality, both on stage and in real life.

My Tam has always been seen as a vocal opponent of free music streaming sites, refusing to make her music available on such platforms and fighting for artists’ rights to be paid for their work.

Fans attend a Ho Chi Minh City concert by My Tam. Photo: Tuoi Tre

My Tam performs at a concert in Hanoi to promote her ninth studio album 'Tam 9'. Photo: Tuoi Tre

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