The world of voice acting is one of passion, creativity, and dedication. However, behind the scenes, many voice artists face financial struggles due to low market demand. This is the story of Minh Thảo, a talented Vietnamese voice actor who pursued her dream but soon realized that passion alone wasn’t enough to sustain a living.
Discovering the Passion
Minh Thảo grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, where she was known for her smooth, expressive voice. As a child, she loved mimicking radio hosts and narrating bedtime stories to her younger siblings. While studying media and communications in university, she discovered the world of Vietnamese voice over. It was love at first sound.
Encouraged by her professors and friends, Thảo started taking online courses on voice acting. She invested in a decent microphone and converted her small bedroom into a makeshift studio. She began her journey with small projects—recording explainer videos, IVR messages, and advertisements for local brands.
The Harsh Reality of the Industry
Despite her passion and growing portfolio, Thảo quickly learned that being a Vietnamese voice talent was not as glamorous as it seemed.
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Low Demand in Vietnam
Unlike in Western countries where voice acting is a lucrative career, the Vietnamese voice over market remains niche. Many companies prefer in-house recordings or use AI-generated voices to cut costs. This made finding consistent work challenging. -
Inconsistent and Low Pay
Initially, Thảo was excited to land her first professional gig—voicing a commercial for a local beauty brand. However, the payment was barely enough to cover a week’s groceries. While experienced Vietnamese voice artists can charge higher rates, newcomers like Thảo struggled with low fees and clients unwilling to pay for quality. -
Fierce Competition
With more people entering the industry, competition became tougher. Thảo had to constantly upgrade her skills and marketing efforts to stand out. She created demo reels, posted on freelance platforms, and networked with media companies, but securing well-paid jobs remained a struggle.
Juggling Multiple Jobs
To make ends meet, Thảo had to take on other jobs while pursuing her voice-over career.
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Teaching English Online
With her clear pronunciation and soft-spoken nature, Thảo became an online English tutor. This job provided a steady income, though it took up most of her time. -
Freelance Content Writing
Leveraging her background in media, she started writing scripts and blog posts for marketing agencies. While this wasn’t her passion, it was a reliable way to supplement her income. -
Occasional MC and Hosting Gigs
Sometimes, Thảo took up event hosting and MC jobs at weddings and corporate events. Though she enjoyed these gigs, they were unpredictable and seasonal.
The Emotional Toll
Balancing multiple jobs while chasing her dream was exhausting. There were days when Thảo felt discouraged and questioned whether she should give up on voice acting. Watching foreign Vietnamese voice over agencies thriving abroad made her wonder if she was in the wrong market.
She saw friends in traditional jobs climbing career ladders, buying houses, and traveling—while she was stuck in a cycle of inconsistent gigs and financial stress.
Finding New Opportunities
Determined to make voice acting work, Thảo started looking beyond Vietnam. She reached out to international clients and began offering Vietnamese voice over services on global freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr.
To her surprise, foreign companies were willing to pay much higher rates for quality Vietnamese narration. Slowly, she started building a client base that appreciated her talent.
She also began YouTube narration and audiobook recordings, creating her own content in hopes of monetizing it one day. By diversifying her work and finding international clients, she was finally able to see a sustainable future in voice acting.
Conclusion: A Passion Worth Fighting For
Thảo’s story is a testament to the challenges many Vietnamese voice artists face. While the local industry remains underdeveloped, those who are persistent and adaptable can find success.
For aspiring voice actors in Vietnam, the key lessons from Thảo’s journey are:
- Diversify income sources – Don’t rely solely on voice acting until it becomes financially sustainable.
- Look beyond the local market – International clients often value Vietnamese voice talents more.
- Keep improving skills – Take courses, network, and invest in better equipment.
- Stay patient and persistent – Success in voice acting takes time, just like any creative field.
Despite the struggles, Minh Thảo never gave up on her passion. Today, she continues to work as a Vietnamese voice actor, proving that while the journey is tough, it is possible to turn passion into a career—with a little bit of strategy and a lot of perseverance.