Born in 1978 in Da Nang, Nguyen Cong Tri’s innate artistic talent was nurtured from age 5-6 despite modest family circumstances.

His early success came with a first-place win in a chalk drawing contest organized by UNICEF at the 1991 National Children’s Festival. A turning point arrived when he studied Industrial Fine Arts at HCM City University of Architecture and secured the New Idea award at the Vietnam Collection Grand Prix in 2000.

Domestic success was just the beginning. Tri triumphed internationally, winning the Bay FM Award at the Asia Collection in Makuhari, Japan, and placing second at the Asia Fashion Collection in Singapore in 2001 with his collection The Sublimation of Earth and Water.

In 2002, he founded the luxury fashion brand CONG TRI, marking the birth of a fashion empire. With unique creative vision, intricate pleating techniques, and a sophisticated blend of modern East Asian aesthetics, Tri quickly dominated the high-end market.

Hollywood calls

Tri was the first in Vietnam launching a luxury fashion brand in 2002. His products have targeted the premium segment, favored by artists and business tycoons. 

The designs won over Vietnamese stars like Ho Ngoc Ha, Thanh Hang, My Tam, and H’Hen Nie, while also crossing borders. In 2014, he was named among the top 100 contemporary haute couture designers, selected from over 14,000 global designers.

His silk dresses and suits are highly appreciated for their combination of practicality and high-end aesthetics, imbued with Asian culture but still suitable for global tastes.

His shows have attracted top-tier stars, with some joking that only Tri had the clout to gather such a crowd, including names like Tran Thanh and Hari Won, People’s Artist Thanh Loc, Dam Vinh Hung, and My Tam.

The real breakthrough came in 2017 when famous singers Rihanna and Katy Perry wore his designs. His VIP client list grew to include Hollywood stars like Beyoncé, Miley Cyrus, Jennifer Lopez, Charlize Theron, Zendaya, Gwyneth Paltrow, Josephine Skriver, Sophie Turner, Camila Cabello, and former US First Lady Michelle Obama.

BlackPink’s Rosé and Lisa also embraced Tri’s designs for events and music videos in 2021-2023.

Priced at hundreds of millions of VND, CONG TRI became a symbol of luxury and prestige. His star-studded shows cemented his unchallenged status as Vietnam’s fashion king.

Secret behind success

Despite his fame, Tri remained private about his personal life. In a rare 2018 appearance on the talk show ‘Mystery Hotel’ hosted by Tran Thanh, he revealed a rational approach to love and a 13-year relationship. His philosophy of staying calm and ignoring gossip to focus on work kept him intriguing to the public.

Cong Tri owns a considerable amount of assets. He once confided about the monthly pressure of maintaining the company, paying for premises and employee salaries, but his constant efforts brought him a prosperous life, worthy of a leading position in the industry.

A source revealed that his couture (high-end) outfits and evening gowns are expensive, about several hundred million VND for one set. Lower-end outfits also cost several tens of millions of VND.

The unexpected fall

This year, July 23 marked a dark day in Nguyen Cong Tri’s career. HCM City police announced the bust of a drug trafficking and usage ring, implicating the celebrated designer.

According to the Drug Crime Investigation Police and Tan Hoa Ward Police, Tri and Tran Phu Long (36) were caught using illegal drugs at Tri’s residence in Tan Hung Ward, HCM City, on the evening of June 23.

The case had begun on June 12, 2025, when authorities conducted a routine inspection at a house on Lac Long Quan Street, catching Nguyen Quoc Trung (35) possessing and trafficking marijuana and cocaine. Further investigation uncovered Tri’s involvement.

When searching the residence of the two people, the authorities seized items suspected of being used for drug use such as ceramic plates, rolled up bills and plastic cards. Both admitted that these items were used to consume illegal substances. 

Currently, HCM City Police are completing the dossier to handle the case according to the law.

After decades of brand building, from Rihanna to Beyoncé, Tri’s ‘empire’ took just one night to collapse. 

Tinh Le