Mai Khôi is a Vietnamese singer, composer, and activist known for her work at the intersection of art and activism. She rose to fame as a pop star, winning Vietnam’s Television Song and Album of the Year awards in 2010. Over time, she became a vocal critic of government censorship, culminating in a pro-democracy campaign for the National Assembly and a meeting with Barack Obama. This activism came at a high cost, leading to her exile in the U.S.
In exile, Khôi has continued her artistic and activist work through projects like her genre-splicing trio, Mai Khôi Chém Gió, and her current project, Mai Khôi and the Dissidents. She has also been an artist in residence and was awarded the 2018 Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent and the 2022 Four Freedoms Award for Freedom of Speech.