Colonel, People's Artist Hong Hanh: "Proud of the musical tradition of my homeland Quang Ninh"

The 2025 Voice Contest on Quang Ninh Radio and Television has ended but has left many beautiful echoes in the hearts of audiences, listeners, music lovers as well as professionals. As a person born and raised in Quang Ninh, Colonel, People's Artist Hong Hanh, Director of the Army Music and Dance Theater, Deputy Judge of the Contest, is always proud of the musical tradition of Quang Ninh, of the singers of the province. Reporters of Quang Ninh Newspaper and Radio and Television interviewed Colonel, People's Artist Hong Hanh right after this Contest.

- Dear People's Artist Hong Hanh, as a judge of both the semi-final and final rounds of the Voice Contest on Quang Ninh Radio and Television, how do you evaluate the performances of the contestants in the contest?

+ The contest left me with many deep impressions not only as a judge, an audience member, but also as a son of Quang Ninh who has pursued a musical career.

I was very impressed with many contestants who participated in this year's contest. They all performed very well in all three genres of music, especially chamber music. From the past until now, in my subconscious, I always imagined that the voices of Quang Ninh were always rich in inner strength. Perhaps the waves of the sea have created the rich inner strength of the voices of the people of Quang Ninh. In particular, I saw that there were contestants who participated in the contest who were very young, just under 20 years old, but very confident.

Looking back at my years singing in Uong Bi when I was young, I cannot imagine why you guys today can perform so confidently. You have mastered your voice, mastered the stage very well and had explosive performances. I believe a bright future is open for all the contestants who have come out of this meaningful playground.

The future singers are not only of the province but also of the whole country. Coming here to be a judge of the contest, so many childhood memories come back to me. Those are the memories of my first years of singing. I am really moved when listening to the young people sing. I recognize my own youth in them. I am proud to be from Quang Ninh.

People's Artist Hong Hanh (second from left) and members of the Jury receive flowers from the Organizing Committee of the Contest.

- How do you evaluate the organization of this year's contest?

+ The organization of the contest was very tight. Every step was carefully prepared. The contestants were very satisfied. I highly appreciate the efforts of Quang Ninh Newspaper and Radio and Television in organizing the contest very successfully. From the success of this contest, I am more proud of my hometown Quang Ninh, proud of the musical tradition of my home province.

- According to you, what creates the powerful vocal range of Quang Ninh people as you just shared above?

+ Perhaps it is because of the waves and winds of the sea. High mountains and vast seas make people live more freely, more united, and have to speak louder to call each other. Miners are the same. On the quarry or in deep tunnels, they certainly have to speak loudly to be heard. Because of these living conditions, the people of Quang Ninh have long had very thick vocal cords, making their singing voices always full of inner strength.

10 contestants participated in the final night and performed with dancers from Ha Long University.

- Perhaps it is that inner strength that has helped Quang Ninh artists break through and rise up, including you personally?

+ I remember my childhood years in Uong Bi, catching crabs, snails, clams, and crabs. Our generation had a very difficult time at that time. Later, when I went to Hanoi , I was very surprised to see Hanoians having a meal early in the morning. We, in Quang Ninh at that time, had no idea what breakfast was.

Being the eldest in a family of four children, I had to help my parents from an early age. I stayed home to look after my younger siblings and listen to folk songs. My passion for singing came naturally to me. In the 1980s, every family was poor and had no means of audiovisual communication. The loudspeaker in the neighborhood or from the Uong Bi theater near my house became my close friends. Because I already had a passion and love for singing, I could memorize and sing along after just a few listens.

Since I was a child, I have been deeply impressed by the singing movement in Quang Ninh. I enthusiastically participated in the school's cultural activities and local performances. When I was in 8th grade, I competed in the Golden Nightingale contest of the province in the first time this contest was held. The second time I competed, I also won a Gold Medal.

People's Artist Hong Hanh in the early years of her military service. Photo provided by the character

I went to the competition with Ho Quynh Tam. I still remember that at that time, Ho Quynh Huong followed her older sister to listen to them sing. The singing movement at that time was very widespread. At only 15 years old, I went to many mines to sing for the workers. When I learned that Uong Bi Power Plant had a music club, gathering many artists from the mining area, I eagerly walked more than 10km from my house to watch the uncles and aunts practice music and singing. Seeing that I had talent and passion, the uncles and aunts let me try and then admitted me to the club and I was able to follow them to perform for the workers in all the mines.

During the summers, I went to Ha Long with my friends who sang well and studied well to attend summer camp. It was those early performances that ignited in me the dream of becoming a professional artist, bringing my voice to serve the people and the Fatherland.

- How do you evaluate the music competitions in Quang Ninh in those years and later?

+ After the Golden Nightingale, we also participated in competitions of the armed forces of Quang Ninh province when we were very young. When I was only 16 years old, I dared to sing the song “Vong tay cau hon” and won a gold medal. We participated in all the competitions that Quang Ninh organized at that time.

Looking back, I see that all the competitions in Quang Ninh are of very high quality. From those competitions, many people have become famous singers and participated in professional art troupes throughout the country. When I returned to the Army Music and Dance Theatre, the theatre already had some friends such as Hong Duyen and Hoang Hong Ngoc.

People's Artist Hong Hanh (second from left) with members of the Jury at the final night.

- Can you tell us what brought you to become a cultural soldier?

+ My father was a special forces soldier, who participated in the 81-day and night battle to protect Quang Tri citadel. My childhood was marked by the beautiful and familiar image of a soldier from the image of my father himself.

My father was also the one who ignited the fire, inspired me to love, respect and sing about soldiers, sing about my homeland and country. Later, every time I was invited to perform to send off new recruits to the army, when I saw the emotions and reluctance of the soldiers, I wanted to become a soldier artist even more.

People's Artist Hong Hanh and members of the Jury took souvenir photos with contestants participating in the contest.

Honestly, after winning the Golden Nightingale Gold Medal twice, I became known to many people, many art units invited me to collaborate, but I refused because I was still busy studying in high school. In 1993, when I was about to graduate from high school, artists and famous teachers such as People's Artist Ung Duy Thinh, People's Artist Doan Tan, People's Artist Dang Hung from the General Political Department's Song and Dance Troupe (now the Army Song and Dance Theater) came to see my family and encouraged me to join the Troupe.

Upon receiving that offer, my parents agreed. For me, it was an honor and a real pride to wear the same military uniform as my father. As soon as I returned to the Corps, I was specially promoted to the rank of warrant officer by the Army and was entrusted to perform for the soldiers and people in many places in the country. After that, I was also given the opportunity to study at the Military University of Culture and Arts in the form of both studying and working. That environment was a precious opportunity for me to grow up.

People's Artist Hong Hanh on the music stage.

- Can you reveal where your stage name Hong Hanh comes from?

+ I am very grateful to Ms. Hong Mo, the person in charge of the Quang Ninh Provincial Cultural House, who gave me my stage name. She knew me through movement activities and singing competitions for school-age children at that time. When Quang Ninh Province organized the first Golden Nightingale competition, she invited me to participate, but because I was still young, I did not know how to register, so she proactively registered with the stage name Hong Hanh. She took it from her middle name “Hong” before my name. And “Nguyen Hong” is also my father’s family name.

From now on, wherever I go, I always remember my family, my clan, and the generous and powerful people of Quang Ninh. I am grateful to my hometown Quang Ninh where I was born and raised, where my singing dream took flight, so that I could grow up and achieve the success I have today.

- Thank you Colonel, People's Artist Hong Hanh for the interview!

Colonel, People's Artist Hong Hanh's real name is Nguyen Thi Bich Hanh, born in 1975, in Quang Trung ward, Uong Bi town, now Uong Bi ward, Quang Ninh province. She studied at the Military Arts School and worked at the Army Song and Dance Troupe, now the Army Song and Dance Theater, and was also the first female artist to hold the position of Theater Director.

With a mezzo-soprano voice, rich in folk colors, and skillful in technique, People's Artist Hong Hanh has conquered many generations of audiences. In 1995, she won the Gold Medal at the National Professional Performance Festival with the song "Cho con xin cau hat" (composed by musician Minh Quang). In 2001, People's Artist Hong Hanh won the Gold Medal at the "Spring and the Soldier" Contest organized by the Ministry of National Defense with the song "My Mother" by musician An Thuyen.

People's Artist Hong Hanh has been successful with many songs about the Party, homeland, country, mother... especially about Uncle Ho such as: "Ba Dinh Moon", "Uncle Ho, a boundless love", "The Central region misses Uncle Ho", "Uncle's advice before leaving", "Visiting Ben Nha Rong"... Singer Hong Hanh was awarded the title of People's Artist in 2024.

Pham Hoc (Implementation)

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/dai-ta-nsnd-hong-hanh-tu-hao-ve-truyen-thong-am-nhac-cua-que-huong-quang-ninh-3384965.html