Artist Tu Long's mother overcomes serious illness and lives happily at 75

Folk artist Minh Phuc - actor Tu Long's mother - had surgery to remove one kidney and underwent 11 chemotherapy sessions, but remained optimistic and loved to sing.

After being awarded the title of Meritorious Artist on March 6, Ms. Minh Phuc respectfully hung the certificate next to the title of her husband - artist Tu Lam.

The couple currently live with their youngest son in Bac Ninh, occasionally going to Hanoi to visit the family of their eldest son - artist Tu Long. In the first months of the lunar new year, she is often invited to sing at many festivals with her brothers and sisters, and to instruct some students. The artist said she never bargains for her salary, and often performs for free. "With young students, whoever asks to learn from me, I teach them from the bottom of my heart, never hiding my craft. In my free time, I take the opportunity to copy down the folk tunes I know, as materials for the next generation," said Mrs. Phuc.

Artist Minh Phuc with his eldest son - artist Tu Long. Photo: Provided by the character — Artist Minh Phuc with his eldest son - artist Tu Long. Photo: *Provided by the character*

A few years ago, she got cancer and had surgery to remove a kidney. There was a time when she had to go to Hanoi every week for treatment and injections. While in the hospital, she was taken care of by her husband and children. Last year, she had surgery for a tumor in her bladder. "I was in pain but never complained, I did whatever the doctor told me to do, but my husband and children were always worried," she recalled.

Artist Minh Phuc has been involved in folk art for 60 years . Born in Ngang Noi village, Hien Van commune, Tien Du district, Bac Ninh , one of the cradles of Cheo singing and Quan Ho singing in the North . Her father is a drummer at the Vietnam Cheo Theater, her brothers are all artists, she was supported by her family to follow the profession, and was one of the first seven seeds of the Ha Bac Quan Ho Folk Song Troupe.

In 1969, she auditioned for the troupe and met her future husband, artist Tu Lam. At that time, a generation of actors came to Lim village, One of the ancient quan ho villages to learn. During the day, they followed the artisans to pull up rice seedlings, plow, and pick mulberries. Only at night did they have time to learn to sing.

Living and working together, she and artist Tu Lam developed feelings for each other and got married after more than two years of knowing each other. She loved him because of his good looks, good singing, decent personality, and strict adherence to the agency's rules. In 1973, they gave birth to their first son - Tu Long. During the war, often away from home to perform, and constantly sent to study, artist Minh Phuc had to leave her children with her husband's parents. To this day, she still feels guilty because her children grew up without the care of their parents.

During the difficult years, with low subsidized salaries, many colleagues left the troupe and switched to other jobs. Her husband, artist Tu Lam, who acted in the film Den Hen Lai Len with Nhu Quynh, was invited to work at the Vietnam Feature Film Studio. However, the provincial leaders at that time advised him to stay and maintain the ancient Quan Ho profession.

Artist Minh Phuc, Tu Lam with the family of their eldest son - Tu Long. Photo: Provided by the character — Artist Minh Phuc, Tu Lam with the family of their eldest son - Tu Long. Photo: *Provided by the character*

When Ha Bac province split into Bac Giang and Bac Ninh provinces, the mechanism changed, the troupe had to be self-sufficient in revenue and expenditure, and the artists' lives became more difficult. During the Doi Moi period, the artist couple Minh Phuc - Tu Lam were invited to sing at many weddings and conferences in a new style. The couple refused, because they wanted to preserve the spirit of Quan Ho and not sell their profession cheaply. There was a time when they held the Nguyet lute, the Nhi lute, and the Phach, and sang Chau Van to distract themselves and earn some extra money.

Artist Minh Phuc said: "We have been together for more than 50 years thanks to our shared love of art. We always respect, share, and encourage each other in life."

She is proud that her eldest son - artist Tu Long - followed his parents' career, became successful, and was loved by the audience. After high school, when Tu Long expressed his desire to study art, she and her husband advised him to reconsider: "You see your parents, decades of working in the profession, both hard and poor." Tu Long studied carpentry, drove a motorbike taxi, planned to work abroad, and finally entered the University of Theater and Cinema. "In the end, he still had a passion for the profession, and because he was talented, he became famous," Mrs. Minh Phuc reflected. She said her eldest son took great care of his parents' lives, helped his younger brothers and sisters get married, and took care of the family's death anniversaries.

At the age of 75, artist Minh Phuc is satisfied after more than half a century of artistic activities. In her free time, she compiles and copies nearly 500 folk songs, recording the specific origin and source of each melody, as a way to show gratitude to her ancestors. "Receiving the title of Meritorious Artist, I have no regrets. I have fulfilled my duty as a student of the previous artists," she said.