In November 1953, Truong Quang Hien, from Cao La village, Dan Chu commune, Tu Ky district, Hai Duong province (now Tan Ky commune, Hai Phong city), got married. Nguyen Thi Duyen, from Lai Cau village (Hoang Dieu, Gia Loc), a neighboring area, with fair skin and long hair, and born in the same year as him (1934, Year of the Dog), accepted his proposal. But it wasn't just because they were a handsome couple. Nor was it because Hien came from a wealthy family and had a third-year secondary school diploma… The main reason was Hien's deep love for folk arts. As a child, Duyen often saw this "young master" clinging to his parents' clothes, captivated by the performances. She heard an old woman praise him: "Playfulness easily leads to ruin. A love of singing easily leads to virtue."
Six months after their wedding, they had their first son. In May 1955, Mr. Hien was assigned to the administrative committee of Chi Linh district (formerly Hai Duong province ). To allow her husband to focus on his work, Ms. Duyen actively participated in the militia and, together with her mother-in-law, raised her two younger siblings, who then enlisted to fight the American invaders, completing their duties with flying colors. Sadly, the youngest brother, Truong Minh Ton, was killed in action in 1971 in Tien Giang province.
One Saturday evening at the end of 1962, Hien told his wife: “Last Sunday, the Chi Linh district agency, engaged in socialist labor, building a dam to serve agriculture, naming it ‘Phu Loi Water Dam.’ Girl – a member of the Youth Union – knew I loved folk art and writing, so she teased me: ‘Such a big project, and you’re so quiet, Quang Hien! Are you missing your wife?’ So that night I wrote a report on ‘Phu Loi Water Dam,’ reflecting the spirit of labor and the significance of the project, and sent it to the Voice of Vietnam Radio .”
Five days later, the Rural Radio Program broadcast that piece. The office was buzzing with excitement. I brought my royalties all the way to Hai Duong Department Store to buy this (he gave his wife a beautiful silk scarf printed with roses) as a gift for myself!
For decades, through various positions: teacher, finance officer, Secretary of the Youth Union at the agency, and then returning to lead folk art clubs in the locality, Truong Quang Hien has been commended and rewarded by his superiors every year. By 2025, Mr. Hien has celebrated 57 years of glorious Party membership.
When Mr. Hien retired, Mrs. Duyen encouraged him to participate in promoting the arts and culture movement in his village. In the following years, the Party's resolutions on cultural and artistic tasks, especially the Resolution of the 5th Central Committee Meeting of the 8th Party Congress (1998) "On building and developing an advanced Vietnamese culture imbued with national identity," ignited in him the idea of a folk arts and culture movement in his homeland.
Trusted by the community, he took on the role of Chairman of the Elderly Arts Club of Cao La village and the Huong Que Poetry Club of four neighboring communes: Tan Ky, Dan Chu, Quang Nghiep, and Dai Hop, and Vice Chairman of the Thoi Gian Xanh Poetry Club of Tu Ky district… He organized the establishment of the Dan Chu Ca Tru Club. From three "red seeds" (the first-class musician Nguyen Phu De, 76 years old - whose lifelong aspiration was for the development of Ca Tru, and two veteran female singers: Nguyen Thi Cung and Nguyen Thi Boc), it gradually developed into a club with two male musicians, four female musicians, six main female singers, and ten supporting members, including four children under 10 years old.
He placed particular emphasis on promoting the effective teaching of the esteemed master Nguyen Phu De and the female singers Nguyen Thi Cung, Nguyen Thi Boc, and Hong Thuy, helping all club members to enthusiastically learn to play musical instruments and sing. He also composed and explained songs himself, helping members understand the cultural meaning of each lyric…
Thanks to the creative efforts of Mr. Hien and his colleagues, the folk poetry and arts movement in Dan Chu has flourished, contributing significantly to social welfare. Each club has its own programs to celebrate the New Year, serving traditional festivals, congresses, and celebrations organized by local leaders and authorities. The Ca Tru club participates in almost all festivals at all levels, from national to provincial and city levels, winning awards every time.
In 2000, musician Nguyen Phu De and singer Nguyen Thi Cung received the outstanding award from Hanoi city. In 2005, they received the national gold medal and, along with Mr. Truong Quang Hien, were awarded the title of Folk Artisan by the State. In 2015, Mr. Hien received the title of Distinguished Artisan. In 2019, Ms. De received the title of People's Artisan. It is regrettable that Ms. Cung is no longer alive to participate in this awarding ceremony.
In addition, there were 4 Silver Medals for other female singers, 1 Silver Medal for the club, and numerous certificates of merit from the Ministry and the People's Committee of the former Hai Duong province awarded to collectives and individuals.
Since 2022, learning to sing Ca Tru (a traditional Vietnamese folk singing style) has become an extracurricular program at Dan Chu Primary School. Singer Hong Chiem (granddaughter of Mr. De, a member of the club) teaches the art. Mr. Hien, now well over eighty years old, has handed over the role of club chairman to Mr. Vu Cong Bao (a talented and enthusiastic musician). As the honorary chairman, Mr. Hien continues to regularly offer suggestions and poems to contribute to the club's activities.
The imprint of folk art and literature of Meritorious Artist Truong Quang Hien is also evident in his self-composed poems, rich in aesthetics and deeply educational, practical for the community, published by the Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House. Notable examples include two volumes: "Motherland" (2004) and "I Love My Homeland So Much" (2018), each containing 100 poems, and the epic poem "The Village Guardian Deity of Cao La" (2024), comprising over 400 verses in the lục bát (six-eight) meter, printed in 500 copies for community use.
Many memorable Ca Tru songs, such as "Visiting Con Son in 2018," were performed by Meritorious Artist Bach Van, Meritorious Artist Kieu Trinh, and numerous other female singers at national Ca Tru festivals. In 2022, Tu Ky district celebrated Vietnamese Women's Day on October 20th, and the folk song "Singing about Heroic Vietnamese Women," composed and directed by the artist and performed by singer Hong Nhung, won first prize in a competition with 23 participating groups.
Before turning 75, whenever there was a performance of Cheo, folk songs, or Ca Tru singing, Mr. Truong Quang Hien would take his wife to watch it on his Honda motorbike. Their friends called them "The Old Lovebirds." On the occasion of their 72nd wedding anniversary and the 10th anniversary of Mr. Hien receiving the title of Meritorious Artist, he reviewed some of his achievements: the 55-Year Party Membership Badge (2023); the Resistance Medal against the French and the Resistance Medal against the Americans, both first class; the certificate recognizing him as a Meritorious Artist; commemorative medals from the Ministry of Culture, the Finance sector, and the Association of the Elderly; and the badges of delegates and exemplary advanced individuals at the patriotic emulation congresses of Tu Ky district and Hai Duong province from 2015 to 2020.
What was surprising and touching was that Mr. Hien dedicated all those titles to his wife, sharing sincerely: "I only put my name on them; everything else is thanks to her!" Their story of destiny and love for each other and for folk art is truly like a love song that will endure through time.
PHAM XUONGSource: https://baohaiphong.vn/nhu-ban-tinh-ca-527916.html
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