Unique deep voice of Vietnamese music

Born in 1936 in Hanoi , People's Artist Tran Hieu graduated from the Vietnam Music School (now the National Academy of Music) and studied at the Sofia Conservatory (Bulgaria). He is considered one of the few singers with a unique deep voice, successfully performing many genres, from revolutionary music, folk songs, to opera and lyrical music.

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Despite his serious illness, during the recent A80, People's Artist Tran Hieu still went into the studio to record his favorite revolutionary songs.

The songs associated with his name such as Ho keo phao, Con voi, Toi la Le Anh Nuoi, ​​Anh quan buu vui tinh, Lanh chu ca ... have become the memories of many generations. Not only a performing artist, he was also a great teacher, training many famous singers such as: People's Artist Quoc Hung, People's Artist Tan Minh, singer Trong Tan ...

The hardships of old age

Although he became famous early and devoted his life to art, Tran Hieu's personal life was full of ups and downs. After his marriage, he remarried Minh Nga - his wife, 18 years younger than him, who is now his biggest support during his illness.

In September 2025, Tran Hieu was admitted to the 108 Military Central Hospital due to bone metastasis, which developed into an abscess in the jawbone. After surgery, he was transferred to the Central Geriatric Hospital for treatment of kidney failure. There were times when he was in critical condition, only able to eat thin porridge, his memory was impaired, and he had to be attended by his wife and a nurse.

However, his love for music has never faded. On October 1, on the occasion of the International Day of Older Persons, when the hospital organized an exchange program, he still sang the song My Mother by his younger brother Tran Tien, to the emotion of many people.

For a long time, the couple lived in a small house in Ho Chi Minh City - which was also Mrs. Minh Nga's old house. Recently, they both moved to Hanoi for medical treatment. Currently, he and his wife are staying at Mrs. Nga's relative's house. To take care of him when he is hospitalized, she plans to rent a small apartment near the hospital, both for living and for convenient transportation.

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People's Artist Tran Hieu and Ms. Minh Nga.

When the reporter asked, what about staying with someone else or renting, or relying on the 100-year-old People's Artist Tran Hieu? Mrs. Nga was silent... sighing!

"He calls me his fairy godmother, his savior. I know his health is getting weaker and his memory is also decreasing, but he still loves to sing, and whenever he has the chance, he sings. The other day at the Central Geriatric Hospital, even though he just had surgery, he was still excited to go on stage to sing. Today, just after being discharged from the hospital, even though he was very tired, he still sat down to play the piano and asked me to sing for him. Now he is weak, sometimes he remembers and sometimes forgets the notes, but seeing that he still loves to sing, I also sing to make him happy. Now he only lives on diapers, milk and listening to songs," Ms. Minh Nga shared.

The life of People's Artist Tran Hieu in his final years evokes much contemplation. A talented artist, master of many generations of singers, loved by the people, awarded with noble titles, but in his old age he did not have a stable home.

However, he always had the love of his devoted wife, along with the care of his friends, students and audience. That was probably the greatest source of encouragement for him to continue fighting the disease, keeping the flame of his artistry alive until his last days.

People's Artist Tran Hieu sings at the hospital

People's Artist Tran Hieu was hospitalized because of cancer that had metastasized to his bones. Mrs. Minh Nga - People's Artist Tran Hieu's wife told VietNamNet reporter that her husband had cancer that had metastasized to his bones.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/nsnd-tran-hieu-nguoi-nghe-si-tai-hoa-va-nhung-lan-dan-cuoi-doi-2449065.html