Singing at weddings since age 17 with a salary of 200,000 VND
Ha Trinh (old stage name is Dieu Ha) was born in Yen Dinh ( Thanh Hoa ), in a family with no artistic tradition: her father was an engineer, her mother was a teacher. Since childhood, she was both a good student and a "cultural figure" of the school.
She thought she would follow the teaching profession like her parents, but by chance, seeing the acting recruitment information of Thanh Hoa College of Culture and Arts (now Thanh Hoa University of Culture - Sports and Tourism) made her change direction.
Since the age of 17, Ha Trinh started singing at weddings, village festivals and small events to help her family.
Sharing with Dan Tri reporter, Ha Trinh confided: “My family has many children, both parents are civil servants with low salaries, so the economy is quite difficult. Even though I have a scholarship, I still have to take care of my own living expenses. Each time I sing, I only get paid 200,000-300,000 VND, but that is the first money that helps me support myself without having to ask my parents.”
During her studies, Ha Trinh actively participated in singing and gradually sought opportunities to enter the profession. But when she started performing, she quickly encountered the dark side of the performing environment. During provincial tours, she witnessed many young colleagues, especially dancers, being sent to “meet” businesses.
Once, she and a friend were asked to sit in a sponsor's private car. Realizing that it was completely against the values she pursued, Ha Trinh immediately got out and pulled her friend away...
“Such an environment is not worth the trade-off,” she said frankly. This decision helped her maintain her dignity, but also caused her artistic path to stagnate when many seemingly open opportunities suddenly closed.
After graduating from Thanh Hoa College of Culture and Arts, Ha Trinh went to Hanoi to take the entrance exam for the Screenwriting Department of the Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema. She also passed the intermediate Vocal Music program of the Vietnam National Academy of Music, but had to stop after nearly a year because the two schools were far apart, she did not have enough money for travel expenses, and she did not know how to drive a motorbike.
“I wish I had enough courage, awareness, or someone experienced to analyze and encourage me. At that time, I was too young and lacked courage, so instead of moving forward, I chose to avoid it. Now, I understand that with enough passion and courage, there is always a way to go all the way. In this world, beauty and true values have a place,” Ha Trinh said.
Although she temporarily put her singing career on hold due to circumstances, Ha Trinh continued to work as a scriptwriter. However, her life took a different turn when she became a mother. The stage once again took a backseat, giving way to taking care of her children, teaching Vietnamese online and working behind the scenes.
At first glance, it seemed like a natural break, but few people knew that Ha Trinh had experienced postpartum depression. Without going to the doctor, she read medical and psychological books to identify her problem.
“There were times when I reacted very slowly when I went out. I could still talk normally, but in many situations I couldn’t react quickly enough, I felt stupid. It wasn’t until the evening that I thought about how I should have handled the situation,” she said.
Realizing that she could not stay in a state of stagnation forever, Ha Trinh reminded herself: “No! I have to return to life, return to singing and doing the things I love.”
When her second daughter turned 2 years old, she started recording again, putting all her savings into the album "Thousands of Miles Apart", even asking her husband for more support to turn her passion into reality.
After experiencing postpartum depression and many career challenges, Ha Trinh decided to return to her passion for music (Photo: Character provided).
“I admire Diva Ha Tran's sharp voice”
During her singing journey, Ha Trinh expressed her deep admiration for singer Ha Tran (Tran Thu Ha) not only for her technique and performing style but also for her sophisticated musical thinking and emotional way of handling songs.
According to Ha Trinh, she was impressed with her senior's elegant voice and diverse development ability, especially when Ha Tran participated in the program The Mask Singer Vietnam 2022 (Mask Singer) , performing from pop music to many different music genres, always turning each song into a vivid story, conveying emotions to the audience.
“Ha Tran’s voice is full of charm. No matter how difficult the song or how wide the range, she can overcome it easily. I believe that this is thanks to accumulated experience and practice, along with constant creativity, not just instinct.
She carefully studies each song, from pronunciation, whispering, to the melodies, switching from fake voice to real voice, blending real voice softly and delicately, to fully express each word of the lyrics and lead the listener to the ultimate emotion," Ha Trinh commented.
In addition, she also expressed her admiration for Diva Hong Nhung and famous singer Thai Thanh, because the way these two singers breathe life into the compositions of Trinh Cong Son and Pham Duy always leaves a deep, intact impression in the hearts of listeners.
Learning from the artists he admires, Ha Trinh admits that he sometimes regrets his lack of vocal foundation, because his studies at the conservatory stopped too early, so he still has many technical limitations.
However, she always tries to make up for these gaps. Instead of relying solely on technique, Ha Trinh utilizes her knowledge of screenwriting, acting experience and musical intuition to create a personal mark in the way she handles songs, aiming to touch the hearts of listeners.
Her acting skills give her confidence on stage, while her screenwriting mindset gives each song its own depth and emotion. Ha Trinh believes: “Doing art, whether good or bad, but being yourself and not being like anyone else is already a success.”
“I still take vocal lessons every week with a private teacher. For someone who started late like me, continuous learning and practice is never too much,” she said.
Ha Trinh currently owns a TikTok channel with over 100,000 followers. Initially, she only sang online to meet more audiences, but gradually, this became a chance for her to reach many music lovers.
Every day, she spends 1 to 2 hours singing online, except on sick days or when she has an emergency. Her chosen time slot is 4-6 am, which is convenient for taking care of her children in the evening and also avoids clashing with her performance schedule outside.
Despite her success online, Ha Trinh asserts that the feeling of standing in front of a live audience offers a completely different and vivid experience, something that no online platform can replace.
It was her love for the live stage and her desire to share music fully that prompted Ha Trinh to organize the mini show Toc mai sõn sõn sõn sõn sõn sõn sõn , where she could sing and feel the direct reactions from the audience. The mini show took place on the evening of December 15 in Hanoi, with no tickets sold, mainly for the loving audience who were invited and given tickets.
The program also features guests such as: MC Nguyen Huu Chien Thang, Nhat Truong, Ann Nguyen and the band Mau Nuoc.
Ha Trinh won the Gold Medal in the 2014 National Student Singing Contest for Professional Art Schools , participated in the 2010 Hanoi Student Singing Contest and participated in Sao Mai, stopping at the provincial final round.
She also won the C Prize for stage script writing from the Vietnam Stage Artists Association and participated in many writing camps organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Graduated from Thanh Hoa College of Culture and Arts, Ha Trinh entered the Screenwriting department of Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema.
After that, she worked as a scriptwriter for VFC programs such as Weekend Relaxation , several talk shows, TVCs and events, while continuing to pursue music.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/giai-tri/nu-bien-kich-thu-gian-cuoi-tuan-vuot-tram-cam-tro-lai-voi-am-nhac-20251129065056828.htm
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