To commemorate the 50th anniversary of the renaming of Saigon - Gia Dinh City to Ho Chi Minh City (July 2, 1976 - July 2, 2026), the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism have assigned the City's Department of Culture and Sports, in coordination with the Department of Performing Arts, the Vietnam Association of Stage Artists, and other relevant units, to organize the "National Cai Luong Actor Talent Competition 2026". The competition will take place from May 17 to 23 in Ho Chi Minh City.
Many new faces
This competition, held as Ho Chi Minh City approaches a historic milestone, demonstrates a clear approach: developing the cultural industry is inseparable from investing in traditional arts and preparing a successor generation. In the context of Ho Chi Minh City's accelerated development of the cultural industry, the competition becomes a vibrant example, showing that traditional arts can absolutely enter modern life through creative thinking.
Besides the performances that were judged equally on professional merit, the "National Cai Luong Actor Talent Competition 2026" also featured many performances that truly made an impression on both the audience and the professional community.
In the excerpt "Tragic Fate," actors Cao Thi Nhung (playing Thuy) and Tran Ngoc Tuan (playing Thai) from the Ninh Binh Traditional Arts Theatre did not push emotions through the usual dramatic climax, but instead chose to delve into the layers of psychology. This restraint helped the characters appear natural and convincing.
One of the performances that received much praise was the excerpt "The Temple Burner," with actor Le Hoang Nghi playing Herostratus. This is a challenging role as it demands the expression of many emotions, complex psychological shifts, and the ability to maintain a consistent stage rhythm. What was noteworthy was not the outward burst of energy, but the way the young artist created inner strength for the character, maintaining the tension until the end of the scene.
Actress Lam Thi Kim Cuong, with her portrayal of Cam in the excerpt "Cam's Fate," is also a highlight that many viewers have mentioned. Instead of exploring the character in a familiar way, she chose a more in-depth approach, creating a Cam with personality and making viewers think more about the character's personality and actions.
Representing the Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre, actress Duong Thi Kim Tien, with her portrayal of Empress Truong Lac in the excerpt "Tragedy," also received many positive reviews. Meanwhile, Minh Nguyet (playing Ly Chieu Hoang) from the Vietnam National Traditional Theatre moved the audience. Her performance showed progress in handling historical characters – maintaining the essence of Cai Luong theatre while creating emotional depth.
A pleasant surprise of this year's competition was the performance by artist Trong Nhan from the Huynh Long Traditional Opera Troupe, playing the role of an artist in the excerpt "Performing Alone". This solo performance created a special effect because it required the artist to completely master the rhythm, space, and energy of the performance. His confidence and ability to convey emotion helped Trong Nhan make a strong impression on the audience.
In addition, artist Bich Tram from Vu Luan Entertainment Co., Ltd., with her portrayal of Thi Binh in the excerpt "Loi Vu," brought a different kind of captivating performance – gentle yet possessing immense inner strength. Her performance was praised for its meticulous vocal and acting skills, creating a sense of authenticity and leaving a lasting impression long after the curtain closed.
Dr. Vo Yen, from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Theatre and Film, commented: "Many faces show long-term development potential. The organizations have chosen the right roles for the actors, not chasing after big or difficult roles, but choosing 'suits that fit' young artists."
According to Meritorious Artist Ca Lê Hồng, the competition is gradually moving beyond the scope of a performance arena to become a professional forum. There, artists, directors, authors, and theorists alike can reflect on the development direction of cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) in the new context.
Artists Thu Trang (left) and Minh Nguyet (Vietnam National Traditional Theatre) performing an excerpt from "Ly Chieu Hoang".
Behind the Spotlight
Many experts believe that current national-level competitions have done a good job of discovering talent, but there are still gaps in nurturing and providing opportunities for their development afterward. This has been a difficult problem to solve for many years. In many cases, young artists who win top prizes lack opportunities to continue performing on stage upon returning to their respective organizations. Some have to switch to smaller-scale performances, singing at events or providing services to sustain their careers.
That's the paradox that has plagued cải lương (Vietnamese traditional opera) artists for many years. Meritorious Artist Lê Thiện believes that the most frightening thing is not a lack of talent, but the loss of motivation for talent. The cải lương stage is facing immense competition for audiences. Many theaters are unable to stage plays regularly, and unstable performance schedules are increasingly limiting opportunities for young artists to hone their skills.
People's Artist Trieu Trung Kien, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Traditional Theatre, believes that for a true talent to become a great artist, awards are only the beginning. The important thing is that the art organization must create a performance environment, have a strategy for developing its audience, and know how to organize theatrical productions with a new mindset.
Even the Tran Huu Trang Cai Luong Theatre – considered a symbol of Southern Cai Luong – faces the challenge of maintaining regular performances. A great play and a talented cast are not enough without a strategy for promotion, marketing, and connecting with the public. After all, talent only truly matures when performed on stage in front of an audience.
This is also the concern of those participating in the "National Cai Luong Actor Talent Competition 2026". Beyond finding a winner, this competition also reminds those in the profession of how to keep the Cai Luong stage alive in today's life.
Mr. Tran Huong Duong - Deputy Director of the Department of Performing Arts, Head of the Organizing Committee of the competition - emphasized: "This competition not only helps discover the next generation of actors for Cai Luong art but also reflects the organizational thinking, training methods and development strategies of the managing unit, thereby providing solutions to keep the Cai Luong stage always vibrant."
Source: https://nld.com.vn/san-khau-cai-luong-phai-luon-sang-den-196260521215530019.htm
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