Emotionally choked up when Kieu My Dung met Dieu Hien again

(NLDO) - On an emotional November morning, Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung - a talented singer of the Can Tho reformed theater stage - met again with Meritorious Artist Dieu Hien.

From left to right: Painter Tran Thien, Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung and Meritorious Artist Dieu Hien

On the morning of November 9, together with director - painter Tran Thien, meritorious artist Ai Hang and Kim Tuyen - Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung (Vice President of Can Tho City Theater Association) had a meaningful visit to Thi Nghe Artist Nursing Home (HCMC).

The reunion is a tribute to our predecessors and a journey back to memories where art and artistry blend together.

Kieu My Dung and the memories of a "17-year-old leading actress"

Meeting Meritorious Artist Dieu Hien - the "teacher" who guided her when she first started her career, Kieu My Dung could not hide her emotions. She recounted: "When I was 17 years old, Dieu Hien gave me an unbelievable opportunity, letting me replace her role in the play "Bao Nghia Vuong" - the Thai Binh opera troupe of producer Quy. At that time, she told the producer that she was sick, so that I could try my hand at replacing the main actress. That day, I was very nervous, but the audience applauded, my colleagues praised, and especially Dieu Hien hugged me. That opportunity gave me the confidence to devote my whole life to this profession."

That memory, after several decades, is still intact in the story of the gray-haired female artist. She said: "I promised myself that one day I would go from Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City to visit Ms. Dieu Hien, the person who opened the door to my career. Today, I have fulfilled that wish."

People's Artist Tran Ngoc Giau and painter Tran Thien

Kieu My Dung - "The Devil" and the laughter of youth

Meritorious Artist Dieu Hien, now over 80, still remembers clearly the funny nickname she gave Kieu My Dung - "The Devil of the Xo". The story originated from a performance of the opera "Dau Ha Trinh Nu", when Kieu My Dung was just a dancer in the troupe.

During a turn, she fell down, her face covered in blood. Meritorious Artist Dieu Hien recounted, laughing and tearing up: "I asked why she fell, she said she didn't know, probably a ghost pushed her! So I called her 'ghost pushed her'. That name has stuck with her for decades. I love Kieu My Dung very much, because even though she fell painfully, the next day she still went on stage, still danced, still smiled."

That simple story seems to encapsulate the spirit of the old generation of artists - resilient, devoted to the profession, despite hardships, still keeping a smile on stage. "Later, Kieu My Dung had a traffic accident and had to amputate a leg, but she still stuck with the profession, retired to play the role of a prostitute, then went to cultural supplementary school, studied stage directing at university, she is a strong-willed female artist, I am very proud of Kieu My Dung" - Meritorious Artist Dieu Hien said about her dear younger sister.

From left to right: Meritorious Artist Ai Hang, Kim Tuyen, painter Tran Thien, Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung visited Meritorious Artist Dieu Hien on November 9, 2025

Kieu My Dung - Extending love from Can Tho to Ho Chi Minh City

The trip of the Can Tho artists did not stop at Thi Nghe Nursing Home. After visiting artist Huynh Thanh Tra, artist Lam Son, sending gifts to writer Mac Can, artist Ngoc Dang who are being treated at the Infirmary, the group visited People's Artist Tran Ngoc Giau - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association.

Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung talks with Meritorious Artist Dieu Hien

Each destination is a story, a piece of memory of the Southern stage revived through handshakes, smiles, and tears. When visiting People's Artist Tran Ngoc Giau, painter Tran Thien said that on this trip he also took the opportunity to buy materials to create the stage scenery for the play "Mother and the Sword" - script by Phan Vu, directed by People's Artist Tran Ngoc Giau. This is a play in the staging plan of Tay Do Theater in 2025.

The Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association talked about the artistic exchange activities between Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho, before the delegation visited the Metro line - the new symbol of the modern city.

Can Tho artist group visits artist Huynh Thanh Tra

The trip ended with a visit to Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong at the Liberation Cultural Resistance Traditional Club - a place that preserves the memories of the generation of artists who sang amid bombs and bullets to keep the fire of faith.

From a visit – spreading the message of humanity

The reunion between generations of artists from Can Tho City and Ho Chi Minh City is a meaningful trip, when professionals always foster the spirit of "remembering the source of water when drinking" in artistic life.

In her old age, Meritorious Artist Dieu Hien still has bright eyes when talking about the stage. Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung – her former student, now a teacher of many generations of young artists in Can Tho, feels like she is just seventeen – sitting next to her old teacher, in the peaceful space of Thi Nghe Nursing Home.

Can Tho City artists visit Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong

A message for today

The Can Tho artists’ trip was not noisy, but it left a deep impression. It was an image of hands holding each other between two generations – between those who have passed through the spotlight and those who are following in their footsteps.

It is also a message: Art can only truly live when it is nurtured by human love. Such trips – simple yet filled with love – are the best way for artists to show their gratitude to each other, so that traditional theater will forever resonate in the hearts of the public.

Can Tho City artists visit veteran artist Lam Son

Meritorious Artist Ca Le Hong believes that the acts of kindness and the hearts of Can Tho City artists will closely connect meaningful activities between the two Theater Associations of Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho City so that in the future, when the Can Tho City Theater Club, chaired by Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung, will organize exchanges and performances between young artists and actors of the two cities.

"We will arrange to visit the artists at Thi Nghe Nursing Home, at that time there will be more artisans and artists from Can Tho City to listen to the valuable messages that they send to today's generation" - Meritorious Artist Kieu My Dung said.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/xuc-dong-nghen-ngao-khi-kieu-my-dung-gap-lai-dieu-hien-196251111080228062.htm