Anchor Nhat Le and the unexpected turn of the VTV news anchor runner-up

With over 30 years of journalism, including over 10 years as a television announcer, Miss Hanoi runner-up - BTV Nhat Le has never regretted or thought of giving up. Sharing with PV, she said she feels very lucky that journalism has chosen her.

"I'm lucky that journalism chose me"

You studied at the University of Theatre and Cinema and then became the runner-up of Miss Hanoi. Surely a journalism career like today is something you never thought of?

- Yes. It can be said that it was fate that brought me to journalism.

Editor Nhat Le talked with Dan Tri reporter on the occasion of June 21.

In the past, my mother wanted me to study Finance and Banking so that I could become an accountant for a company or business. My father wanted me to study Cinema because according to him, life would be more interesting for a daughter who works in art.

I followed my parents' instructions, studied block A in the morning, and block C in the afternoon. Finally, I passed both majors that my parents liked.

I was faced with a choice again and decided to study at the Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema. But in the end, as you know, journalism chose me and I did television.

I believe that everyone has a destiny, a predetermined path, if we just deviate from a certain milestone, our life and career could be different.

How did the story begin?

- That was the time when I was about to graduate from Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema. At the end of 1989, my homeroom teacher's wife introduced me and helped me register to take the audition for Vietnam Television because I heard that the station had a big recruitment for announcers.

Nhat Le in her youth. Photo: Character provided

She said it was an opportunity to seize, and advised me that acting would require a lot of traveling in the future, and would be very hard.

I applied but didn't think I would pass because only 8 people were selected for that recruitment, while my application was ranked 420th.

At that time, I still remember that I had to go through 3 rounds: general knowledge test, voice test and screen test. Each round was very strict, so now thinking back, I feel that I was very lucky.

Do you think if you were an actress or did art-related work, you would be more famous than you are now?

- I studied at the Faculty of Directing and Acting at the Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema. At that time, the audition was only held once every 5 years. I studied after artist Minh Hoa's course.

I think everyone has their own path and I have no regrets. I consider myself lucky that journalism chose me.

From Miss Hanoi runner-up to "national announcer"

Going back a bit, with the title of Miss Hanoi runner-up, you must have received more attention, become more famous and received many invitations to take advertising photos?

- Honestly, when I was a student at Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema, there were a few places that invited me to take calendar photos.

After the contest, there were more newspapers, magazines, and I still remember taking photos for the Capital Security Newspaper. Seeing my picture printed in old wall calendars in families was a great joy and pride.

Talking about Nhat Le, until now the audience and many people still remember you as the runner-up of VTV news anchor. For you, is that pressure or luck?

- Actually, at that time, we participated in the competition as part of the school's Youth Union movement. The Youth Union Secretary encouraged us to participate, and the teachers encouraged us, and our friends at school even borrowed our costumes and everything we needed to participate in the competition. In general, we were encouraged both materially and spiritually.

Back then, we competed throughout the summer. We competed in history, in streets named after famous people and national heroes… In addition, we also competed in cooking and flower arranging, and had cultural exchanges between universities. It was very fun.

After the contest, for us it was just a beautiful memory of our student days.

But it cannot be denied that as a news anchor, you are also favored and must have many memories with the audience?

- At that time, not only me but all the radio announcers were very favored. The radio schedule even had pictures of the announcers so we felt very happy.

When talking about news bulletins in the 1990s, many viewers cannot forget the familiar face of anchor Nhat Le - Miss Hanoi runner-up. Photo: Provided by the character.

In the past, the station had a television mailbox, and among the letters sent to the station, there were also letters from viewers to me. There were words of encouragement and suggestions for me to do better, which I kept as a memory and to me, that was a very precious thing.

The first days on air, you must have faced a lot of pressure because many people still think that runner-up only has beauty?

- Actually, I feel very grateful that life has given me a voice and an image that is well received by everyone when I'm on screen. And to be fair, I came to the television profession thanks to more luck.

However, along with that luck, I also have to try to do my job well. I think every job has its own pressures and difficulties, without challenges there will be no glorious day.

As a broadcaster, I am always aware that I must strive to improve my knowledge, demonstrate seriousness, professionalism and believe in what I say to be able to convince the audience.

At the same time as you were Meritorious Artist Kim Tien and Meritorious Artist Minh Tri. Nhat Le's success and mark in the broadcasting profession must have been greatly influenced by these two seniors?

- When we first took the entrance exam to the station, Ms. Kim Tien, Mr. Minh Tri, Mr. Manh Tuong, and Mr. Thanh Hung all had schedules to teach us.

At that time, Minh Tri was assigned as the homeroom teacher, while Kim Tien taught and guided in-depth reading lessons, and the previous announcers were all enthusiastic in instructing us on reading methods and how to appear on screen.

Under the guidance of my seniors, I learned many useful lessons and had valuable memories.

Editor Nhat Le not only impresses with her beautiful face but also with her warm, emotional voice. Photo: Character provided

What do you think when people call you "national announcer"?

- I don't dare to accept that. I just think I did my job well, working with all my love and passion to hope to be accepted and loved by the audience.

Currently, there are many beautiful people on air who are originally beauty queens or runners-up. What do you think about the opinion that beautiful MCs nowadays only focus on appearance and do not improve their hosting skills?

-I think that is just a small number. I have met and talked with the runners-up and beauty queens who host VTV programs now and found that they are not only beautiful but also very intelligent, dynamic, have a rich knowledge and are fluent in foreign languages.

The unexpected turn of BTV Nhat Le

You are a news anchor, why did you choose a different direction?

- At the end of 2000, I gave birth to my second child. At that time, the job required a radio announcer to have editing and reporting skills. Having just given birth, I didn't have much time and felt that I couldn't adapt to and cope with such a dynamic job. That made me very confused and worried.

I went to study at the Academy of Journalism and Communication, but after graduating, I transferred to the Department of Science and Education to work as a reporter from 2002 until now.

Your choice is different from many people, being a radio announcer when you were young, and a reporter when you were older. Have you ever regretted that decision?

- At that time, I thought that maybe if I became a reporter, I would be more proactive with my time and have the opportunity to do many interesting programs.

In general, every field has its own appeal. And once I choose it, I never regret it.

It's hard to imagine what Nhat Le will be like when she retires behind the scenes. Does her current job bring any benefits?give you much joy and leisure?

- It can't be said to be more leisurely. Each program and role has its own unique features. Being a reporter or editor gives you more control over your time, but it also has its own difficulties.

If you make the news broadcast on time and at the right moment, you will have to put everything aside to go on air.

I think every role and job has its own joys and pressures. Each of us must find a way to make the joys overcome the pressures to make it less stressful.

"I am satisfied with my current life."

Other people's impression of you is that you have a beautiful, fresh face. Surely your life is full of joy and happiness?

- We have a whole team of college friends, their spouses and children, called "The 3 Regions Travel Group". Every summer we gather together to travel and play everywhere and maintain the Association until now.

Women journalists sacrifice a lot and don't have much time for family and children.Your support is always solid and sympathetic, sharing with your work?

"I also think that loving and marrying a humorous person will make your marriage full of laughter."

- My parents and husband are very supportive and understanding of my work. I think, without that help from my family, I would hardly have been able to pursue journalism until now.

Can you share about your life partner? Many viewers are curious about the love of announcer Nhat Le back then?

- My husband used to be a goalkeeper for the Army Club. One day, by chance, he and his friends came to my school to play and we met and got to know each other. At that time, I was in my second year at Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema.

Our love at that time was simple and pure, just riding our bikes around the lake and eating ice cream. Overall, it was fun and romantic.

It seems like your husband is your first love?

-Yes, my husband is my first love (laughs).

That's surprising, because a beauty queen of Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema must have many men chasing her. Why did you only love one person and then marry? Surely your husband must have many good qualities?

- My husband is also gallant and humorous. In the past, girls died because of that. I also think that if I love and marry a humorous person, my marriage will be full of laughter.

And your marriage of more than 30 years is always warm and filled with laughter?

- Not exactly. In family life, I think it is inevitable that there will be times when things are not going well, but the important thing is to know how to share and sympathize, and never let go of the good things in society. Never look at the glamour of society and bring it into your home.

Returning to the role of wife and mother - what kind of person are you?

- At home, my husband loves and pampers the children so much that sometimes I have to play the bad guy to discipline them, but in the end it's still... fine.

I take care of my husband and children not very elaborately but wholeheartedly and passionately.

If you could briefly describe your marriage, what would you say?

- Many people say that once you are married, you will no longer care about each other, but I think differently. For a marriage to be happy and long-lasting, you must conquer each other, nurture and cultivate each day.

Like a tree, if you don't take care of it and water it every day, it will wither and become barren.

Marriage is the same, although there are no more romantic dates like in youth, it still requires sharing, nurturing, love and responsibility for each other. I am satisfied with my current life!

Thanks for sharing!

BTV Nhat Le's full name is Vu Thi Nhat Le, born on June 26, 1968. BTV Nhat Le graduated from Hanoi Academy of Theatre and Cinema and participated in the audition for Vietnam Television in 1989.

She was one of the first editors of the "7pm News" program. After working as a news announcer for 10 years, in 2002, Nhat Le moved to the Science and Education Department of Vietnam Television to work as an editor and reporter.

Programs she participated in: "Classic cinema works", "Cinema connects passion", "Private space", "Now and here...".