The seamstress has a deep affection for the folk songs of the Ví Giặm genre.

(Baonghean.vn) - During cultural and artistic competitions and exchanges, people in the mountainous areas of Tan Ky district often get to enjoy the singing voice of Ms. Mai Phuong. What's special is that she is not a professional singer but a seamstress.

Ms. Phuong in her tailor shop in Tan Ky Town.

Ms. Nguyen Mai Phuong (born in 1976, residing in Sa Nam hamlet, Nghia Dong commune, Tan Ky district) was born into a family with a tradition of folk singing. As a child, Ms. Phuong often accompanied her grandmother and mother to listen to folk songs. And without realizing it, her love for the "vi" and "giam" folk songs became deeply ingrained in the young woman's soul.

In the eighth grade, she participated in the provincial-level armed forces arts competition as part of the Tan Ky District Military Command team and won the promising artist award. From then on, Phuong's gifted voice became famous throughout the district and province.

After graduating from high school, Ms. Phuong was directly recruited into the Binh Thuan Performing Arts Troupe. After two years of artistic activities, due to family circumstances, she returned to her hometown of Nghia Dong. She decided to learn tailoring and has been working in this profession ever since.

Whether in Nghia Dong commune or after relocating to Tan Ky town, Ms. Phuong's tailor shop was always bustling and busy. She provided regular employment for 6 workers, paying them a piece-rate wage, with a minimum of 6 million VND per person per month.

But what's most remarkable is that even while tailoring for customers, cooking, or traveling, Ms. Phuong always sings sweet, soulful songs. When invited to perform at competitions, festivals, and performances at the commune and district levels, Mai Phuong always chooses folk songs or songs with the folk music style of Nghe Tinh to perform, and she is highly appreciated by the judges and the audience.

Ms. Mai Phuong (in a traditional Vietnamese dress) performing at the Lang Sen Singing Festival in Tan Ky district in 2016.

At the "Lotus Village Singing Contest" in Nghia Dong commune, Tan Ky town, or Tan Ky district, she was always the main singer, and all the performances she participated in won prizes. She herself always won the supplementary award for most popular singer or best performance style.

Besides participating in competitions, Mai Phuong didn't hesitate to travel to remote and isolated areas to sing for the local people. She also actively participated in charity work, as if to compensate for her difficult and impoverished childhood.

Ms. Phuong performed at the 2016 Nghe Tinh Folk Song Festival - Cluster IV.

Ms. Mai Phuong shared: “For me, folk music has become a part of my life. The melodies of my homeland will accompany me throughout my life, no matter what I do or where I am... Now that I'm no longer young enough to pursue an artistic career and fulfill my passion, I also have my own joy and happiness in that my son is continuing the legacy and making up for it (Ms. Phuong's son, Ngoc Sang, participated in The Voice Vietnam in 2015 - PV)."

Although she is no longer active in the Nghia Dong Folk Song Club, every time she returns to her hometown, Ms. Phuong is always cherished and respected by the people of Nghia Dong commune. Artist Tran Duc Thang, the head of the Nghia Dong Folk Song Club, said: "Nghia Dong has many talented singers, some of whom have achieved fame, but Ms. Mai Phuong is truly the folk singer who has won the hearts of the people here the most. Because every time she sings, she seems to speak from the heart..."

Phuong Hao