Two important women in the life of People's Artist Tran Hanh
His devoted wife and dutiful daughter-in-law are two of the most important women in the life and career of People's Artist Tran Hanh.
 People's Artist Tran Hanh (1929 - 2021). |
Happy with my wife from an "arranged marriage".
During his lifetime, in his stories, People's ArtistTran HanhHe often spoke of his wife. Their relationship didn't begin with love, but was arranged by their families. Back then, when he was just over 20 years old, Tran Hanh, a young man from Hanoi working in Lao Cai, received an urgent call: "Come home immediately, Mother is seriously ill!" He hurriedly packed his bags and returned home, only to find out it was a ploy by his family to lure him back quickly to… get married. Tran Hanh's grandmother had chosen a girl from the same alley on Hang Bac Street and pressured her grandson to get married quickly. And so, three days later, Tran Hanh became a married man.
ArtistTran Hanh never imagined that his arranged marriage would be so happy. They had seven children together. In his memory, his wife was a very hardworking and diligent woman who always supported him in his acting career. His salary wasn't enough to support the family, so she was the one who managed everything. Even their house was bought by her… "Without her, how could I have pursued my passion for art?" he affirmed.
When his wife fell ill and became paralyzed on one side due to a stroke, he was the one who cared for her daily. According to his daughter-in-law, he would often wake up at 5 or 6 in the morning, personally preparing meals, shopping for groceries, doing laundry, sweeping the house, tidying up the bedding, and taking care of her hygiene. For nine years, he cared for her meticulously and attentively like that, until she passed away…
People's Artist Tran Hanh once shared that the most beautiful image of his wife that remains in his memory is that of the afternoon of the 30th of Tet (Lunar New Year's Eve), when she wore an ao dai (traditional Vietnamese dress), having time to leisurely go to the flower market after a year of hard work. He remembers the huge vase of flowers she arranged every Tet, filled with all kinds of chrysanthemums, roses, gladioli, peonies… Since her passing, every first day of Tet he goes to the temple to light incense and remember her… On the day he received the title of People's Artist, his biggest regret was that she could no longer witness his joy. In the past, whenever he had an important event, she always accompanied him, even when she was carrying a small child in her arms…
Heartwarming story of a filial daughter-in-law.
"My family is blessed to have such a daughter-in-law," People's Artist Tran Hanh often says about his daughter-in-law, Hong. As the only daughter-in-law of People's Artist Tran Hanh and his wife, Hong has helped her husband's family overcome many difficult times.
Ms. Hong, daughter-in-law of People's Artist Tran Hanh.
That was when the youngest son of People's Artist Tran Hanh, her brother-in-law, suffered a serious accident, a traumatic brain injury, and became mentally impaired. That was also when her mother-in-law suffered a stroke and was bedridden for nine years. She supported her father-in-law in caring for her brother-in-law and mother-in-law throughout that long period without a single complaint. She loves and cherishes People's Artist Tran Hanh like her own flesh and blood and expresses her gratitude for having such a kind and loving father-in-law.
In his final years, People's Artist Tran Hanh's joy in old age was spending his days watching over his daughter-in-law's small shop near Hanoi Train Station, selling shoes, sandals, and helmets. When People's Artist Tran Hanh's health deteriorated, his daughter-in-law, Hong, took care of his meals, medicine, and other needs. She was also the one who tirelessly worked to complete the paperwork for his posthumous honor.title of People's Artistfor my father-in-law.
For People's Artist Tran Hanh, Hong is like a daughter. He said he had never seen a daughter-in-law as good and loving towards her father-in-law and his family as Hong. "She provides everything for me, takes care of me in every detail, checking if I can sleep well at night and if I'm eating well during the day. She's not heartless like other daughters-in-law. I feel lucky to have such obedient and compassionate children," he once shared.
