People's Artist Thanh Loan: Happiness in the sound of the traditional Vietnamese opera drums.
People's Artist Thanh Loan once said that throughout her life, her joys and sorrows were stirred by the sound of the traditional Vietnamese opera drums. She lived her entire artistic life to the rhythm and the melodies on stage, to deeply understand a simple yet profound truth:
Content:Thanh Nga - My Ha/Present:Hong ToaiFebruary 17, 2026
People's Artist Thanh Loan once said that throughout her life, her joys and sorrows were stirred by the sound of the Chèo drums. She lived her entire artistic life to the rhythm and the melodies on stage, feeling a simple yet profound truth: As long as she could sing Chèo, she could live and be happy.
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Thanh Loan grew up in the rural area of Lang Thanh, Yen Thanh (formerly), now Giai Lac commune - where the art of Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) was ingrained in her being from her childhood years.
From the age of three or five, Thanh Loan was captivated by the melodious, poignant tunes of folk songs sung by her mother and the traditional opera troupe of Quỳ Lăng village. Following her mother and aunts to the village communal house, clinging to the adults' clothes to watch the opera, to listen to the unjust suffering of Thị Kính, and to witness the charming flirtatiousness of Thị Mầu, instilled in her a very early fascination.
From those village folk opera nights, a clear dream formed in her young mind: to sing folk opera, to stand on stage and embody Thi Kinh, to live alongside Thi Mau. That dream followed Thanh Loan to village cultural performances, gradually shaping her future career path. When she reached the age to choose her own path, Thanh Loan planned to study at an art school in the province and then join the Nghe Tinh folk opera troupe.
But the opportunity came in a different way. When the leaders of the School of Theater and Film went to various regions to recruit students, they stopped at the traditional opera village of Quỳ Lăng, Yên Thành. They were surprised by the simple yet profound opera melodies sung by the women and girls in the profession. For two days of selection, they hadn't found a truly outstanding young talent until they heard Thanh Loan's voice and performance.
In that petite girl with the slightly accented Nghe An dialect, they saw the potential to become a professional Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) actress in the future. And so, Thanh Loan packed her bags and headed north, her only possessions being 10 kg of rice her mother had to borrow, carrying with her all the passion and dedication of a girl from the countryside who performed folk songs and dances.
Recalling her humble beginnings, Thanh Loan simply smiled gently: "I'm from Nghe An and came to the North, my accent is different, and I'm small in stature. But in return, I have a strong sense of self-discipline and a relentless pursuit of learning. That's what earned me the respect of my friends and teachers. And it's from that experience that the resilient and determined Thanh Loan of later years was formed."
In 1991, after graduating with honors from the School of Theatre and Film, Thanh Loan was accepted by the General Logistics Department's Cheo Troupe, now the Army Cheo Theatre. Her first memorable role was that of the Lady Quan in the play "The Song of the Ragged Woman," directed by People's Artist Doan Hoang Giang.
Three years later, in 1994, she transferred to work at the Hanoi Cheo Theatre. There, Thanh Loan was continuously given roles with strong personalities, mainly villainous characters such as Sung Ba in Quan Am Thi Kinh, the old woman Cam in Tam Cam, the female demon in Truong Vien... These are also the roles that have accompanied her throughout her career, from her youth to when her passion for the profession had matured.
When asked what type of roles suited her best, Thanh Loan said that they were those with strong nuances, characters that not only required a singing voice but also demanded a high level of vocal delivery and expressive body language. According to her, Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera) is a comprehensive art form; actors must be stage artists, singers, and dancers all at once. Each character's expression is a blend of many different artistic elements.
She gave the example of the character Cám in Tấm Cám. Besides her shrill, high-pitched singing voice, the actress also had to convey laughter with multiple layers of meaning: When Cám realized the wickedness of her actions, she had self-reflection and painful laughter, so the actress had to portray the laughter in that context. Many choose to laugh hysterically, but in this role, she chose to laugh from her stomach, the laughter bursting out like tears. And that created a Cám that Thanh Loan portrayed in a way no one has been able to replace.
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There were years when Thanh Loan played the role of the wicked stepmother Cám for dozens of consecutive nights, but no two performances were alike. To achieve this, the artist needs not only passion and talent, but also good health and rigorous training. She believes that in traditional Vietnamese opera (chèo), speaking is often more difficult than singing. Singing is the profession of a chèo artist, but speaking in a way that accurately conveys the character's psychology is a great challenge. Each artist must find their own way of breathing, enunciating words, and delivering their lines so as not to be confused with others.
Thanh Loan confided that after each performance, when the audience rushed onto the stage to give her flowers and take photos after she bowed, it was a rare and precious moment for a traditional Vietnamese opera artist who often plays villainous roles.
After more than 30 years dedicated to the art of Cheo (traditional Vietnamese opera), Thanh Loan has won numerous Gold Medals at national professional Cheo festivals and comedy stage festivals. She has also released many CDs, among which "Finding My Homeland" is her most cherished work, created when her voice was at its peak, rich in emotion and deeply moving to listeners. In 2023, she was honored by the State with the title of People's Artist.
Looking back on her journey, Thanh Loan says that whether performing in front of thousands of spectators or just a few dozen, she has always been equally dedicated. Because when an artist is serious and lives wholeheartedly for their art, art will reward them with sweet fruits. For this woman from Nghe An, those sweet fruits are also nurtured by the sweat, the resilience, and the culture of this sun-drenched land. To live is to dedicate oneself, and to dedicate oneself will reap success...
