People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi: From businesswoman to poor mother with a natural look.
Appearing in two films simultaneously, People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi showcased a transformation from a powerful businesswoman to a poor mother, even going without makeup.
An impressive comeback with two contrasting roles.
In early November 2025, People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi made a strong impression on audiences by simultaneously taking on two roles with completely contrasting fates in two television dramas: "Sweet Honey Like Smoke" and "The Witch of the Tea House". This diverse transformation once again affirmed the talent and dedication of the female artist to the arts.
Transforming into a grieving mother with a bare face.
In "Sweet as Smoke," Trinh Kim Chi plays Mrs. Tam Luong, a widowed woman who works hard selling fried bananas to support her son. To portray the character's hardships and struggles as realistically as possible, the actress made a bold decision: to go completely makeup-free throughout the filming process.
Director Hoang Map expressed his appreciation for this decision: "Even after many years in the profession, I'm still surprised that a renowned actress decided not to use any makeup. With her experience from the 90s, she always completes scenes the fastest."
Mrs. Tam Luong's life became even more tragic when her second husband frequently got drunk and abused her. The culmination of her suffering was the disappearance of her son, who became a victim of a cross-border human trafficking ring, reflecting a pressing social issue.
Become a powerful and shrewd businesswoman.
In stark contrast, the role of Mrs. Bay Tra in the film "Tea Ghost Woman" is a completely different image of Trinh Kim Chi. She is a successful, single, wealthy businesswoman who owns the largest tea empire in the region.
With her elegant appearance and strong, ambitious personality, Mrs. Bay Tra doesn't hesitate to use any means to prevent her daughter Cam Loan (Phuong Ngan) from falling in love with the poor young man Hoai Tam (Le Trung Hieu). She is determined to arrange a marriage for her daughter with the wealthy Mr. Bui Nguyen Thuy, a man of equal social standing.
Broadcast schedule information
The drama "Sweet as Smoke" will be broadcast daily on SCTV's YouTube channel starting November 2nd. Meanwhile, "The Witch of Tea" will be shown daily on SCTV14, starting November 3rd.
