The past pain of the People's Artist who is now a university lecturer.
People's Artist Nguyen Trong Binh shared his journey from a poor boy passionate about Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) to a famous artist, overcoming financial difficulties and his child's illness to achieve success.
From a boy riding his bicycle in the midday sun to a stage star.
People's Artist Trong Binh's connection with Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) began on scorching hot afternoons in Dang Xa village, Gia Lam district, Hanoi. In the late 1980s, young Trong Binh, then only 13 or 14 years old, would often cycle 6km from home to school. At certain points along the way, where there was a village loudspeaker, Trong Binh would stop to listen to the program.Folk songs and traditional musicbelong toVoice of Vietnam radio station, broadcast on Tuesday and Friday afternoons.
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Those were also times when we would "crawl under fences, lay bricks, or hide in haystacks in the warehouse yard" to watch the Central Cai Luong Troupe perform famous plays such asA Few Drops of Mother's Milk, Shrimp Season, Song of Life's Love...From those clandestine viewings, Trong Binh memorized ancient songs such as...Betel nut from Ha Chau, betel leaf from Xuan My, carrying water from the mountains, a girl watering beans...
In particular, every Saturday, Trong Binh would diligently go to his neighbor's house to sweep the yard and chop vegetables for the pigs so that he could watch Cai Luong plays on TV in the evening.Beside the Silk Weaving Bridge, The Life of Miss Luu, Lan and Diep, To Anh Nguyet.
Those melodies seeped into Trong Binh's soul. When the deadline for submitting university applications arrived, despite his parents' plans for him to pursue a career in education, Trong Binh unexpectedly changed course to theater and film, auditioning for acting positions and ranking among the top 26 successful applicants.
Years of struggling with poverty
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The time spent studying at the theater school was perhaps the most difficult period in the life of People's Artist Trong Binh. His family lacked financial resources, so he had to work while studying. For four years, he cycled from Sai Dong to Mai Dich (about 50 km) during the day to pursue his passion for art, and worked night shifts at Thang Long Metalworking Company at night.
He used his worker's salary to help his parents, and his top-tier scholarship covered his education. His sacrifices and efforts were richly rewarded when Trong Binh consistently achieved excellent academic results throughout his school and graduated with honors, after which he joined the Vietnam National Cai Luong Theatre.
At that time, a young artist's salary was only 144,000 VND per month. The family tragedy became even more severe when his first child was constantly ill.
"My first child was very sick, and each time he got sick, he had seizures, which was heartbreaking," People's Artist Trong Binh recounted. The family's financial difficulties forced him to take on extra work. Every morning, before going to the theater, he would go to Hang Co train station to sweep and clean to earn extra income to support his family.
When asked if he felt apprehensive about doing manual labor, People's Artist Trong Binh affirmed, "I'll do anything, as long as it's not illegal." It was this spirit that helped him overcome the most difficult times, and Trong Binh never once considered leaving Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera).
The journey to shining on stage
The first opportunity came to People's Artist Trong Binh in 2007 when People's Artist Hoang Quynh Mai entrusted him with a role in the play.Consort Diem BichThis performance became a "blockbuster" at the festival, opening new doors for his career.
In 2012, he played the role of a wealthy man in the play.A fairy tale of loveThis marked a crucial turning point. To create the unique character – the illiterate, snobbish rich man who used money to buy titles – he spent many sleepless nights studying the script and practicing in front of the mirror.
Trong Binh trained for a whole month to create the character's unusual gait, and this role earned him an award.Best Actorwith a perfect score of 7/7 from the judging panel.
In 2020, he played the role of Tran Thiep in the play.Submarine storm- A drug lord with a double-faced personality, a businessman on the outside and a criminal on the inside - once again affirmed his versatile acting talent with a Gold Medal.
With his forte in playing villainous, old villainous, and old villainous roles, he has many performances that earn the respect of his friends and colleagues, such as the eunuch Luong Dang in the play.Beside the light of the Khuê star, or Thuc Phan inThe Swan DressThis earned him a Gold Medal at the 2018 National Professional Cai Luong Theatre Arts Competition.
Give it your all, regardless of the role, big or small.
"The life of an artist is truly wonderful. Sometimes you get to be a father, a husband, a son, a king; sometimes you get to be a vile, wicked person, and sometimes a loyal subject wholeheartedly devoted to the country. I am happy to live in the character and sing Cai Luong melodies, then improvise with the director and fellow actors," People's Artist Trong Binh once shared.
To achieve that success, he had to train very hard. Upon receiving a script, Trong Binh spent time researching to choose a unique way of expressing himself.
In 2024, Trong Binh was one of 42 artists awarded the title of People's Artist in the 10th round. Currently, in addition to his role as an artist, he also works as an arts manager and lecturer at the Hanoi University of Theatre and Film. He always emphasizes to his students the spirit of giving their all, regardless of whether the role is big or small, leading or supporting.
People's Artist Trong Binh also sings ceremonial folk songs at temples and shrines. He shared that although it's a side job, it helps him earn money to support his main profession, Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera), because for Trong Binh, Cai Luong is still number one.