The story of a child actor who specialized in playing historical figures in their youth.
During the opening ceremony of the recent Lotus Village Festival, the scene of young Nguyen Sinh Cung bidding farewell to his grandmother and villagers before following his parents to the imperial city of Hue moved many viewers to tears. Amidst the semi-realistic stage setting, recreating President Ho Chi Minh's old house, and the poignant music, the boy with his clear eyes, simple voice, and natural acting truly left a lasting impression on the audience.
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After the performance, many audience members inquired about the young actor who played Nguyen Sinh Cung in his youth. Many were surprised to learn that the boy had previously embodied historical figures in their youth, from Ho Chi Minh and Ly Tu Trong to Nguyen Du… And in each role, he left his own unique mark with his simple, emotionally rich performance, reflecting his true self.
That's Nguyen Cong Minh (11 years old), from Kim Lien commune – a young face who is gradually becoming a familiar name to many major stage directors when they need child actors for roles of historical figures. Cong Minh doesn't remember how many times he has played President Ho Chi Minh in his youth. He only remembers the first time he took on the role was when he was in second grade in the play "The Last Lullaby," performed at the Nghe An - Hue televised event commemorating the 134th anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's birth.
At that time, Cong Minh only had two days to rehearse with People's Artist Hong Luu for the scene performed in front of Uncle Ho's maternal grandparents' house. The preparation time was short, the stage was large, and the audience was packed, but the boy wasn't afraid at all. The simple lines of the character Nguyen Sinh Cung, through his performance, came alive and felt naturally authentic. Cong Minh stepped onto the stage as if he were living in the character's world. "I only remember the director telling me to act normally and naturally when I'm on stage. Just speak slowly and express your emotions," Cong Minh shared.
That same year, he performed "The Last Lullaby" with Meritorious Artist Minh Thành at the opening ceremony of the Lotus Village Festival, deeply moving the audience. However, few knew that before being cast in the role, many directors were hesitant, seeing the young boy who didn't come from a professional artistic family. They worried he lacked the stage presence and the ability to grasp the essence of historical figures.
Then, after hearing Cong Minh sing a few verses of folk songs, "a four-part rhyming poem," all doubts seemed to vanish. A director in Hanoi, after watching him perform, nodded and remarked, "This boy truly has talent." What caught the attention of professionals in the industry about Cong Minh was not only his ability to sing folk songs, but also his gait, his gaze, his dialogue, and his naturalness on stage. He viewed the stage as a familiar space, unaffected by the lights or the crowd.
After his role as Nguyen Sinh Cung, Cong Minh continued to attract attention from many art organizations. On one occasion, the Ha Tinh Provincial Traditional Arts Center needed a child actor for the role of Ly Tu Trong in the musical play "Young Age, Big Ambition." Another child actor had previously practiced for a month for this role, but the director was still not completely satisfied.
During the casting process, the director quickly recognized Cong Minh's exceptional talent, especially after he was recommended by People's Artist An Ninh and People's Artist Hong Luu. Despite receiving the script only for one night, the next day Cong Minh had memorized his lines and portrayed the character with great emotion.
When asked if he felt guilty about replacing another actor, the boy humbly replied, "Mr. Ninh and Mrs. Luu encouraged me a lot. I understand that it wasn't about taking my friend's part, but about the greater good, about the success of a meaningful performance."
Playing historical figures as children is always a difficult challenge for child actors. The character must simultaneously embody the unique spirit of the famous person while maintaining the innocence appropriate for their age. This requires the actor to truly understand the script, empathize with the character, and possess natural stage talent. Therefore, when Công Minh was given the role of Nguyễn Du as a child in the program commemorating the 260th anniversary of the birth of the great poet Nguyễn Du, he was very happy and also vowed to work even harder.
Initially, the director had planned to invite several child actors from Ha Tinh for the role, but ultimately Cong Minh was chosen. In a scene lasting only about 5 minutes, he left a strong impression on the audience with his sweet folk singing voice and expressive demeanor. Many people after the show called him "the boy with a naturally gifted folk singing voice," and said they were "overwhelmed by the folk singing talent of this boy from Nghe An."
In 2026 alone, Cong Minh continued to be invited to play many roles of historical figures such as the young Ha Huy Tap or the young Nguyen Sinh Cung in the art program at the Lang Sen Festival and the Mo Te show.
People's Artist An Ninh commented: "If I were to stage a musical play featuring a famous person's childhood, I would always think of Cong Minh first. He has talent and acts with great soul. When performing with other young actors, I often prioritize Cong Minh's lines because he acts naturally and always gives the organizers a sense of security."
Growing up in Uncle Ho's hometown and having a love for Nghe An folk songs.
Born into a family with no artistic tradition, Cong Minh was nevertheless nurtured from a young age in the folk music culture of his hometown, Lang Sen. Moonlit nights in the weaving village, the folk songs sung by the aunts, uncles, and grandparents on the Lam River, became familiar memories for him from childhood. Whenever there was a folk music performance, the boy would quietly sit and listen, humming along.
Cong Minh's family lived right next to Uncle Ho's house, separated only by a small road. He is also a fifth-generation descendant of the late Mr. Dien - whose family lived right next to Uncle Ho's house in the past. Therefore, since childhood, he has often heard his mother tell stories about President Ho Chi Minh and the childhood memories she read in books and newspapers. This gradually instilled in him a special pride and love for Uncle Ho and the culture of his homeland.
"Whenever there's a theatrical performance at the historical site, I go to watch it. After watching so many, I think I have to study hard to be worthy of being a son of Kim Lien, and to be able to live next to Uncle Ho's former home," Cong Minh shared.
Not only Cong Minh but also his older brother, Cong Anh, showed early talent in folk singing. Cong Anh is currently considered a promising singer, having won many awards at the former district and provincial levels. Since childhood, Cong Minh often accompanied his brother to performances, both as an audience member and offering advice with his innocent nature.
While People's Artist Hong Luu and People's Artist An Ninh entrusted Cong Anh with many small singing roles to hone his folk singing skills, Cong Minh particularly attracted attention for his acting ability and stage presence. People's Artist Hong Luu said that she saw in Cong Minh an artistic talent that manifested itself very early on. "Cong Minh has a very special naturalness. When I assigned him roles in historical dramas, I felt very confident in choosing him. If he receives good guidance and mentorship, Cong Minh will be a promising singer and actor for the province's arts," People's Artist Hong Luu shared.
For Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong Lan, Cong Minh's mother, every time she sees her son on stage, she is moved to tears. It's not only the joy of seeing her son grow up, but also the happiness of feeling the love for folk music, history, and President Ho Chi Minh growing in her child's heart.
“Every time my children perform their roles so well, I cry. I cry because they are loved by everyone, and I am also moved because I have contributed to nurturing their love for folk music and the history of their homeland. The family will always support them in pursuing their artistic passions. I hope that Cong Anh and Cong Minh will continue to strive to live up to the expectations of the artists, their family, and the villagers – those who have always shown so much love for these two folk music boys from Kim Lien,” Ms. Phuong Lan shared.