Seoul [South Korea], February 22: Among all the traditional Tết dishes, my favorite is braised pork with eggs. My mother cooks this dish incredibly well. She has a very special recipe, so no matter where I am, I always miss that flavor. To me, it's the most delicious braised pork with eggs I've ever had. Now that my mother is older, my sisters and I take turns cooking it."
"I have so many memories. When I was just a teenager, I followed a music troupe with my brother Lý Hùng to perform. Over ten years ago, during one Lunar New Year, my brother and I ran up to 10 shows in a single day at different venues like Suối Tien Park, Đầm Sen Park, and Tao Đan Cultural House. I still remember rushing from one show to another, sometimes returning home late at night. During those years of performing through Tết, I occasionally felt emotional because spring is usually when families gather together, yet I was busy performing. When I was younger, I enjoyed the excitement, but now I just want to stay by my mother's side to make her happy."
She recalled performing in Thủ Đức late at night, yet audiences still waited patiently. "As long as they saw Lý Hùng and Lý Hương, they were happy. Even when we nearly lost our voices from singing too much, we still tried our best to perform for everyone. That love from the audience is something I'll never forget before I moved to the U.S." After their father passed away and their mother grew older, she and her brother agreed not to accept Tết shows anymore.
"At that time, audiences loved me dearly. They were willing to give me the most precious things they had. Once, a fan gave me a small ring. I knew it was probably all they could afford, and I truly treasured it. Back then, there was no social media. Artists performed everywhere, even in remote areas, to meet audiences. I remember one show where my brother and I performed in front of 10,000 people at a football stadium. Afterward, locals invited us to their homes and cooked chicken porridge for us. Fans even surrounded our hotel just to catch a glimpse of us. During the golden era, on the third day of Tết, I never went out for fun - I was always performing. But now, I no longer accept shows because I cherish time with my family."
She became emotional when speaking about her father, NSND Lý Huỳnh. "When he was alive, my father deeply respected veteran artists and always supported those in difficult circumstances, both materially and spiritually. Every Tết, he gathered our family to visit nursing homes and help the elderly. It became a family tradition, so after he passed away, we continued it. In the past, the older artists waited for my father. Now, they wait for our family members."
During a recent gathering, veteran artist Mạc Can broke down in tears when remembering Lý Huỳnh. "My father cared for him very much. Seeing Mạc Can cry made me emotional too. At that moment, artist Diệu Hiền sang in remembrance of my father, and my mother began crying as well."
"Both my brother and I love our father deeply, but we rarely mention him in front of our mother because we're afraid of making her sad. When Diệu Hiền mentioned him, my mother cried. We were worried because she has high blood pressure and recently underwent surgery, so her health is still fragile. My mother had been by my father's side since her teenage years - they were together for nearly 60 years. Their bond was incredibly strong. Seeing my mother like that moved me deeply."
Lý Hương shared that she feels fortunate to have been guided into the arts by her father and her brother Lý Hùng. "Thanks to them, I was never overwhelmed when entering showbiz. My colleagues in the Vietnamese entertainment industry treated me with kindness. I've never experienced jealousy or rivalry. I've heard rumors about such things, but I've never personally faced them - maybe it's because of my personality. I always treat people sincerely."
When her daughter Jessica expressed a desire to pursue entertainment, Lý Hương reminded her to live honestly and avoid rivalry. "I told her not to be jealous when others are more talented. Everyone has their own beauty. This industry isn't easy, but fortunately, my daughter is strong, confident, and mature, so I feel at ease. When she returned to Vietnam, I took her to join some programs and she received many compliments. However, I advised her never to be arrogant or act superior. She must be friendly, never look down on others. When Jessica spends time close to our family, her personality becomes even more lovable, and everyone adores her."
- Thank you, actress Lý Hương, for your heartfelt sharing.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
