Lao Dong Newspaper reporter had a conversation with artist Van Dung about Tao Quan and her changes in 2024.
Throughout her career, artist Van Dung has accompanied the Tao Quan program for more than 20 years. There have been many controversies surrounding Tao Quan because of the outdated script, the way the content is exploited in many industries, and the cast has been with her for too long... How do you deal with these controversies?
- For me, audience controversy is natural and inevitable. Tao Quan or any program produced over the years must face controversy and mixed praise and criticism. With controversy and praise and criticism, we can look back to overcome our weaknesses. And for me, controversy is also a demonstration of the audience's level of interest in Tao Quan. That is a positive sign.
When the audience eats a dish that is too familiar on Spring Day, if a year is no more, the audience will wonder.
The law of life is “when the bamboo gets old, the young shoots grow”, how can we stay young forever? I dream of being forever young so that I can be the Kitchen God for life. But that cannot come true.
Is there a time in your life when you are ready to say goodbye to Tao Quan?
- I am never ready to say goodbye to Tao Quan. To me, Tao Quan will forever be the most beautiful memories, an important milestone in my career. Tao Quan is still my family, where I meet close, familiar artist brothers and sisters, work well together. Where everyone in the crew works enthusiastically, wholeheartedly, practicing day and night. Tao Quan is still a very important part, and I cannot say goodbye, whether I participate or not.
What do you expect from Tao Quan 2025?
- I cannot answer anything at this time when Tao Quan is still in the rehearsal schedule, the script is constantly changing and supplemented by the day. All the answers will be available on the upcoming New Year's Eve. I hope Tao Quan will bring laughter so that the audience can look back on the ups and downs of the past year and look forward to the promising new year 2025.
Looking back, what does 2024 look like for you?
- It can be said that 2024 is a turning point for both me and my son Long Vu. My son has made great strides in his acting career.
Neither my son nor I could have imagined that the movie “Walking in the Bright Sky” would be so well received by the audience. In a short time, many viewers loved Long Vu’s role as Chai, then one day, everyone opened their eyes and knew that “Chai” was the son of artist Van Dung.
I still remember that morning, suddenly friends called to congratulate, many people even sent messages to ask... I turned on the internet and realized, oh, it turns out my son has grown up and is so supported. That is what I have dreamed of since I got married. I am truly happy.
When I was Long Vu's age, I couldn't do that, it wasn't until I was 30 that I started to win over the audience. Long Vu is only 22 years old this year but is loved much earlier than his mother. I always encourage him that he is very beautiful in my eyes.
In 2024, what a mother like me is very proud of is that she has grown up, she has done something that a mother in the profession has dreamed of for 35 years.
It was not until 2024 that I dared to mention Long Vu. Before that, I almost never dared to show off my child.
The popularity of the movie “Walking in the Bright Sky” has made Long Vu’s name spread all over social networks. How has your son’s fame changed your life?
- Once, when my child was livestreaming online, I stopped by and said: "Whoever buys Chai, whoever buys Chai". Surprisingly, right after that, there were hundreds of thousands of comments registering to accept me as their mother-in-law.
Perhaps now Van Dung is just a name, because wherever I go, everyone calls me mother-in-law. That is a very happy thing, the love of the audience for my son makes me very proud. I am grateful and feel lucky that my son is accepted by the audience.
Before, there were uncles, aunts, friends, and nieces who loved me. Now I have new friends who are 5-7 years younger than me who also call me mother-in-law (laughs). That saying has almost become a trend among young people. I have a number of fans, my son also has one, so I am very happy. When I go out, people call me the national mother-in-law, I am very happy and excited because I did not think that my son would have so many fans.
There are still many controversies about the script of “Going in the Bright Sky” in particular, and most of the current TV series and movies. Most of the scripts are meandering, gradually weakening, lacking in material and breakthrough topics. If the script were better, the artists could make more breakthroughs, have more room to shine. As an actress, can you share your perspective?
- For me, as an actor, my job is to follow the script, maintain the storyline, and portray the character as best I can. Actors can express their wishes and desires to the screenwriter, but whether or not they do it is up to the screenwriter to decide. To have a complete film, it depends on many factors and influences, not just one stage.
Currently, our film crews, no matter what position we are in, from screenwriters, directors to actors, always listen to the audience and try our best to perfect the film.
Many people are defining that, as we go through our youth, we see time passing many times faster. How do you define time at your age?
- For me now, the only important things are health and time. When we are young, everyone thinks that health is normal, time is normal. But at a certain age, we will see that time and health are the most precious things. At that time, we will slow down, think more, care more about our loved ones, reduce work so that we can look back at our achievements over the past decades of effort. When I was young, I was also very "exhausted", did not care about health, did not care about time because I thought I had too much. Every new day, I feel that I am still healthy, that will still be a happy day.
Looking back on the past journey, many years without revealing anything about your son, can you share how you take care of and educate your son when your schedule is busy?
- When I was young, Long Vu was still very small. Because his father lived far away, I had to take him with me wherever I went, which was very difficult. I only thought about how to raise my child to be a useful person to society, to raise my child to be a filial person, that was the most important thing in my life.
Someone asked me why Long Vu is so obedient and cute, how I teach him when I am busy with work all the time. But I think I still silently "fight" to teach him to be a good person. Many times when I come home late from work, I only have 1-2 hours to be with him, all those moments, I teach and confide in him. Giving birth to a child is simple, but teaching him to be a good person is difficult.
Many people don't see me teaching my children, but it's very hard for me to raise them to be well-behaved and polite. Long Vu is stubborn and has a strong personality, so I have to discipline him from a young age.
Every mother has her own way of raising her children. Some like to protect their children, others like to let their children develop freely. What kind of mother is artist Van Dung?
- I am a strict mother. Friends say I am cruel to my children. Because my husband lives far away and has little time to be with them. I also understand why, even though we are rarely together, Long Vu listens to his father, while his mother says whatever she wants. I have a rule that whatever is related to family rules, my child must have. As for my child's work, which is related to creativity in art, my child must do it himself. I let my child develop naturally, discover what he wants, as long as it does not violate the law. I can teach, advise, and help my child, but I do not stand up to ask for help or beg for him. My child is like a blank sheet of paper, if I do not teach him, he will not be like he is now. How my parents taught me, I will teach my child the same.
Fame has many definitions. Many people dream of being famous, but some are afraid of being famous. As for Ms. Van Dung, what do you prepare for your son when he becomes famous?
- The ancients have a saying "good wine needs no bush". Long Vu and I have never planned or planned anything for ourselves. Whatever comes will come naturally, including fame. Whatever does not belong to us, does not belong to us, will not come to us. I believe that when something comes to hand, we must try our best, must devote ourselves wholeheartedly. If we do something, we must complete it thoroughly. Art is not a walk in the park, so both my son and I always try our best with each role.
