Mentioning the Southern comedy stage in the late 1980s and 1990s, Bao Chung is an indispensable name. He and many artists such as Bao Quoc, Duy Phuong, Hong To, Tan Beo... contributed to creating a period of brilliant development of the comedy stage, when performance programs and comedy tapes were widely covered.
During his peak period, Bao Chung had almost a full performance schedule. He continuously appeared on major stages in Ho Chi Minh City, toured domestically and abroad and became a familiar face through a series of comedy videos. On some nights, the male artist ran many performance venues in a row. According to Bao Chung himself, his cat-xe once reached about 1 tael of gold for a performance, belonging to the group of artists who received the highest salaries at that time.
Not only famous, Bao Chung is also known for his prosperous life. The male artist once attracted attention when he revealed that at one point he brought 300 taels of gold to buy a car, a very large number in the context of many decades ago. He is also one of the early artists to own a private car, often changing cars and is considered a symbol of success in the art world.
However, along with the changes in the entertainment market, the comedy stage gradually lost its appeal as before. Bao Chung also gradually reduced the frequency of artistic activities. Instead of running shows continuously, he chose a quieter life and only accepted performance invitations when he felt suitable.
Currently, Bao Chung mainly lives in Ho Chi Minh City with his family. The male artist is living in a house of about 100 m2, 4 floors, built from many years of professional experience.
In addition to art, Bao Chung and his family also tried their hand at business activities to have more income. The male artist said that at the age of 70, what he cherishes most is no longer fame or material things but a stable life, health and time for loved ones.
Although no longer appearing frequently on television, Bao Chung still maintains his love for the stage. He occasionally appears in programs, events or performances serving long-time audiences. Every time he appears, the male artist is welcomed by those who love the golden generation of Vietnamese comedy.
Bao Chung also expressed his appreciation for the glorious period of his acting career. He believes that market change is inevitable, so he chooses to adapt instead of regretting it. For the male comedian, continuing to live with art, maintaining his health and having a peaceful life with his family is already happiness.
Bao Chung's real name is Nguyen Van Lam, born in 1955 in Binh Chanh (HCMC). He started his career from Cai Luong stage before switching to comedy and quickly became one of the prominent faces of the Southern comedy scene.
In 2010, Bao Chung immigrated to the United States and continued his artistic activities, and in 2019 returned to Vietnam to live, perform and be more attached to his family.
