In the Vietnamese entertainment industry, Van Son is known as an artist associated with overseas stages, while Charlie Nguyen stands out in the domestic film industry. Few people know that behind that separate career, the two artists have family relationships and are attached to work for many years.
Van Son was born in 1961, grew up in a family with artistic traditions in Saigon. He is the grandson of the late artist Nguyen Chanh Tin - a big name in Vietnamese cinema. In this same family, there are also two other familiar faces, Charlie Nguyen and Johnny Tri Nguyen, creating a rare "art family".
Van Son and Charlie Nguyen are cousins. This relationship does not only stop at blood ties but is also maintained and developed throughout his artistic career. From the 1990s, when Van Son built his name overseas with a music - comedy center named after him, Charlie Nguyen accompanied behind him in the role of director.
It was Charlie Nguyen who directed many programs of Van Son Center from the first episodes. This collaboration lasted nearly 20 years, creating a unique mark for comedy - music products serving Vietnamese audiences abroad. According to sharing, the two artists have so much understanding in their work that disagreements rarely occur.
Not only providing professional support, Charlie Nguyen also made an important contribution to bringing Van Son Center back to operate in Vietnam in 2013. At the launch of the domestic project, the two continued to cooperate, building film-colored performances, creating highlights for the program.
In the opposite direction, Van Son is also one of the people who soon became famous and had influence in the overseas artist community. The center he founded was once a "launch pad" for many singers such as Truong Vu, Tina Tinh...
Although both come from an artistic family, each person chooses their own direction. Van Son is attached to the stage and performing activities, while Charlie Nguyen returned to Vietnam, making his mark as a director, screenwriter and film producer. He is behind many blockbuster films such as "Dong mau anh hung", "De mai tinh", "Teo em" or "Em chua 18".
The difference in operating environment does not reduce the connection between the two artists. On the contrary, family relationships help them have a foundation of trust and understanding in work. This also explains why joint projects between Van Son and Charlie Nguyen often have a high consensus on style and creative direction.
At the present time, the two still maintain a close relationship. Occasionally, they appear together in projects or events, showing a long-lasting attachment through many stages of their career.
Currently, Van Son and Charlie Nguyen are co-starring in the movie "Blood Moon Party 8". According to Van Son, he accepted to participate in this film project because there is Charlie Nguyen.
