Sharing with Lao Dong reporters, artist Hong Sap said that she did not receive a pension because she did not participate in voluntary social insurance. However, she said she was lucky to receive an allowance of 2.65 million VND/month from the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association.
People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association also confirmed this information to reporters.
Therefore, when she was 89 years old, her living expenses were mainly covered by freelancing money and the support of colleagues along with the support level of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association.
Currently, artist Hong Sap lives with her nephew in a rented room in Ho Chi Minh City. When there are invitations to perform or act in movies, she still accepts the job. On days when she is not performing, she helps take care of and arrange clothes and costumes for the Huynh Long classical opera troupe.
The work is irregular, depending on the troupe's performance schedule as well as invitations from external projects. She does not have an official labor contract and does not receive a fixed salary.
Artist Binh Tinh - Head of Huynh Long classical opera troupe - confirmed that artist Hong Sap does not belong to the personnel group that officially signed a contract with the troupe.
Therefore, she mainly helps with jobs suitable for her health and receives support depending on her operating situation.
Recently, Huynh Long's troupe has encountered some difficulties, the number of performances has decreased, making the work of the members also less. However, Binh Tinh still supports artist Hong Sap on behalf of the troupe to pay monthly rent, electricity and water.
This support helps the elderly female artist reduce pressure on essential expenses. For the rest of living expenses, she tries to balance from acting, filming and odd jobs.
At one point, artist Hong Sap earned about 3-5 million VND per month (money given by the troupe after deducting electricity and water costs...). However, this is not a fixed income. In months with performance schedules or film projects, she has extra money to cover expenses; when there are no films, revenue also decreases accordingly.
With film invitations, the female artist said that the producer pays how much, she accepts that much and there is no demand.
Although life is still difficult, Hong Sap has not thought about stopping working completely. She believes that she is still lucid and walks normally, so she still wants to work for herself within her ability.
Artist Hong Sap started stepping onto the stage at the age of 14. In more than 70 years of professional experience, she has made her mark through many roles of unique and flirtatious actresses in cải lương plays such as "Tam Cam", "Love Story of A Nang", "Luu Kim Dinh", "Thunder awakens hatred for poetry", "Two Mother's Milk Lines"...
Hong Sap's biggest wish at the moment is not titles or high salaries. She only hopes to maintain her health to continue working, support herself and occasionally return to the stage and film studio.
