Phuong Lien was born in 1947, one year older than Le Thuy. Both have matured from the brilliant period of Southern Cai Luong in the 1960s-1970s, when the stage was still the dream and spiritual support of the majority of the public. Although they are not in the same permanent troupe throughout their careers, they work in the same artistic environment, with the same generation of audiences and the same professional value system, thereby forming a natural connection of "same-time" people.
In that relationship, Phuong Lien was often mentioned as a sister. Not because of how much age, but because of the calm demeanor and discipline of an artist living a closed life in the profession.
Le Thuy has repeatedly shown respect for Phuong Lien, considering her a close colleague who can share from her career to her life. That bond does not stop at the stage, but is maintained through meetings at home and abroad.
A detail that shows this is that during many tours in the US, Le Thuy used to stay at Phuong Lien's house, living together, cooking, and chatting like family members. Those everyday activities show that their relationship is not social, but a rare trust and intimacy in the artist world that has many invisible distances.
On the other hand, when Phuong Lien returns to Vietnam at the end of 2025, Le Thuy is the one who connects and takes care of meetings and visits with former colleagues. Not ostentatious, not dramatic, Le Thuy's presence at those times was like an affirmation: the love of colleagues, if nurtured by sincerity, can overcome geographical distance and time.
It is noteworthy that there is no comparison or competition between the two artists, even though both were once names loved by the audience. On stage, each person has their own color; in real life, they maintain due respect for each other. It is a rare type of relationship in today's artistic context, where all interactions are easily pushed up into noise.
The colleague love of Phuong Lien and Le Thuy therefore has a meaning beyond personal stories. That reflects a beauty of Cai Luong: the traditional bond between artists, where the first is willing to support, while the later knows how to respect and preserve. No need for beautiful statements, the way they treat each other through each small act says it all.
