Entertainment

The actor once hid his artistic career from his mother, selling pork cracklings to make ends meet.

Mar 31, 2026

Hanoi [Vietnam], March 31: Trinh Minh Dung was born in 1978 in Ho Chi Minh City. After graduating from theater school, he worked as an extra in various theaters and also held many jobs such as backstage and prompting. Trinh Minh Dung joined the Hong Van Theater , participating in many plays such as "The Ghost Wife," "The Lucky Number," "The Red Number," etc., and also appeared in several film projects.
Trinh Minh Dung's connection with art.
Recalling his career, Trinh Minh Dung emotionally remembered a pivotal moment in his life. In 1996, he secretly applied to the film and theater school, even though he was already attending a different school as his family had instructed. The actor recalled: "After borrowing a friend's bicycle, I went to find my way to the school, because at that time I didn't even know where it was."
After being accepted into the acting school, Trinh Minh Dung secretly withdrew his tuition fees to pursue his artistic career. "I asked a relative to sign the confirmation of the tuition withdrawal because if my mother found out, she would scold me," he shared. About a week later, when the matter came to light, his mother, although disapproving, accepted it with a statement that the actor will never forget: "Never mind, if things go well, you'll benefit, and if things go badly, you'll bear it." From then on, Trinh Minh Dung has been involved in acting until now.
In the story, Trinh Minh Dung couldn't hide his emotion when mentioning his mother. Although she accepted him pursuing his passion, she has never once seen her son perform live. The actor believes that this might be her own unique way of showing care, quiet but full of love. "My mother always loves me. When she saw my dream, she accepted me walking on this somewhat challenging path. She supports me, but maybe she just doesn't say it," he confided.
Entering the profession, Trinh Minh Dung faced many difficulties, starting with small roles and limited income. He said there was a time when he struggled to balance his expenses, worrying about living costs, investing in his career, and helping his family. The 70s-born actor had to sell snacks online, selling individual boxes of pork cracklings to supplement his living expenses. "There were many obstacles, and at times I thought about giving up the profession," he said.
However, it was his love for the stage that kept him from leaving. "This profession is my calling," Trinh Minh Dung confessed. Currently, the actor, born in the 1970s, works at the Idecaf Theater . Notably, he has taken on multiple roles simultaneously in a single play, demonstrating his versatility and dedication to his craft.
The actor said he hopes to continue his involvement with the stage, while also hoping for opportunities to try his hand at suitable film roles to prove himself and connect more closely with the audience.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper