The two artists reunited at the launch of Xuan Hinh's memoir, "The Rustic Joker," on 26/7. During the event, Thanh Thanh Hien recalled their first collaboration in 1995, on the CD "Xuan Hinh Plays the Trong Boi". For 30 years, the pair have shared the stage and developed a close personal friendship.

Thanh Thanh Hien considers Xuan Hinh a "great colleague." She admires his meticulousness, attention to detail, and respect for talent. During rehearsals, he always listens to his co-stars' opinions. Throughout their years together, disagreements have been rare, thanks to their open communication.

Xuan Hinh and Thanh Thanh Hien at the event. Photo: Provided by the artists

When performing together, Thanh Thanh Hien often lets Xuan Hinh take the lead in delivering comedic lines. "When acting with him, he can do whatever he likes, and I'll adapt my performance accordingly. I believe the beauty of stagecraft lies in the ability to put aside one's ego and let colleagues shine," she said.

Xuan Hinh, in turn, praises his junior colleague as a talented artist with a sweet voice and a knack for singing Cai Luong (southern Vietnamese opera), despite being a northerner. He also compliments her charming stage presence.

Over three decades, they have collaborated on various skits, including "Xuan Hinh Goes to the Doctor" (1996), "Drunken Husband, Wife with a Lamp" (1997), "Xuan Hinh's Beauty Pageant Training" (1998), "Xuan Hinh Proposes" (2002), "Thi Hen Chooses a Husband" (2012), and "Love Story in the Banana Garden" (2015).

One of their most memorable works is "Man Horse, Horse Man," performed at the 2004 Gala Laugh Awards and subsequently numerous times both domestically and internationally. The piece, adapted from Nguyen Cong Hoan's satirical short story of the same name, was directed by Le Hung.

Xuan Hinh portrays an impoverished rickshaw driver striving to earn money for his family on New Year's Eve. He encounters a prostitute (played by Thanh Thanh Hien) also wandering in search of clients. Initially, her promises lead him to believe he has found a lucrative opportunity. Eventually, he realizes they share similar circumstances. Amidst the cold winter night, they find solace in each other while others gather for warm New Year's Eve dinners.

The artists evoke both laughter and tears through a blend of tragedy and humor. Xuan Hinh embodies hardship, while Thanh Thanh Hien portrays the bitterness and loneliness of a sex worker.

In his memoir, "The Rustic Joker," Xuan Hinh writes, "As the old saying goes, 'Laughing like a student who failed the exam, crying like a girl on her wedding day,' tears can contain joy and happiness, while laughter can be mixed with tears, bitterness, and sorrow. Here, the ironic encounter between a rickshaw driver without customers and a prostitute searching for clients while families reunite touches the audience's deepest emotions."

Thanh Thanh Hien admits that both she and Xuan Hinh dread performing the play because it is emotionally draining and involves a lot of crying. "I didn't realize how much the play would impact my career. Now, looking back, it's a significant milestone," she once said. They later collaborated on "Man Horse, Horse Man 2 and 3."

Due to their convincing interactions in various skits, short films, and music videos, the two artists are often mistaken for a couple. In his memoir, Xuan Hinh describes Thanh Thanh Hien as "more than a colleague, but a dear friend with an uncanny understanding that not everyone is fortunate to find in life."

Thanh Thanh Hien recounts an incident where an audience member called Xuan Hinh's home phone. When his wife, Phuong Lan, answered, the caller asked to speak to "Thanh Thanh Hien, Xuan Hinh's wife." Recalling the story, the artist said, "Fortunately, Hinh's family is very harmonious, and Lan is not jealous, so she never questioned our relationship."

During work trips to the UK and Australia, while others went sightseeing, she and Xuan Hinh would stay at the hotel, eating instant noodles and talking all night. According to Thanh Thanh Hien, they could easily spend an entire day conversing. They share many common interests, admire and respect each other, and each other's families.

Unlike Xuan Hinh, Thanh Thanh Hien has had a turbulent love life, often facing disapproval from friends for her choices in partners. As a result, she has always found support and understanding in Xuan Hinh, sharing both joys and sorrows.

Although they no longer perform together frequently, the two artists remain close. For several years, Thanh Thanh Hien has lived in a house with a garden in Soc Son, Hanoi. There, she and Xuan Hinh are neighbors, their houses separated by a single wall. Occasionally, they reunite with colleagues like Hong Van and Quang Thang, reminiscing and filming casual conversations that Xuan Hinh posts on TikTok.

Xuan Hinh, 62, has nearly 50 years of experience in the arts, renowned for his performances of traditional Cheo opera, Quan Ho folk songs, Xam singing, and Chau Van ritual music. He is best known for works like "Thi Mau Goes to the Pagoda," "The Fortune Teller Goes to the Market," and "Man Horse, Horse Man." In 2017, he took early retirement from the Hanoi Cheo Theater to spend more time with his family. In March, he garnered attention for his singing and rapping in the song "Bac Bling," collaborating with singer Hoa Minzy and composer Tuan Cry.

Thanh Thanh Hien, 56, comes from a family with a strong artistic tradition in northern Vietnam. She is proficient in various genres, including Cheo, Cai Luong, and Bolero. She married Che Phong but divorced in 2020 after 5 years of marriage. Previously, she was married to dan bau (monochord zither) artist Anh Tu, with whom she has two daughters: Tu Linh, 26, and Thai Phuong, 22.

Phuong Linh