At the launch of his memoir "Golden Cradle, Stormy Times", actor Huu Chau reminisced about his life and colleagues from his early career. In the mid-1980s, after graduating from the School of Dramatic Arts 2 (now the University of Theater and Cinema of Ho Chi Minh City), Huu Chau became close friends with a group of artists including Huu Nghia, Hong Dao, and Hong Van. Among them, Hong Dao was the friend he trusted most, asking her to manage his finances.

Huu Chau and Hong Dao pose for a photo when she visited her hometown in 2002. Photo: Thanh Hiep

Despite coming from the Thanh Minh Thanh Nga theatrical family, with a grandmother skilled in managing the troupe, Huu Chau didn't know how to manage money. He took on shows day and night, from the city to the provinces, but his early earnings seemed to slip through his fingers.

Later, Huu Chau decided to entrust Hong Dao with his performance fees. "If we performed together, I would give the money to Dao immediately. If I performed far away, I would try to keep it until I saw her," the artist said. Huu Chau didn't keep written records because he trusted his friend. Whenever he needed money, she would always ask him the reason, worried he might buy unnecessary things.

One time, the actor needed a motorbike for work because he felt awkward asking others for rides. "When I asked Dao, she scratched her head, thinking for a while. Then, she handed me bundles of money tied with strong rope, meticulously organized by denomination. I was moved seeing the fruits of my labor, carefully saved by my friend," Huu Chau shared. Thanks to this, he bought his first motorbike – a significant asset for most young actors at the time.

Huu Chau and Hong Dao maintain a close friendship after 40 years. Photo: Provided by the interviewee

Later, as a teacher to many generations of students, he was often addressed with respect. Hong Dao was one of the few people Huu Chau allowed to "scold" him. "Whenever we meet, I always listen quietly or joke back to whatever Hong Dao says; I never argue. I always consider her a precious gift in my life," he said.

For Huu Chau, his fellow actors from his younger days were his pillars of support. Whenever he faced challenges in his career or public scrutiny, he considered them his private, trustworthy confidants.

Huu Chau, 59, is one of the golden generation of Ho Chi Minh City theater artists from the 1990s. He has starred in many famous productions, from children's plays (the "Once Upon a Time" series) to adult plays ("Tam Cam", "Cau Dong", "Da Co Hoai Lang"), historical dramas ("Bi Mat Vuon Le Chi", "Ngan Nam Tinh Su"). Since 2023, he has joined the newly established Thien Dang theater. Huu Chau has also acted in films such as "Lo To" (2017), "Cua Lai Vo Bau" (2019), "Cong Tu Bac Lieu" (2024), "Lat Mat 8" (2025), and various television series.

Hong Dao, 63, is known as one of the "golden generation" theater artists of Ho Chi Minh City in the 1990s. In 1994, she moved to Northern California. Hong Dao and Quang Minh were once a beloved artistic duo with many popular comedy skits on the overseas stage. After their divorce, the artist arranged her schedule to travel between the US and Vietnam for filming. During the Tet holiday of the year of the Dragon, she played a supporting role in "Mai" – the highest-grossing Vietnamese film of all time, earning 520 billion VND.

Mai Nhat