The 73-year-old artist recently opened a Douyin account, sharing his half-century of filmmaking experiences. In a video with his two sons, Sammo Hung Jr. and Jimmy Hung, on 15/12, the actor spoke of enduring hardship from a young age and accumulating some wealth. "Life is a bit better than before; I can buy what I want," he said.

Sammo Hung greets the audience at the opening of the Hong Kong Film Gala in Ho Chi Minh City in November. *Photo: Le Quang Nhat*

Sammo Hung enjoys being recognized and surrounded by people, but he doesn't consider himself a big deal. When his son asked if he ever "floated" (got carried away) by fame, he joked, "How could I float when I'm this heavy?" For him, the most important thing in his work is to fulfill his duties to the best of his ability, because everything he has comes from the audience, and he needs to be worthy of them.

The star revealed he was thin as a child, but at 14, a leg injury forced him to stay put. During his growth spurt, Sammo Hung gained weight and couldn't lose it.

Sammo Hung and Louis Koo visit Vietnam. *Video: Cong Khang*

In the 1970s, Sammo Hung earned well. When he directed, starred in, and choreographed the film *Heart of the Dragon*, he received a total of 4 million HKD (approximately 515,000 USD). The artist revealed that during that period, Jackie Chan's remuneration was superior; his junior martial arts brother received 10 million HKD (nearly 1.3 million USD) for the film *Snake in the Eagle's Shadow* (1978). By *Drunken Master* (late 1978), Jackie Chan's fee had surged to 20 million HKD (over 2.5 million USD).

Sammo Hung, born in 1952, joined martial arts master Yu Jim-yuen's Peking Opera school at 10 years old. During this period, besides practicing performance and martial arts, Sammo Hung appeared in several films. From 18, he worked as a 'dragon-tiger martial artist'—a stuntman for dangerous scenes.

Sammo Hung and his wife, Joyce Godenzi, in Ho Chi Minh City. *Photo: Le Quang Nhat*

In the 1970s, with his knowledge of Taekwondo and Wing Chun, Sammo Hung choreographed action for many Golden Harvest films. From 1977, he began starring, achieving success in films such as *Enter the Fat Dragon*, *Knockabout*, *The Prodigal Son*, *My Lucky Stars*, and *Seven Little Fortunes*. From the 2000s to the present, Sammo Hung has appeared in notable works like *SPL: Sha Po Lang*, *Ip Man*, *14 Blades*, and *Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In*.

In November, Sammo Hung and Louis Koo visited Ho Chi Minh City for the first Hong Kong, China Film Gala held in Vietnam. The star noted that a major challenge for Hong Kong cinema currently is decreasing film production costs, making it difficult for industry professionals to create large-scale works. His goal is to bring joy, good works, and positive energy to audiences. Currently, despite knee pain and mobility issues, his health is stable, and his mind is clear.

By Nghinh Xuan