At their 1,000+ m2 home in Garden Grove, California, the couple cultivates a small garden of over 300 m2, divided into sections for vegetables and fruit trees.
Huong Lan spends much of her time nurturing her garden and enjoying nature. Her husband, Quoc Toan, prepares the soil, sows seeds, and searches for new plant varieties. To add a taste of home to their meals, they grow various vegetables: gourd, bitter melon, and fish mint, along with fruit trees like longan, dragon fruit, guava, and soursop. Huong Lan says her daily joy is waking up and joining her husband in the garden, watering, fertilizing, and harvesting produce as a form of exercise. "Gardening is hard work, but it brings us much joy," she says.
The couple has maintained this garden for over six years. California's distinct four seasons provide a favorable climate for growing, requiring only regular fertilization appropriate for each stage of the plants' development. They rotate crops to ensure a continuous supply of fresh food for their family.
Since participating in The Masked Singer (2023), the artist has reduced her touring schedule. She focuses on her YouTube channel, posting her songs, interacting with fans, and accepting invitations for charitable events. Now in her late 60s, the renowned singer enjoys a peaceful life with her husband, children, and grandchildren. On her social media, Huong Lan often shares pictures of herself with her grandchildren. On weekends, she often cooks for and entertains colleagues and close friends.
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Huong Lan harvesting gourds in her garden. Photo: Provided by the artist |
Huong Lan, whose real name is Tran Ngoc Anh, is the eldest daughter of artist Huu Phuoc. After 1975, she sang with the Van Cong reformed opera troupe, gaining popularity with plays like *The Durian Tree Blooms* and *Love and the Tyrant*. Later, she and her father emigrated to France.
In 1988, after her first marriage ended, Huong Lan married Quoc Toan, an aeronautical engineer. In 6/2018, she performed a live show, *A Life on Stage*, in Ho Chi Minh City for 2,000 fans, featuring guest artists Ngoc Giau, Hoai Linh, and Y Lan.
Hoang Dung
