The enduring camaraderie of actors Van Son and Bao Liem

Actor Van Son expresses gratitude for Bao Liem's companionship, a bond that has lasted from their humble beginnings to their renowned careers.

In mid-July, as artist Bao Liem turned 70, comedian Van Son posted a congratulatory poem for his close friend's birthday, calling him a "top comedian". The actor reminisced about their early performing days with a photo from the 1990s. Many audience members expressed admiration for the two artists' close professional bond, which has spanned nearly 40 years.

The two actors when they first moved to the US in 1990. Van Son shared that he took on many jobs to earn a living then, including working at a gas station and assisting with studio setups, before deciding to return to the stage. He invited Bao Liem, who was living in Arizona at the time, to move to California to share an apartment and develop their acting careers.

In their early days, they formed a comedy group, performing at nightclubs and wedding parties. Their skits later gained attention, leading a promoter to invite them to record for a music video release. After two productions, they became a comedy sensation.

The peak of their careers came when they decided to self-invest in producing a comedy video. The tape became a hit, selling over 20,000 copies and establishing Van Son and Bao Liem as popular names on the overseas Vietnamese stage.

Van Son mentioned that many audience members told him they knew the lines from their joint skits by heart. In 1994, after Bao Liem pursued a solo career, Van Son collaborated with artist Hoai Linh, achieving new successes.

From right: Van Son, Bao Liem, and Charlie Nguyen in the early 2000s. They starred in the film "Vat Doi Sao Roi" (Changing Worlds) directed by Charlie Nguyen, which premiered in 2001 and was set in Vietnam. Van Son played the lead role of Huy, an overseas Vietnamese returning from the US to TP HCM to marry, encountering many humorous mishaps that thwarted his plans. Throughout the 2000s, the two actors continued to collaborate on various comedy skits with Quang Minh and Hong Dao.

Beyond work, they are close friends who share many hobbies. Van Son often invites Bao Liem to explore scenic spots in the US and return to Vietnam to film travel vlogs across the country.

Van Son and Bao Liem visit a longan orchard in the US.

Van Son stated that despite four decades of working together, they occasionally had disagreements but always remained close. "When one needed help, the other was immediately there to support. That is the bond of brotherhood we cherish to this day", he said.

Van Son and Bao Liem with Hong Dao, a close co-star, backstage at a show in California in 2025.

Van Son, 65, whose real name is Duong Thanh Son, began his career in 1977 when he joined the Huong Mien Nam song and dance troupe, later settling in the US. He has voiced works by Chau Tinh Tri and a series of TVB films, then established an entertainment center. In the 2000s, the artist returned to Vietnam to perform comedy, participate in game shows, and serve as a judge for programs. In 2015, Van Son founded the V Show theater in TP HCM, which had a capacity of about 400-500 audience members, but ceased operations some time later.

Bao Liem, 70, started as a dancer, collaborating with many performing arts groups, then formed the comedy group Mien Om. In the 1990s, he gained attention through his collaboration with Van Son, becoming a popular comedy duo. In 2016, Bao Liem returned to Vietnam to participate in the film "Cao Thu An Danh" (Anonymous Master) directed by Le Khac Hoai Nam. Bao Liem's younger brother is Meritorious Artist, comedian Bao Tri.