This excerpt is from The Rustic Comedian, a memoir released by Xuan Hinh on 23/7, written by Thanh Thuy and Nhu Hoa based on his recounting. The book comprises five sections and an appendix of works and images, narrating the artist's childhood and his impactful artistic journey. VnExpress is publishing several excerpts; section titles are provided by the editorial board.

The book, published by THBooks, is available in hardcover and paperback. Photo: Phuong Linh

The book, published by THBooks, is available in hardcover and paperback. Photo: Phuong Linh

From a very young age, I had a positive impression of my father, a thought that always made me proud - he was both resourceful and responsible towards his family. He was an elementary school teacher, spending his days with blackboards and chalk, with wide-eyed children eager to learn and grow. Back then, a teacher's salary was meager, not enough to cover the needs of a large family. My father worked tirelessly, both teaching and taking on extra work. Yet, the burden of providing for us eventually forced him to leave teaching to pursue business ventures. His quick wit and active nature made him a successful businessman, and our family's life gradually became more stable.

I was fortunate to inherit my father's business acumen and my mother's resilience. My mother was always busy, working tirelessly, rain or shine, to provide the best for our family. Though small in stature, she was incredibly graceful, making every task seem effortless. A smile always graced her lips, sometimes the smile of a patient woman, other times the determined smile of someone ready to face any hardship.

The rocky path from our house to Don Do market, Nui market, and the paddy fields of our vast village all bore the imprint of my mother's hard work. When she wasn't working in the fields, she was trading. She sold various small items, from sugarcane and tea leaves to star apples. She also made and sold fried cakes at the market, harvested water spinach from the ditches where we had planted them, and collected water ferns to sell. In short, she never shied away from any legal means of earning a living. I believe I absorbed this trait from her, subtly, as I worked alongside her.

Out of love for my parents, I helped them whenever I could. I may have been small and skinny, but I was capable of anything. Back then, my footprints covered every corner of Dong Cuu field. While other children played barefoot, flew kites, played marbles, and chased each other, my siblings and I spent our childhood herding buffalo and wading through rice paddies. While the buffalo grazed, I would catch shrimp and crabs to supplement our family meals. During sesame sowing season, I joined my mother in breaking the field ridges to sow seeds and plant water spinach in the irrigation ditches. From planting, fertilizing, and harvesting rice to threshing and winnowing, there wasn't a task I hadn't done, and I always strived to excel. Perhaps this perfectionism, instilled in me from those early days, drives me to set clear goals and strive for desired outcomes in everything I do. Even as an adult, I often joke with friends, "Getting married means having children, planting rice must yield grains, and working must bring money." This simple saying reflects the mindset ingrained in me since childhood.

In the early mornings, as the sun peeked over the horizon, casting its gentle rays on the dew-kissed green rice leaves, and the mist rose from the fields carrying the rich aroma of young rice, I would immerse myself in the cool fragrance, humming folk tunes of my homeland. That was my childhood - hard but fulfilling. It nurtured in me a love for life and optimism. Nothing could bring me down, except myself. I believed that. So, like a young sapling absorbing nutrients from the river embracing our village, I grew strong.

Xuan Hinh in the music video "Bac Bling". Photo: From the book "The Rustic Comedian"

Xuan Hinh in the music video "Bac Bling". Photo: From the book "The Rustic Comedian"

Xuan Hinh was born in 1963 but registered his birth year as 1966 to meet the age requirement for Hanoi University of Theatre and Cinema. Some sources later listed his birth year as 1960, but he says he doesn't bother correcting it, because "age is sometimes just a number." His name is associated with traditional cheo melodies, quan ho folk songs, xam singing, and chau van ritual singing. He is best known for works like Thi Mau Goes to the Pagoda, The Fortune Teller Goes to Market, The Man-Horse, Horse-Man. He was awarded the title of Meritorious Artist in 1997.

To be continued