Hien Mai, the beauty queen, shared photos from her school days at 17 years old in a post remembering her late mother. She mentioned that her mother, a skilled seamstress, often sewed clothes for her children to wear to school. Even now, Hien Mai carefully stores some of her mother's shirts and dresses. The actress's image, with a bare face and gentle smile, received praise from colleagues and audiences.

Hien Mai gained public recognition after starring in "Tuoi Than Tien" in 1995. She also rose to fame through the "Co Tich Viet Nam" series from 1997-1999 by Ho Chi Minh City Television, and acted in various television series such as "Chuyen Tau Hoang Hon", "Ngon Gio Hoi Sinh", "Giao Thoi", "Mam Song", and "Loi Song Sai Lam". Audiences considered her one of the "five great beauties" of the 1990s, alongside Diem My, Diem Huong, Kim Phung, and Viet Trinh.

Hien Mai (left) with her mother and sister at one year old. She was born and grew up in Ho Chi Minh City, in a modest family.

Hien Mai as a young woman.

She often wore straight bangs and had a somewhat tanned complexion from enjoying outdoor activities. For Hien Mai, these photos from her youth are invaluable possessions. "Whenever I have free time, I turn each page of the album, reminiscing about many memories", the actress shared.

Hien Mai (right) took a commemorative photo with her close friend in 12th grade, whom she had known since 8th grade.

She is pictured with her high school friends during an outing, including singer Doan Truong (left). They were classmates, sometimes even sharing a desk at Le Quy Don High School in Ho Chi Minh City.

"Back then, Hien Mai was beautiful but somewhat strong-willed, preferring to play with boys. We often skipped class to play soccer and hang out at sidewalk cafes – memories that still bring joy when recalled", Doan Truong said.

Then and now: the friendship between Hien Mai and Doan Truong. They have maintained a strong 40-year friendship, occasionally attending red carpet showbiz events together.

Hien Mai (seated) celebrating her 20th birthday.

After graduating from high school, Hien Mai enrolled in the English department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education. After some time, she transferred to the Russian department and later received a scholarship to study in Russia. In the early 1990s, she returned to Vietnam and began her career in the entertainment industry as an actress.

Hien Mai held various manual labor jobs to support her family. "I always tried my best to complete every task with optimism. I am happy that during my years in the arts, I remained steadfast against temptations", she stated.

In 1995-1996, after portraying teacher Mai in the television series "Tuoi Than Tien", Hien Mai quickly gained attention. She was praised for her beautiful, innocent face. The actress then became highly sought after for advertising photoshoots and magazine covers, earning the title "calendar photo queen" from the audience.

At 59 years old, Hien Mai limits her acting roles, primarily dedicating her time to her family. She continues to regularly participate in events and entertainment programs. At the end of 2025, Hien Mai will walk the runway, showcasing an ao dai collection by designer Vo Viet Chung.

Hien Mai (fourth from left) with friends at a reunion visit to their old school, Le Quy Don High School in Ho Chi Minh City, after 40 years.

The actress married in 2003; her husband works in the oil and gas industry. Their son, Tony, is 22 years old, stands 1,81 m tall, and enjoys music. He is currently studying in My, pursuing an Economics major at the University of Southern California, ranked among the top 20 universities in My by Times Higher Education in 2021. Tony also plays various sports such as swimming, soccer, and golf, having won 62 medals and numerous trophies in competitions. Occasionally, Hien Mai and her husband visit their son in My or welcome Tony back to Vietnam for summer visits.

Tan Cao

Photos, video: Provided by subject