The videos feature dramatic plays, called Cô Gái Đồ Long (The Sword) and Giang Sơn Và Mỹ Nhân (The Country and the Beauty), written by actress Bach Mai, a 40-year veteran in the industry.

The plays are directed by Tinh in co-operation with her colleagues from Huynh Long Troupe, a newly opened private cai luong troupe in HCM City.

Cô Gái Đồ Long features tuong (classical drama), a genre of Vietnamese theatre that originated in the 12th century. It portrays women, love and betrayal, and stars young actors of Huynh Long, such as Hoai Nhung, Thai Vinh and Bao Ngoc. 

Giang Sơn Và Mỹ Nhân highlights patriotism and bravery.  

Talented theatre actress Binh Tinh of HCM City performs in two videos featuring cải lương (reformed opera), Cô Gái Đồ Long (The Sword) and Giang Sơn Và Mỹ Nhân (The Country and the Beauty). The works will be released on YouTube to attract fans. — Photo courtesy of the producer

In the video, Tinh uses cai luong, a very old theatre form, to create a drama in the southern style. 

“I hope my videos on YouTube will help fans understand why and how tuong and cai luong is the spirit of the Vietnamese people," said the 29-year-old Tinh, winner of the Chuông Vàng Vọng Cổ (Golden Bell) Awards 2016, a national cai luong contest presented annually by HCM Television.

“I wanted each performance staged by Huynh Long actors to be a lesson with images, sounds and lights that provides young audiences with useful and fascinating things about their history and culture.” 

"We have faced difficulties in offering live shows amid the Covid-19 pandemic. However, we love to entertain people and YouTube is a way to meet them,” added Tinh, who has spent several hours daily in the studio to complete her videos. 

Cai luong actress and director Binh Tinh (left) began her career when she was a girl after training with her mother, Bach Mai, who has more than 40 years of experience in the industry.  — Photo courtesy of the producer

Tinh began singing cai luong when she was a girl. She was trained by her mother, actress, scriptwriter and director Mai, who has worked hard to develop the art and maintain her family’s artistic tradition. 

She also took part in Sao Nối Ngôi (Young Stars), a TV programme featuring young actors in cai luong, on Vinh Long Television’s THLV1 channel in 2018.  She and her colleagues performed vong co (nostalgic tunes), cai luong and tuong.

Actors of Huynh Long Troupe, a newly opened private troupe offering cai luong and tuong in HCM City. — Photo courtesy of the producer

Through their performances, famous historical play, such as Thái Hậu Dương Vân Nga (Queen Duong Van Nga) and Huyền Trân Công Chúa (Princess Huyen Tran) have been renewed. 

Cô Gái Đồ Long and Giang Sơn Và Mỹ Nhân will be released on YouTube on Saturday, January 17. VNS 

Cai luong actress’s web series attract 2.7 million viewers on YouTube

The fourth part of the web series featuring People’s Artist and theatre actress Lệ Thủy, a star of cải lương (reformed opera), has attracted more than 65,000 views on YouTube just one week after its release.