Born as Duong Cong Thuan on March 4, 1941, in Binh Tien village, Chau Thanh district, Sa Dec province (now Tan Binh, Chau Thanh, Dong Thap province), Diep Lang became a legendary figure in Vietnamese cai luong, theater, film, and as a director.

At the age of 8, following in the footsteps of his father, teacher Ba Diep, he began training with the Tam Phung Cai Luong Troupe. However, his father, not wanting his son to continue the tradition of playing stringed instruments behind the scenes, arranged for Diep Lang to study singing and take on his first supporting roles.

By the age of 12, Diep Lang had stepped onto the stage for the first time in the play Lap Song Gianh with the Kim Thoa Cai Luong Troupe. He went on to take supporting roles such as Viet Hung – Minh Chi and Phung Hao – Ba Van.

It was only when he joined the Hoai Dung - Hoai My Troupe that he was given the lead role in Chiec Nhan Kim Cuong. It was here that playwright Nguyen Huynh gave him the stage name "Diep Lang," signifying the son of Ba Diep.

In 1962, Diep Lang joined the Kim Chuong Troupe, where playwright Thu An cast him as the father in Nguoi Anh Khac Me. This role earned him the Thanh Tam Award for Promising Actor in 1963.

Known for his versatile performances and poignant, sorrowful voice, Diep Lang became beloved for his portrayals of father figures and council members.

After 1975, Diep Lang’s success continued with iconic roles such as Sergeant Tam in Tim Lai Cuoc Doi, Councilor Thang in Doi Co Luu, Le Quy in Tam Su Ngoc Han, Councilor Du in Tieng Ho Song Hau, Le Xuan Giac in Tieng Song Rach Gam, the Grandfather in Cay Le Ban, and Mr. Hai in Dan Ca Tri Ky. He became particularly well-known as Councilor Du, an iconic character cherished by audiences.

Over more than 50 years on stage and in film, he earned numerous prestigious awards, including the Thanh Tam Gold Medal for Prospective Actors (1963), the Thanh Tam Honorary Certificate (1964), the title of Meritorious Artist (1993), the Medal for the Cause of Theater (2000), the Mai Vang Award (2001), and the title of People’s Artist (2003). He then retired from his singing career.

Diep Lang’s first marriage to artist Phuong Lien was brief. The couple had a son and a daughter, but their marriage ended when their daughter was just two months old. Phuong Lien cited incompatibility as the reason for their separation.

In 1978, Diep Lang joined the Saigon 2 Cai Luong Troupe, where he met Thu Phong, a former beauty queen from Gia Long School, who was then working as a ticket collector.

The two married and had two children, including their youngest son, Diep Tien, who followed his father into the theater industry as a director and actor. Though his son did not pursue a singing career, Diep Lang valued this continuation of his legacy.

Thu Phong, Diep Lang’s wife of nearly 50 years, shared that they came together during difficult times and did not even have a wedding photo to commemorate their union.

She always took care of the family and children while he was away performing. When Diep Lang fell ill, she remained by his side, often joking that she was both his nurse and servant, always attending to him.

Diep Lang’s life was closely intertwined with both the stage and the hospital. Illness followed him from his youth to his old age. In 2010, his family quietly emigrated to the United States, much to the regret of his fans.

The couple lived in a small house in San Diego, often taking walks and exercising to i

mprove their health. Although he found relief in receiving free medical treatment, Diep Lang never stopped longing for his homeland and the stage.

Thu Phong shared that there were times when her husband would suddenly wake up in the middle of the night, singing softly: “In his dreams, Diep Lang always saw himself standing on the stage.” In interviews, he often expressed his dream of returning to Vietnam.

In his final days, People's Artist Diep Lang was very weak and mostly bedridden. On March 11, 2023, he passed away in San Diego, California, at the age of 82. He died in the arms of his loved ones, leaving behind a deep sense of loss among his fans. A year later, his wife also passed away.

For People's Artist Bach Tuyet, Diep Lang was not only a brother but also a great mentor. “His journey this time was heavy, filled with the love of family, friends, colleagues, and especially the sincere affection of the fans who cherished Cai Luong over the decades. Each song, each role he played will live on and endure through the years. He has become a legend of the Vietnamese stage,” she once shared emotionally.

Tien Le