Dao Nhat Quang was born in 1969. At the age of 13, he went to Russia to study at the Tchaikovsky Conservatory, where he received direct instruction from renowned clarinetist Professor Petrov.

He graduated with distinction from the Tchaikovsky Conservatory in 1992. In 1999, he continued postgraduate studies under the supervision of Professors Minasian V.M. and Merited Artist Jankovskii.

Singer Cho Hae Ryong, born in 1973, studied at Busan Arts School at the age of 16. She later attended the prestigious Ewha Womans University, where she studied under Professor Shinja Kim, one of South Korea's leading mezzo-sopranos, for six years and earned a master's degree.

She then continued advanced studies in Russia under Professor and vocalist Zinaida Zaharovna Didenko at the Novosibirsk State Conservatory.

Dao Nhat Quang met Cho Hae Ryong in Russia. They fell in love and married in 2001.

Returning to Vietnam

The year 2001 marked several major milestones in Dao Nhat Quang's life. He registered his marriage, moved to South Korea with his wife, welcomed their first son, and began an entirely new chapter.

Cho Hae Ryong taught at Ewha Womans University, where she had completed her graduate studies, while Dao Nhat Quang lectured at three universities.

Their second son was born in 2006.

Although both enjoyed well-paid university positions in South Korea, the couple decided to return to Vietnam in 2009.

Cho Hae Ryong stated that this was not an impulsive decision but one nurtured for a long time. From the beginning of their marriage, she understood that her husband had been sent abroad by the Vietnamese government for training and would eventually return to contribute to the country. She wholeheartedly supported his belief in giving back to his homeland.

Before moving, they discussed challenges they might face, including employment opportunities, performance prospects, cultural differences and daily life.

She assessed that Vietnam was developing very rapidly during those years, seeing changes every year when visiting family. On the other hand, Quang knew many artists in HCMC, so the couple received a warm welcome upon returning to the country.

Even so, during the first few years of settling in HCMC, Quang and his wife experienced many hardships.

Despite her reputation as a professor in South Korea, Cho Hae Ryong initially had no students in Vietnam. The family traded their car for motorbikes and adapted to tropical rain, intense sunshine and flooded streets.

Their children often cried, demanding their parents take them back to South Korea. The two children reacted to such an extent that teachers at Vietnamese schools politely declined to accept them, but enrolling them in international schools was too expensive, beyond what the two artists' salaries could cover.

Fortunately, at that time, an acquaintance of Quang opened an international school and called for capital from parents. From there, both sons eventually transferred to schools in Canada. Cho Hae Ryong's sister's family had also settled in Canada, making the transition much smoother.

A fulfilling family life

In 2019, concerned about their children's future, Dao Nhat Quang and Cho Hae Ryong moved to Canada for six years. In 2022, both became professors at Canada Christian College.

In 2025, after seeing that their sons had settled down, the couple returned to Vietnam. For nearly two years, they have enjoyed a slower pace of life in their apartment in An Khanh Ward, HCMC.

They maintain the habit of sharing meals together. Both can cook Korean, Vietnamese and Russian dishes. Cho Hae Ryong usually prepares the meals, while Dao Nhat Quang occasionally cooks. When they want a change, they dine out.

Studying and working in multiple countries, the couple and their two children can converse daily in Vietnamese, Korean, English, and Russian. 

Hae Ryong works 2 sessions a day, and sometimes in the evening; if there is a show, she will focus on practicing and researching the songs. Before major shows, she usually practices every day to ensure the best performance quality.

Every weekend, the singer becomes frantically busy with the work of the Saigon Ladies Singers group, the Korean Children’s Choir, or the church choir.

The couple regularly visit their children twice a year. Dao Nhat Quang plans to open a music teaching center in An Phu, HCMC. Once the center is operating well, he will hire a manager to have more time to visit his children frequently.

Gia Bao