Sharing brings cheer to forgotten folk artists

Lotte Dat Viet Home Shopping staff visit the home

“Fond of Cai Luong I left home to join the Kim Phung Cai Luong troupe when I was 16. I took part in numerous plays and travelled across the country to perform,” said Bach Yen.

Yet during times of poverty, great artists who contributed so much to the traditional arts of Vietnam were not often rewarded financially for their achievements. Thankfully, in 1998 a retirement home was set up in Ho Chi Minh City for retired poverty-stricken artists.

Today there are 22 residents aged between 67 and 93, one of whom is artist  Bach Yen.

Bach Yen left her mark on traditional culture through her unforgettable roles playing Dac Ky in Tru Duong-Dac Ky or performing as Cu Hau in Cuu Lay Non Song (Rescuing the Country).

Yen is now a stately 93 years old. More than a decade ago she was brought to the rest-home which shelters several other prominent artists of her generation.

In a recent visit to this special retirement home, the volunteers at the Korean-backed Lotte DatViet Home Shopping Company Limited were deeply moved to see stage artists retaining their passion for performing arts long after their fame had faded.

While many of the ex-stars are associated with Cai Luong, some of the artists stepped into other forms of art, like films or plays. They did so, not just for the much needed income, but due to popular demand from their loyal fans.

During their visit, the volunteers at Lotte DatViet were welcomed by lively performances by the home’s golden-age stars.

As part of a cultural exchange, some young footballers who participated in the Lotte-funded TV show  Cau Thu Ti Hon created a ball-centric art performance to warm up the atmosphere.

In addition to generous donations, the company also brought a special gift to the retired artists, by inviting skilled Korean doctors to provide free health checks for the rest-home residents.

“Although our support programme is not big in size, we are happy at the warm reception the artists gave us. I’ve had the honour to meet and talk with some of the most famous artists in the history of Vietnamese arts,” said Lotte DatViet CEO Sohn Byung Sam.

Sam added that despite only being present in Vietnam for around two years, Lotte DatViet Home Shopping had been developing well. The company aims to bring top quality products and services to Vietnamese consumers while also performing philanthropic activities as an indispensable part in the company’s business strategy in Vietnam. 

Lotte DatViet Home Shopping is a $6 million joint venture between Lotte Home shopping, a subsidiary of Korean leading retailer Lotte Group, and local partner DatViet VAC Group Holdings.

Lotte Home shopping has constantly led the online retail market in South Korea since its establishment in 2001, while DatViet VAC is a media and communication group in Vietnam.