Singer Nguyen Duc: Debauched, banned from the profession, now vegetarian and practicing Buddhism

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Nguyen Duc emerged as an idol of the 8X generation, with famous Chinese songs with Vietnamese lyrics. However, at the height of his success, he suddenly fell.

Nguyen Duc was incited by his friends to go down the wrong path, causing his career to plummet. He confided: "During the golden age, stages, dance halls, and tea rooms all had my name on them. I sang at each place for 500,000 VND, which could buy me a tael of gold. Every night I sang at 3 places, sometimes up to 5 places.

But I don't know how to save money, I spend all the money I earn. I buy clothes, branded goods, cars... One time I went to get my hair done, it cost 300,000 VND, more than half a tael of gold. Every time I appear, I have to look beautiful from head to toe.

I don’t know why the Buddha gave me that. I never felt sad or miserable, and I didn’t have to worry about money. Even when I went out, people would look up to me, admire me, and mention my name when I went to the market. People passing by would turn around to look at me. That fame made me arrogant and conceited. I was selfish and dictatorial, so I killed myself.

At that time, I was already famous, and was constantly invited to sing by TV stations and show producers. I urged my mother to sell the house because I was living with my three sisters to buy my own house in the central district 3. My house was in an alley in district 5 at that time. I told my mother: 'Now that I am famous, people can see me when I go out and about, I cannot live in an alley. We still live with my sisters and nieces, so I am not comfortable. Sell the house, give each sister a little, and then buy a house in district 3 to live with me'.

I am the youngest son, without a family, so my mother agreed to let me go with her. After selling the house, I bought a house in District 3, and had 30 taels of gold left over, which I kept."

Nguyen Duc revealed about the slip of his life because he listened to his friends: "I hung out with a group of friends. They wore branded clothes, drove luxury cars, but sold illegal drugs and things to play in nightclubs. Because I was so considerate, I listened to them and fell into the abyss of debauchery.

I entered the sought-after nightclub, sat at a nice table, and had fine wine in front of me. I went there initially just to drink, but a friend broke a purple pill in half and gave it to me, saying: 'Hey, try it, it's great, it's 500,000 VND a pill'.

I was too lenient and took it. I started taking that medicine for years, missed all my shows, and couldn't sing anymore. My life just fell into the abyss without me knowing."

After losing his career, falling into poverty and illness, Nguyen Duc gradually realized many truths about life and turned to Buddhism to cultivate and practice. Thanks to Buddhism, he changed completely, becoming more gentle and kind, not affected by outside temptations.

Currently, at the age of nearly 60, the male singer is aiming for a healthy lifestyle such as being a vegetarian, going to the temple every day, and singing Buddhist music.

Nguyen Duc shared about rebuilding his life after falling down: "At that time, I sang everywhere, even at weddings, but no one let me sing. I even asked to sing on tourist boats at Bach Dang wharf for 30,000 VND a night, but no one let me sing. My colleagues at that time refused me every time they saw me, saying: 'There are enough people, there is no place to sing'.

But fortunately, I had the opportunity to find Buddhist music to sing and it just settled down. Right when I found Buddhist music, this music genre was also on the rise.

At that time in 2011, Buddhist music was popular in many provinces and cities, so I had shows to sing at temples and events. I have continued to sing Buddhist music until now."

Quynh Lan: The queen of the tea room has a short marriage, no children, what now? JLO21:11:40 04/03/2025In addition to her successes in the field of singing, Quynh Lan is also admired by the audience through her beautiful but short marriage with poet Hoang Ngoc An. The late musician was 20 years older than her and had known each other for 10 years before moving to the same house.