Chinh Nhan: A painful love story with the first transgender singer in Vietnam

Artist Chinh Nhan was born in 1970 in Ho Chi Minh City in a family with an artistic tradition. Cai Luong artist Chinh Nhan's parents are the late artist Duc Loi and artist Bach Mai, and his younger sister is female artist Binh Tinh.

Artist Chinh Nhan is also the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Ngoc Huynh - the leader of the Huynh Long reformed opera troupe. Joining the Bach Long Children's Troupe since he was young, Chinh Nhan learned singing, dancing, martial arts... and soon showed himself to be a promising artist. But in order for Chinh Nhan to have a stable career in difficult times, his father wanted his son to learn to repair motorbikes. However, Chinh Nhan did not give up his passion and asked his parents to continue joining the Children's Troupe, only performing on weekends the plays: "Quan Cong Dai Chien Bang Duc", "That Hien Quyen", "San Ha Xa Tac"... Finally, Chinh Nhan became more and more confident in his profession thanks to his efforts to hone his skills.

Artist Chinh Nhan impressed the audience with his role as Cao Quan Bao in the play "Luu Kim Dinh Giai Gia Tho Chau" and the double role in the play "Kim Ho Diep"... With the role of An Duong Vuong in the excerpt "Trong Thuy - My Chau", Chinh Nhan received the promising gold medal of the Tran Huu Trang award. And following in the footsteps of previous artists such as: Thanh Tong, Minh Long, Truong Son... was assigned to play the difficult roles of Ly Dao Thanh, To Hien Thanh in stage and television programs.

When the stage program "Keeping the Roots Forever" was organized not long ago, Chinh Nhan received encouragement and support from his family, friends and colleagues. To make a living, Chinh Nhan had to sing in the provinces for a while. For him, 25 years of singing was a process of continuous striving, even at times as a troupe leader, he suffered losses.

Compared to many of his contemporaries who became famous early, such as Vu Luan and Kim Tieu Long, Chinh Nhan's path was full of obstacles, but he was still persistent and passionate about his profession. He once expressed his wish to re-establish the Huynh Long classical opera troupe, the artistic cradle that had given wings to many actors, but Chinh Nhan's dream did not come true!

Regarding her private life, in the past, artist Kim Tu Long sent Chinh Nhan down to sing for Cat Tuyen's lottery troupe. She is considered the first transgender singer in Vietnam. After falling in love with Cat Tuyen after living together for a while, Chinh Nhan proposed to marry her.

Cat Tuyen - the first transgender singer in Vietnam has a love story full of ups and downs.

Before coming to Cat Tuyen, artist Chinh Nhan was married to artist Bao Ngoc, they had a son together, Ngoc Cuong - who played the role of Sang in the play "Durian Leaf" by People's Artist Kim Cuong. To share life and also because of pity for him raising the child alone, Cat Tuyen wanted them to get married so that they could overcome all the difficulties of life.

After 6 years of dating, in the 7th year they decided to get married. But because of the social prejudices of that time, the marriage was not supported by Chinh Nhan's mother. Because it was the first transgender wedding, Cat Tuyen shared that she and artist Chinh Nhan had a very difficult time organizing the wedding, even the police came. Because she had already invited guests, she had to cry and beg.

Chinh Nhan's parents wanted him to pursue a singing career, wanted him to have a wife and children like normal people and not have to depend on Cat Tuyen. People also said that Cat Tuyen did not live long because she did not have children and had to undergo many surgeries.

To cut off contact with Cat Tuyen and also because of the prejudice and strictness of society, Chinh Nhan's mother forced him to go to America. Because she wanted to find a husband and loved him so much, Cat Tuyen also followed him to America. When she arrived, Chinh Nhan's mother forced him to return to Vietnam and kept his passport from going to America. Finally, under too much pressure, she decided to leave. To her, Chinh Nhan was not at fault at all. She cut off contact because she wanted him to be happy and have a wife and children.

Only later did Cat Tuyen book a flight back to Vietnam when she heard that Chinh Nhan was seriously ill and wanted to talk and see her husband for the last time. Talking about the time when the two of them were very happy, Chinh Nhan also held Cat Tuyen's hand emotionally. Singer Cat Tuyen shared: "If there is a next life, I still want to be Chinh Nhan's wife."

In 2009, Cat Tuyen married a man in the US for the second time. But the marriage broke down in 2013. Cat Tuyen only publicly revealed that her future husband was a businessman in 2018, after spending ten years living a private life. She once said: "My husband has never had a hard time with his wife's past." When she was nearly 40 years old, Cat Tuyen returned to her artistic activities and is currently living in the US.

Talking about this painful love story, Binh Tinh - artist Chinh Nhan's younger sister could not help but be moved when telling the story of how her deceased brother was once forbidden from falling in love with Cat Tuyen, causing the marriage to break up.

Artist Binh Tinh and his brother - the late artist Chinh Nhan are both descendants of a family of reformed opera artists.

On a program, Binh Tinh said: "At that time, he painfully confided: I am also human, why can't I love and be with the person I choose. I like that, I love that person, that's enough!" After many hardships, they got to the wedding and then had to break up, Cat Tuyen felt she had to leave so that her husband's family could be happy.

In 2016, artist Chinh Nhan suddenly passed away due to acute pneumonia at the age of 44. At that time, Cat Tuyen was also present at her ex-husband's funeral.

Artist Binh Tinh: Carrying the whole family alone, quietly helping many colleagues Thảo Mai19:28:31 29/03/2025Binh Tinh is the daughter of the Duc Loi - Bach Mai traditional opera artist couple. Her family has 4 generations pursuing the art of opera. Binh Tinh herself has had a passion for opera since she was very young.