Artist Phuong Lien returned from the US to visit Hong Nga, and was heartbroken to see her colleague in such a state.

After nearly seven years away from her homeland, Cai Luong artist Phuong Lien has returned to Vietnam. This homecoming is not about performances or stage appearances, but rather a quiet journey to reconnect with old friends and family, including a deeply moving reunion with artist Hong Nga – a colleague who has been closely associated with her through many stages of Cai Luong theater.

The last time artist Phuong Lien returned to Vietnam was in 2018, when she participated in the play "Doi Co Luu". After that, life abroad, along with major social changes, especially the COVID-19 pandemic and personal emotional shocks, caused the artist to withdraw and rarely appear in public. Therefore, this return carries more personal significance than a professional event.

In her early days in Vietnam, artist Phuong Lien received care and attention from close colleagues. However, her first destination was to visit artist Hong Nga – a contemporary artist who had left a deep impression on the hearts of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera) enthusiasts. The meeting took place in a simple setting, without a stage or lights, just human connection and shared memories of their profession.

According to those present, artist Hong Nga's health has deteriorated significantly. Time and illness have left her less sharp-minded than before, to the point where she almost doesn't recognize her familiar colleagues from years past. The moment artist Phuong Lien sat beside her, tearfully holding her hand and calling out Hong Nga's name, moved many of those witnessing it deeply. It was a reunion without words, yet filled with layers of emotion about the harsh passage of time.

The meeting between the two artists evokes memories of a golden age of Cai Luong (Vietnamese traditional opera), where artists were bound together not only by their roles, but also by camaraderie, sharing, and mutual respect. Although each now faces a different fate, that artistic bond remains valuable and enduring through the years.

Earlier, Phi Phụng and Phương Dung's group also visited artist Hồng Nga and revealed her current situation. It is known that the veteran artist's daily life depends entirely on her long-time caregiver. The caregiver said that she spends most of her time in bed. The family tries to have her sit in a wheelchair when she is lucid, to facilitate eating and to limit the occurrence of skin problems common in the elderly.

Regarding daily life, the artist cannot feed herself; all meals must be spoon-fed. However, artist Hong Nga does not suffer from loss of appetite and can eat a large bowl of pho, though the food must be mashed into smaller pieces to make it easier to swallow. Bathing, personal hygiene, changing clothes, and moving around are also done by others. She cannot walk on her own and does not go outside unless pushed in a wheelchair.

When Phương Dung and Phi Phụng inquired about her health, she spoke haltingly, not getting to the point. The actress also couldn't remember her own age and didn't recognize her long-time colleagues.

"She looks fresher but her memory is failing. She speaks indistinctly, and it's hard to understand what she's saying. An interpreter is needed to understand her," Phuong Dung shared about the veteran artist's current condition.

When her colleagues asked her to sing for the audience, she could only remember the line "The boat has set sail...", then hummed the melody of a traditional Vietnamese folk song from the classic play "The Boat Sets Sail at the Sea Gate". She continued to speak incoherently, with little relevance to the conversation between Phuong Dung, Phi Phung, and the caregiver.

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