Despite having no artistic background in his family, Bảo Chung exhibited an early talent and passion for singing and acting. However, his family did not support his pursuits. At the age of 13, he decided to leave home and join the Đồng Ấu Hoa Thế Hệ troupe to study traditional opera.
During this time, Bảo Chung learned to sing, acted as a soldier, and eventually progressed to playing more significant roles. To support his studies, he took on a side job typesetting in a factory.
Bảo Chung is a well-known comedian in Southern Vietnam.
Bảo Chung’s career had a rocky start. Even at the age of 20, he was still moving from one troupe to another and performing in various provinces. It was only when he joined the Sông Hậu 3 troupe that he was given the leading role of Lục Vân Tiên, but he remained relatively unknown.
The turning point came when he was asked to fill in for another actor as a comedian in the plays Lâm Sanh – Xuân Nương and Bên cầu dệt lụa. Initially reluctant, he was persuaded to take on the role and unexpectedly succeeded, leaving a strong impression on the audience.
From then on, he realized his talent for comedic roles and continuously took on similar parts. Later, Bảo Chung had the opportunity to perform with famous comedians of that time, such as Văn Chung, Tùng Lâm, Thanh Hoài, Kim Quang, and Ba Vân, from whom he learned a great deal. Gradually, his name became more widely recognized by the audience.
In one of his interviews, Bảo Chung shared: “I feel fortunate that despite growing up in poverty and living in a temple as an orphan, I was later blessed by the performing arts profession and never had to worry about finances.”
In the early 2000s, he was dubbed the “king of comedy.”
From the 1980s to the 2000s, Bảo Chung’s career soared. In 1992, he was voted by the audience as one of the top 10 favorite comedians. In 1996, he won the Gold Medal in the Ho Chi Minh City Comedian Competition.
During his golden age, Bảo Chung gained fame both domestically and internationally, earning the title of “king of comedy.” He performed in dozens of shows every night, commanding astronomical fees, and amassed a fortune in gold, real estate, and luxury cars.
Bảo Chung is also known for his love of “supercars,” having owned over 50 vehicles. On one occasion, he brought 300 gold bars to purchase a car, equivalent to the value of a house in a major city at that time.
In his prime, Bảo Chung earned hundreds of gold bars and was a renowned “supercar” enthusiast.
In 2009, at the peak of his career, Bảo Chung emigrated to the United States. There, he continued to make a mark on the overseas stage, collaborating with well-known artists such as Vân Sơn, Lê Huỳnh, Quang Minh, and Hồng Đào. However, life in the US did not turn out as he had imagined. He could only perform on weekends, which left him feeling unfulfilled.
In 2019, Bảo Chung decided to return to Vietnam to continue his career and settle down. Regarding this decision, he shared: “I came back here and felt so happy that I decided to stay and work more. I realized that this is the true home of the arts. Abroad, I could only perform when there was a show, mostly on weekends. Here, I can work every day, whereas overseas, people only watch shows on weekends as they are busy working during the week.”
At the age of 70, Bảo Chung remains in high demand. He is constantly invited to perform in various provinces each month. Additionally, he produces comedy sketches and web series. The laughter and applause of his audience serve as his motivation to remain passionate about his craft.
While successful in his career, Bảo Chung experienced setbacks in his personal life, including two failed marriages and four children. He tends to keep his family life private and chooses to smile and remain tight-lipped when asked about it. It is known that his children live in the US and idolize their father.
Bảo Chung’s romantic life has been tumultuous, with two marriages ending in divorce.
Explaining his decision to keep his family life private, Bảo Chung once said: “I don’t mention my family, and I will never announce a divorce. This affects my work, reputation, and honor a lot. The public will judge my character based on these things. From the past to the present, I have always revered the audience. Many people are very poor, but they still save every penny to buy tickets to watch Bảo Chung perform, supporting me to this day. With such great affection, I have no right to disturb the public with personal noise.”
Currently, Bảo Chung enjoys a fulfilling life with his third wife, singer Diệu Thắm, who is 29 years his junior. Despite the significant age difference, the couple shares a harmonious relationship and understanding of each other’s work due to their shared profession.
At 70, Bảo Chung finds happiness with his third wife, singer Diệu Thắm.
In a rare moment of openness, Bảo Chung shared: “Thanks to my gentle and hardworking wife, I feel energized.”
At the beginning of 2025, the comedian organized a birthday party for his wife and even knelt down to present her with a bouquet of flowers. He confessed: “My wife doesn’t let me do anything, but I still want to give her a surprise. To be honest, I have never done this for anyone before.”
Bảo Chung and Diệu Thắm have a son together named Jac – Bảo Linh, who was born in 2021 when the comedian was 66 years old. Now, their son is four years old. Becoming a father again at an older age, Bảo Chung feels more joyful and motivated in his work.
A heartwarming moment as Bảo Chung presents flowers to his wife in early 2025.
The couple’s happiness is complete with the arrival of their beloved son.
WATCH: Bảo Chung and his wife at their son’s birthday party in 2024.
Currently, Bảo Chung and his wife reside in Ho Chi Minh City. Despite his advanced age, the comedian maintains a stable income from his performances, allowing him to provide for his wife and young son without financial worries.
In addition to his artistic endeavors, Bảo Chung also engages in online business ventures, selling coffee, and operating a cơm tấm (broken rice) restaurant in Long An. Thanks to his fame and the support of his fans, the restaurant thrives. On his YouTube channel, he often shares glimpses of his simple daily life.
Beyond his artistic pursuits, Bảo Chung also focuses on business ventures to provide for his family.
Bảo Chung shared: “We work tirelessly, but we are happy to have a job. For me, happiness is when my wife and I work together and live in the love of our fans.” The “king of comedy” is content with his current life and does not desire more. Additionally, he harbors a dream of writing a film script to further his artistic pursuits.
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