The Elusive Artist: Where in the World is Thương Tín?

According to Tiền Phong, veteran actor Thương Tín went missing after attending a wedding in Ho Chi Minh City on April 20th. He took a bus to Ninh Thuận and could not be reached by his loved ones.

Prior to his disappearance, musician Tô Hiếu expressed concern about Thương Tín’s gaunt and haggard appearance. In an interview with Tiền Phong, Tô Hiếu revealed the challenges of coordinating with Thương Tín for performance bookings and his worry for the actor’s well-being.

It wasn’t until noon on April 28th that Thương Tín reached out to his acquaintances, explaining that he had lost contact due to a drained phone battery and his lack of attention to it.

The once-famous actor reflected on his life, acknowledging his past mistakes and expressing his desire for young artists to learn from them. He also mentioned his living situation, which was arranged by musician Tô Hiếu, and his determination to support his young daughter.

“I have a young daughter to care for. She was born with a famous artist as her father, but during a difficult period with many shortages. I love my child, so I will do my best.

My financial situation is unstable, with varying income from month to month. Whatever I earn, I send to my family, primarily to support my daughter. My eldest son from my first marriage already has two daughters of his own, aged 16 and 17, so he must focus on his family and cannot fully support me. We have been meeting regularly, though. My son is a good singer, but he doesn’t always choose the right songs.” – Thương Tín shared.

The actor also spoke about his fading stardom, comparing himself to a candle flickering before it goes out. He expressed contentment with his contributions to Vietnamese cinema, notably his roles in Biệt Động Sài Gòn, Bạch Hải Đường, and Tình Khúc 68. Despite his past mistakes, he does not seek everyone’s affection and is satisfied with his impact on the industry.

“I couldn’t expect everyone to love me. I have contributed to Vietnamese cinema, and I have stumbled. Now, I don’t demand or aspire for anything more. I just hope to have enough strength to take care of my daughter.”

Thương Tín also shed light on the financial challenges of being an actor in the past. He mentioned that despite the long filming periods, the pay was meager, contrary to popular belief. He found more financial stability in theater, performing with actress Kim Cương’s troupe during his heyday.

“Back then, I was famous, but my life was difficult. I wasn’t conventionally handsome, but I photographed well. Even when I was hungry, I had to maintain my public image. That’s the challenge of being a celebrity; it’s harder than being a regular person.” – the once-celebrated artist confessed.