The keeper of the stage flame in everyday life

In every person’s life, there are passions that may seem like mere pastimes in moments of leisure, yet gradually become a quiet flame that burns throughout their lifetime. For veteran Hoang Thi Hai, a member of the Long Binh Ward Art Club and choreographer of the Anh Duong Club, that flame takes the form of the stage, traditional dance, folk melodies such as cheo and quan ho, and the rhythmic beat of festival drums echoing through the urban streets.

Hoang Thi Hai participates in the play at the radio studio of Dong Nai Newspaper and Radio, Television

With more than 35 years of service in the army, former officer Hoang Thi Hai, who once held the rank of major, has lived a life defined by discipline and duty. Yet, her heart has always beaten to the rhythm of art, of gentleness and subtlety. She is a soldier who has never set aside her passion, an artist who has never stepped down from the stage of life.

Passionate about the performing arts

Born in 1957, Hoang Thi Hai served in the army for 35 years, stationed at the Long Binh Depot in Dong Nai Province. She recalled that her love for the performing arts began during her military service. With a grasp of musical theory and choreography, she eagerly volunteered for army-wide arts festivals whenever the opportunity came. It was not merely for enjoyment, but because in each melody and every dance movement, she felt a part of herself truly come alive, breathing deeply with her heart.

Hoang Thi Hai (middle) participates in an arts performance. Photo: Hien Luong

After retiring in 2007, Hai did not choose a life of rest. Instead, she embarked on another journey, one illuminated by the stage lights. She joined the Long Binh Ward Art Club. Without a fixed venue or modern equipment, armed only with enthusiasm and passion, yet she has remained an active member for 18 years. Later, when the Anh Duong Club was founded in the same ward, she was invited to join its management board as a dance choreographer.

For her, each rehearsal is more than an opportunity to practise songs or dance routines. It is a moment to meet, to share, and to spread positive energy. Even when her legs ache or her voice grows hoarse, her heart feels light.

“When I am happy, people around me are happy too; optimism keeps us healthy,” Hai shared.

To Hoang Thi Hai, a member of the Long Binh Ward Art Club, art is not meant for show. It is a way for people to live more beautifully, to understand one another better, and to preserve the traditional values that are slowly fading amid modern life.

Living healthily, happily and meaningfully

Today, the Long Binh Ward Art Club has ten regular members who practise together. From folk dances, cheo (Vietnamese traditional opera), and quan ho (love duet) folk singing to staged performances, all bear Hai’s distinctive direction and choreography. She not only teaches performers how to dance but also coaches them on stage presence and emotional expression. As a result, the club’s amateur performers have grown increasingly confident, earning many awards at local art festivals.

Hai is also the soul behind every performance. From developing ideas, selecting music, writing scripts, and choreographing dance movements to stage design, she takes on every task, large and small. Over the years, she has created hundreds of performances, ranging from short theatrical performances and traditional dances to pieces praising the homeland. Each carries the unmistakable touch of an artist who has lived and devoted herself wholeheartedly to art. For Hai, the performing arts are not merely a pastime, but a way to live healthily, happily and meaningfully. No matter the fatigue or daily worries, the moment she steps onto the stage, all exhaustion fades away.

Without the spotlight of a professional theatre, without a paycheck or glamorous titles, Hoang Thi Hai quietly dedicates herself each day with pure passion and an unwearied heart. At the small stage of the local cultural house, the lights still shine nightly, and within that light stands a woman who continues to share her energy, rhythm, and love of life with generations to come.

Dam Van Nhuong, Head of Quarter 31, Long Binh Ward, Dong Nai province, said:

"Hai is one of the key figures in our local art movement. She is enthusiastic, responsible, talented, and very sociable. The elderly here adore her. Whenever the ward or the neighbourhood holds an event, she is always among the first to volunteer, helping to create a lively and unifying atmosphere.”

Amid the rapid changes of modern life, some values, though seemingly small, become profoundly precious, like the way Hai preserves the soul of Vietnamese culture through every cheo melody and quan ho verse; like the way she nurtures a community stage where anyone can sing, dance, and simply be themselves. In this way, her artistic journey may not dazzle like fireworks. Yet, it endures long enough to warm a corner of memory and shines with enough sincerity to touch the hearts of all who have listened, watched, and smiled with emotion.

By Hien Luong – Translated by Thuc Oanh, Thu Ha