Meritorious Artist Cao Minh reveals the reason why he left the city for a deserted island to build his own theater

Hanoi [Vietnam], November 7: After many years of artistic activity, Meritorious Artist Cao Minh chose a private life amidst nature at Tri An Lake (Dong Nai City). At the age of 66, he still has a deep passion for music, while also harboring concerns about preserving traditional artistic values ​​and the path of his profession. Meritorious Artist Cao Minh, born in 1961, is a renowned singer specializing in traditional and revolutionary music, as well as lyrical folk songs, and is known as the "king of revolutionary music in Southern Vietnam." After many years in the arts, he chose to leave the hustle and bustle of showbiz and dedicate himself to building two eco-tourism resorts with five islands on Tri An Lake (Dong Nai City). Instead of resting comfortably, the artist personally renovated the landscape, built houses, and, notably, a wooden theater to continue nurturing his love of music and spreading cultural values.
Artist Cao Minh's private 'kingdom' in the middle of Tri An Lake.
Artist Cao Minh said he has been attached to the land of Ma Da (Dong Nai) for 28 years. When he first arrived, the area was still wild, sparsely populated, and almost devoid of trees. The land initially had a rocky terrain, making it difficult to cultivate, so he bought it at a relatively low price. After purchasing it, he hired an excavator to dig a pond and improve the terrain. Instead of leveling the entire area, he intentionally created undulating terrain, dividing it into spaces that evoke the image of a village on the plateau, a village in the plains, and small oases.
Sharing about the eco-tourism area, Cao Minh said that initially he quietly did everything alone, gradually improving the landscape using what was available. Without large financial resources for investment, he utilized discarded materials, repairing and reusing them. "I had a bulldozer, so I leveled the land slowly. I often went around collecting old things because I'm not a wealthy person with readily available funds. For example, if people abandoned their houses, they would dismantle them and give me the planks, which I would collect and pile up. I was like a bird building its nest, closing the doors and constructing the house myself," he recounted.
For artist Cao Minh, hand-carving, assembling door frames, and doing manual labor are not simply about renovating his home, but also about honing his life skills and nurturing his soul. These experiences also provide him with the life experience to authentically embody his film roles. The artist admits to being quite meticulous in his work; if a product doesn't meet his expectations or he's not satisfied, he's willing to discard it and start over.
Cao Minh shared that although the place is quite remote and isolated, he still cherishes it because of the surrounding natural environment, its proximity to the Nam Cat Tien forest reserve and Tri An freshwater lake. For him, it's a space to live freely, close to nature, and do the things he loves. Currently, he maintains a fairly early morning routine, usually going to bed at 6:30 PM and waking up at 4:30 AM.
The actor from "The Underground Tunnel" views his living space as his own "kingdom," where he can welcome loved ones without disturbing his neighbors. He believes that guests who travel long distances to visit him show him great affection. Therefore, he always wants to give a meaningful gift in return for that appreciation.
With that in mind, the 60-year-old artist bought plywood and built a wooden theater himself. He believes singing is his only profession and also the value he can offer to those who have shown him affection. The theater is designed with an architectural style similar to a church. However, Cao Minh said he doesn't follow any religion but only worships his ancestors. He chose this architectural style primarily because of its ability to create a good acoustic effect, allowing his singing voice to resonate fully during performances and as a gift to visitors.
More than just a performance space, the theater also embodies the artist's thoughts and concerns about his profession, especially the preservation and transmission of folk music values ​​to the younger generation. "This theater is Cao Minh's honest theater. All my artistic concerns are expressed through this space. To be honest, I have many sorrows and thoughts that I haven't been able to resolve. These concerns motivated me to seek out a distant land, to create my own space where I can live and pursue art the way I want...", the artist shared.
Source: Thanh Nein Newspaper