Singer Thanh Lam and actor Xuan Bac were awarded the title of People's Artist.

Singer Thanh Lam and actor Xuan Bac are on the list of people awarded the title of People's Artist in the new period.

President Vo Van Thuong signed the decision to recognize the titles on November 28, and the artists are expected to receive the titles at a ceremony held next year.

Thanh Lam achieved the title after failing once because her application did not meet the requirements. In 2018, her mother, artist Thanh Huong, applied for her daughter, but at that time the singer did not receive enough votes from the ministerial council and lacked a medal.

The singer said she was happy to hear the news of receiving the title, and was grateful for the honor from the State, her colleagues, and the love the audience has given her over the decades of her singing career.

Singer Thanh Lam and actor Xuan Bac were awarded the title of People's Artist.

Artist Thanh Lam. Photo: Character provided

Xuan Bac is among the artists in the field of theater who were honored. In addition to his artistic activities, the actor is currently the Director of the Vietnam Drama Theater. Xuan Bac was on the list of candidates for the 9th People's Artist title in 2018, but withdrew his application for personal reasons.

The actor once said: "Achieving a title is not the final destination in my artistic career. If anyone thinks that doing art is to be honored, to 'hunt' for awards, to achieve a title, those people need to reconsider."

Artist Xuan Bac. Photo: Vietnam Drama Theater

In the music field, the title of People's Artist was also awarded to singers Tan Minh and Pham Phuong Thao. Some familiar faces honored in the theater field are artists Trinh Kim Chi (Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association), My Uyen (Small Stage Drama Theater, Ho Chi Minh City).

The first list announced by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism includes 42 individuals awarded the title of People's Artist, 154 individuals awarded the title of Meritorious Artist. Some of the faces awarded the title of Meritorious Artist are actor Bach Long (Idecaf Drama Theater, Ho Chi Minh City), actress Kim Xuyen (Hanoi Drama Theater), actress Nguyet Hang (Youth Theater). This is not the final list, some artists are still waiting for the President to sign the decision.

According to the new Decree issued on March 31, cases lacking medals are still included in the list of candidates for consideration, including: senior artists with many contributions in the field of art; artists actively participating in many activities serving political tasks; or artists who are lecturers at professional art schools, training many generations of students to participate and win high prizes internationally.

People's Artist is the highest title awarded by the State to individuals working in the field of culture and art. The State has organized review rounds in 1984, 1988, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019. People awarded the title of People's Artist must have at least 20 years of experience, be awarded at least two gold prizes or one gold prize and two silver prizes at national, regional or international art festivals and performances and Central Literature and Art Associations since being awarded the title of Meritorious Artist.

For many years, artists have repeatedly wanted to change the process of considering titles, such as: eliminating the consideration of medals, eliminating the need for artists to apply for approval themselves. Many cases failed in the basic rounds, then were considered for additional consideration, such as artists Tran Hanh, Minh Vuong, Thanh Tuan.

Singer Thanh Lam and actor Xuan Bac were awarded the title of People's Artist.