Lam Truong: 'I hope to have more children at the age of 50'

Singer Lam Truong said he hopes to have a new member soon so his daughter will have a sibling to keep her company, but will not put pressure on his wife.

Lam Truong and his wife Yen Phuong - who is 17 years younger than him - are preparing to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary. On this occasion, the singer talked about his family life and work after 30 years of singing.

- Looking back on 10 years of marriage, what do you feel?

- I met Yen Phuong when she was an international student in the US. We had many memories during the four years of dating before getting married in 2014. Marriage became more meaningful when the family welcomed baby Phoebe into the world. To celebrate our wedding anniversary, I am planning a surprise for Phuong, believing that my wife will like it.

What I feel most clearly in my marriage so far is sincerity, both know how to live kindly with each other. Married life is hard to avoid conflicts but in the end, trust is built by both, increasingly stronger.

As a husband, I realize that I have to understand the feelings of the person I share my bed with. I understand more and more that women should not take everything in the house and taking care of the children for granted, which leads to being indifferent to them. I think that saying loving words to your wife every day is never too much.

Singer Lam Truong with his wife and children in a photo he shared in late 2023. Photo: Character provided

- How have you changed yourself to build a family?

- When I had a child, I regulated my behavior and actions so that my wife wouldn't be upset. For example, in the past, I was intimate with fans by not only taking photos together but also listening to them tell their personal stories. For me, this comes from kindness and respect for the audience, but sometimes it makes my wife uncomfortable. I understand and avoid repeating it so that my wife doesn't have a headache.

I always tell Phuong directly about everything. This change has made me proud of myself for having gained my wife's trust. I consider it a personal advantage that needs to be promoted.

- You always claim to be happy, but there have been many rumors of problems in your marriage. What do you say?

- We are very comfortable with the fact that we are often involved in such rumors. I don't want to be rumored every now and then and have to correct or explain. My husband and I rarely have the habit of posting private photos or sharing our feelings on social media. For me, feelings must come from sincerity, combined with actions so that the other person understands, not having to force ourselves to prove it.

Family is the most important thing to me now. Honestly, I dare not imagine that one day if I accidentally hurt my wife, that would be the biggest loss of my life.

Lam Truong with his daughter on the first trip of the year. Photo: Character provided

- What are your current wishes in married life?

- My husband and I are planning to have another child. Recently, Phuong's younger brother had a baby. Every time Phoebe sees him, she hugs and kisses him. We realized it was time to add a new member to the family.

I don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl or what year to have the baby. Everything depends on the health and work conditions of both people. I told my wife not to stress, just let things go naturally because children are a gift from God.

Recently, my schedule has been very busy, running shows and preparing projects continuously. This time back in the US, my husband and I said we would try together, be proactive about the time to conceive to soon achieve our wish.

- What about your wife makes you admire her so far?

- Since giving birth, Yen Phuong has sacrificed many things for the family, especially the time to be by Phoebe's side to take care of and train her. In addition to being the supporter so that I can focus on developing my career, Phuong still does well in her favorite personal jobs such as running a sales business in Vietnam and working as an accountant for a company in the US.

Phuong is very similar to her mother in that she is good at business and does not like to sit still and let her husband support her even though I am fully capable. She is quick and well-organized in everything, so I feel very secure every time I go on a business trip. Phuong has many plans and intentions to develop herself in the future, and I always respect all her decisions.

I feel sorry for my wife because she has to play the "bad guy" in raising our child. However, my wife and I are very compatible in the way we educate our child. For example, when my wife scolds our child, I will find a way to comfort him so that he does not feel hurt or isolated.

- How do you compensate your children for constantly running shows?

- In the US, I often accept to perform on weekends, so the remaining days are for my child. I take him to school, play, and talk to him so he can understand more about the world around him. At first, I planned to let him go to kindergarten and elementary school in the country because both sets of grandparents are here, and he will also speak Vietnamese better. After the pandemic, when I brought him to the US to play, he said he liked the learning environment and showed his drawing ability early, so my husband and I decided to take care of the procedures so that he could stay and develop.

I am happy that the older my child gets, the more obedient and kind he becomes. Every month, I usually divide my time between the US and Vietnam because my mother is old in my hometown. Every time I leave the house with my suitcase, I often say: "Dad will go away for a few days and then come back to visit you." I explain that I am old now and that I chose to live with my father, so as a child, I have to be responsible. My child does not yet fully understand the meaning of this sentence, but he always encourages me with a smile, hugs my neck and says: "I love you so much, Dad."

"Raising children helps you understand your parents' love" - this saying of grandparents is true. I find myself increasingly appreciating the nurturing grace of my parents. I teach my children to live lovingly and kindly. I also never want them to be hurt by seeing their parents quarrel.

For the past two months, I have been taking my wife and children home to visit my family. Phoebe loves her grandmother very much. Every time she sees her going into the bathroom, she stops watching TV and runs to help her step by step. Seeing her actions makes me happy.

Lam Truong's style at the age of 50. He was one of the most popular male singers in the late 1990s and early 2000s with many hits such as "Love is so sad" (Bao Chan), "Vail shoes" (Nguyen Hai Phong), "Katy Katy" (Duc Tri). Photo: Provided by the character.

- You regularly release products and invest in your own projects. What motivates you to stick with this career?

- My greatest energy is still my passion that has never faded, always wanting to bring the audience good songs with the true Lam Truong style - something that has been recognized by the public for the past 30 years. The audience is also the factor that helps me keep the passion for my profession. There are shows where I sing without receiving any remuneration because it is meaningful. I am moved when hearing stories about workers who earn a few million a month, having to save up to buy tickets to see me sing. If I think about singing for money, then I am a mediocre person.

My current show schedule is quite tight, lasting until next year. Sometimes I feel a bit stressed and exhausted. Luckily, my parents gave me good health. Recently, I have focused on regular health check-ups for peace of mind. At the same time, I have let go a bit, no longer working recklessly like when I was younger, instead I spend more time with my family.

- What is your fear in life now?

- My mother is 90 years old. I am very afraid of the feeling that one day she will no longer be by my side. After my father passed away many years ago, that feeling became more and more obvious because my mother's health is not as good as before.

However, I understand that everyone in this life must follow the natural laws of birth, aging, sickness, and death. I don't want to instill that fear in my mother, and I don't want her to know that I'm worried. Therefore, in our conversations, I always say "I'm very happy now, everything is fine" to reassure my mother.

My mother and I often talked about life philosophy, reincarnation, that when people die, if they live well, they will go to a land full of fragrant flowers and strange grasses. I am always proud of my mother's life and way of life, which has taught me many lessons and the value of love.

I still fly back to visit my mother every month. I hired a maid to take care of her when I can't be with her. My brothers who live nearby also come over to visit and comfort her so she won't be lonely. Before, I used to take my mother out to eat her favorite dishes. Now she's sick and eats less, but she still loves watching sports. When I have time, I sit down and watch with her, comment on a match, and seeing her smile is enough to satisfy me. I realize that at this age, the elderly just need peaceful, close moments like that instead of something big or material.

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