Mac Can, Dieu Hien, Huynh Thanh Tra and other veteran artists "move to their new house" with excitement.

At noon on February 26, the truck transporting the belongings of veteran artists arrived at the Ho Chi Minh City Artists Nursing Home. After artist Le Tham passed away at the age of 87, the District 8 Artists Nursing Home, Ho Chi Minh City has 6 artists left: Dieu Hien, Ngoc Dang, Hoa Tranh, Ngoc Be, Lam Son, and Dang Thi Xuan.

Mạc Can, Diệu Hiền, Huỳnh Thanh Trà và các nghệ sĩ lão thành — Artist Ngoc Dang (left) and Meritorious Artist Dieu Hien sadly say goodbye to the Ho Chi Minh City Artist Nursing Home

However, during this "new house move", artist Hoa Tranh asked the management board for permission to return home to live with her family, so the 5 veteran artists along with artists Mac Can and Huynh Thanh Tra were supported by the Thi Nghe Nursing Center and the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association to move the artists' belongings and belongings to their new residence.

"We were helped to pack our things a day in advance, so that tomorrow morning, February 27, there will be a program to welcome us organized by Thi Nghe Nursing Center. I am very excited, for many days, I have been packing my belongings and clothes into cardboard boxes with my daughter, artist Dieu Thanh, to prepare to move. I feel very sad" - Meritorious Artist Dieu Hien shared her feelings when she put the last shirt in the cardboard box.

The oldest artist at the City Artists' Nursing Home is artist Ngoc Dang, she has been working in art for decades. "From now on, I will no longer live at the Artists' Nursing Home, right now the person I remember most is People's Artist Phung Ha, she built a welfare project for retired veteran artists like us to have a place to rely on" - artist Ngoc Dang said emotionally.

In the past, at the Ho Chi Minh City Artists Nursing Home, there was only one male artist, artist Lam Son. He was a singer of the Tram Vang Opera Troupe. There was also artist Ngoc Be, a pianist. She played many plays for the Huong Mua Thu Opera Troupe and Ms. Dang Thi Xuan.

She was in charge of the stage kitchen. She was orphaned at a young age; she used to work in the city's opera troupe making costumes, then cooking for the troupes.

People's Artist Trinh Kim Chi, Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Theater Association, informed: "The artists have lived together for a long time, so this time when moving to a new house, everyone is sad because they are far from their familiar place. The artists all live in harmony, seeing each other as family members."

Writer and artist Mac Can said: "I am happy and touched, very grateful to those who have helped me, treating me like family."

Artist Mac Can wiped away his tears, looking at the new room where the staff was helping him move furniture into. From now on, he will have a quiet space to live with his artistic colleagues.