Ho Chi Minh City Cai luong artist Dieu Hien could not sleep because she was both happy and unfamiliar with the place, the first night she moved to live at the nursing home.
The ceremony to welcome seven artists to live at Thi Nghe Nursing Home (Binh Thanh District) took place on the morning of February 27. With trembling hands, receiving a bouquet of flowers from Mr. Duong Anh Duc - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, writer Mac Can, 79 years old, said: "From now on, I have a roof over my head to protect me from the sun and rain. I used to live in a rented house, in a shabby place, but now I have moved to a spacious place, where I receive daily health care. There is nothing more I want in my old age," he said.
Artists Lam Son (front row) and Mac Can (second row) are assisted by volunteers during the welcoming ceremony for veteran artists to live at Thi Nghe Nursing Center. Photo: Quynh Tran
The residence of artist Mac Can and six other artists is located in building A6, quietly located among trees and gardens. In a room of about 16 square meters, with its own bathroom, the artist’s daughter - Ms. Le Thi Xuan Dung, 45 years old - helped him arrange furniture and clothes to move from the boarding house in Binh Tan.
In addition to personal belongings, Mac Can brought a painting that the audience had drawn for him, a poster for Cai Oi - a film adapted from a Nguyen Ngoc Tu novel he had participated in, and dozens of books that filled the cupboard. His son said that although his legs were weak, his joints were swollen, and he had to use a wheelchair for several years, he felt better when he heard about a new place to live and reunited with friends. Moving into the center on February 26, the artist bragged to his daughter that he slept well last night and did not feel strange in the place.
Artist Mac Can is taken care of by a nurse and reminded to take his medicine. Photo: Quynh Tran
For the past two years, Mac Can has lived alone in a rented house of a few square meters, with a monthly rent of 2.4 million VND. Every day, his daughter comes over to help him cook and clean. The artist said he has three children, the eldest son passed away a long time ago, and the remaining daughter is married far away. Mrs. Dung said she is a freelancer, "doing whatever job anyone hires her to do", so her income is only enough to rent a room and take care of her own family.
Away from the screen, mainly writing books and scripts, Mac Can makes ends meet with support from benefactors. After his wife passed away in 2022, his life became even more lonely. "When my father came here, I was very happy because he had colleagues to keep him company and no longer felt lonely," said Dung.
Ms. Thanh Thuy - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City - visited artist Dieu Hien at her new residence. Photo: Quynh Tran
In addition to Mac Can and Huynh Thanh Tra, the remaining artists such as Dieu Hien and Ngoc Dan were transferred to a new place after leaving the Artists' Retirement Home (Au Duong Lan Street, District 8). On the day she moved into her new home, Dieu Hien brought many souvenirs, including a photo of her student - artist Vu Linh when she was young. Unlike her colleagues, she said she did not sleep well last night, partly because she was not used to the place and partly because she missed her old home.
"After nearly 10 years on the other side, I got to know everyone from the path to each pet, and was often visited by the audience, so when we parted, I felt a bit reluctant. Although I missed the old place, I was moved because when I came here, I saw that the facilities were more spacious and the medical care conditions were better," Dieu Hien said.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City - called the center a "warm common home" for artists. According to Ms. Thuy, in recent years, the nursing home in District 8 has deteriorated, not ensuring living conditions for elderly artists. Many elderly people are weak and cannot take care of themselves, and the nursing home does not have staff to take care of them.
Ngoc Dang, 97 years old, is the oldest of the artists moving into the center. Photo: Quynh Tran
In the spirit of "remembering the source of water when drinking", the City People's Committee approved the proposal of the Theater Association to allow seven artists to move to new residences, including: Dieu Hien, Ngoc Dang, Ngoc Be, Lam Son, Dang Xuan (costume specialist), Mac Can (writer, actor, magician), Huynh Thanh Tra (drama actor).
According to Ms. Trinh Kim Chi - representative of the Theater Association, when living here, the artists will receive better medical care, because the old residence was mainly thanks to the contributions of benefactors. Their new living area has two floors, including 10 rooms. Here, they are served three meals a day, and have a team of nurses to check their health periodically. In the near future, the Department will coordinate with literary and artistic associations to continue reviewing to propose bringing some artists to the care center.
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