Thanh Duoc

Thanh Duoc (1938-     ) was a famous performer of "cai luong", Southern Vietnamese opera, in Saigon and a film actor.  Born in Soc Trang, Thanh Duoc began his professional career on stage at the age of 16.  Thanh Duoc has acted alongside some of the top performers of the "cai luong" stage such as Phung Ha, Nam Chau, Ut Tra On, Ut Bach Lan and Bach Tuyet.  From 1961 until 1964, Thanh Duoc was married to Ut Bach Lan and together they were known as the golden couple of the "cai luong" stage.  Among his leading ladies was the late legendary actress, Thanh Nga.  Thanh Duoc has since confessed that Thanh Nga was the true love of his life.

Blessed with good looks, Thanh Duoc was casted as the lead actor in Chiec Bong Ben Duong (1973), a film in which he starred alongside Kieu Chinh and Kim Cuong.  His performance in the film surprised audiences all over South Vietnam for his diversity as an actor.

Thanh Duoc and Ut Bach Lan in the "cai luong" play,
Nua Doi Huong Phan (1959)

Thanh Duoc and Ut Bach Lan 

In 1984, Thanh Duoc and Bach Tuyet toured West Germany to perform for the overseas Vietnamese audience there.  While on tour in West Germany, Thanh Duoc successfully applied for political asylum and remained there until he resettled in San Jose, California in 1995.  Thanh Duoc has since become a restaurateur and owns Thanh Duoc Restaurant in Milpitas, Northern California.