VietNamNet Bridge – Eighty-year-old singer Tran Hieu has been recognised by Viet Nam Guinness Records as the country’s oldest People’s Artist.

Lifetime of music: Eighty-year-old People’s Artist Tran Hieu (right). Photo tienphong.vn

Born in 1936 in Son Tay Province (now Ha Noi), Hieu began singing when he was only 11 years old.

He studied music at the Sofia Music Conservatory in Bulgaria.

In 1991, he worked as a lecturer for the Ha Noi Music Conservatory after five years of singing for the Youth Theatre in Ha Noi.

In 2000, he moved to live in HCM City and now works as a freelance singer.

He made his fame by singing patriotic music.

He has worked with leading symphony orchestras, performed in several musicals, and has travelled at home and abroad to promote Vietnamese music.

He has also worked with leading television and radio stations such as Viet Nam Television and HCM City television, performing in dozens of reality shows and attracting thousands of fans.

He now works as a lecturer for music schools and centres, including the HCM City Music Conservatory.    

 “I’m still working hard every day.  I will perform on stage until I can’t,” said People’s Artist Hieu, adding that he was happy to receive the honour from Viet Nam Guinness Records.

Vietkings, owned by the HCM City-based publishing company Vietbooks, records national Guinness Records in all fields including culture, arts, literature, music and lifestyle.

"We are working to research and make public more new records featuring artists who have helped introduce and preserve Vietnamese music and theatre, enabling local and foreign visitors to learn more about the arts," said Le Tran Truong An, general director of Vietbooks.

VNS