HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam – As boundaries between creative disciplines become increasingly fluid, Tran Minh Cuong has built a career at the intersection of television, theatre, music and literature. He regards these not as separate pursuits, but as complementary ways to tell Vietnamese stories with accessibility, depth and a sense of social purpose.
Born in 1988 in Tay Ninh Province, Cuong is an editor at Ho Chi Minh City Television (HTV). He holds a master’s degree in Film and Television Arts from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. His academic training supports his work in editing, staging and developing programming for children and for cultural, artistic, educational and community audiences.
Tran Minh Cuong onstage during a live-audience production. Photo supplied by the subject.
Cultural heritage as a creative source
In music, Cuong draws inspiration from the cultural character of different regions and communities. Three songs illustrate that interest: “Tren dinh nui ngam ngan may,” inspired by Hmong culture; “Xuan ve tren ban Dao,” inspired by Dao culture; and “Mua cao nguyen,” inspired by Ede culture. Together, they reflect an effort to approach traditional material respectfully while making it accessible to contemporary listeners.
Tran Minh Cuong engages with the audience during a stage production. Photo supplied by the subject.
Across television and theatre, he has served as general director of the musical-theatre program “Vuon am nhac,” the children’s play “Ho bien,” and the satirical play “Ngam cuoi.” The projects reflect recurring priorities in his work: encouraging children’s imagination, combining multiple performance forms and using humor to open conversations about everyday life.
From humor to the fragility of human lives
Cuong’s literary work spans short fiction, satire, essays and poetry. In 2025, Tong Hop Publishing House released “Nhung manh vo” and “Ngam cuoi.” In 2026, Literature Publishing House released “Chenh venh nhung phan nguoi.” The books reveal two connected strands in his writing: close observation of life’s fractures and a desire to approach individual experience with empathy.
Tran Minh Cuong presents his book “Ngam cuoi.” Photo supplied by the subject.
In “Ngam cuoi,” humor does more than entertain; it offers a lens through which familiar situations can be reconsidered. “Nhung manh vo” and “Chenh venh nhung phan nguoi” turn more directly toward individual lives, emotional wounds and the human need to be understood.
Working with integrity
Cuong summarizes his professional philosophy in a concise phrase: “Work with integrity.” For him, integrity is expressed not only in a project’s final message, but also in the choice of subject matter, the treatment of people and the responsibility a creator assumes toward the audience.
Tran Minh Cuong directing a stage production. Photo supplied by the subject.
Alongside writing and production, Cuong teaches and mentors students in the arts, television and event organization. Looking ahead, he intends to continue developing projects connected to the cultures of Vietnam’s ethnic communities, bringing heritage and community values to a new generation of audiences.
Tran Minh Cuong during a cultural exchange activity. Photo supplied by the subject.
About Tran Minh Cuong
Tran Minh Cuong is a Vietnamese editor at HTV, director, author and songwriter whose work spans television, theatre, music, literature and education.
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Media ContactCompany Name: Tran Minh CuongContact Person: Tran Minh CuongEmail: Send EmailPhone: +84 96 667 9969City: Ho Chi Minh CityCountry: VietnamWebsite: https://tranminhcuong.vn
