"Nothing to lose but a half-baked career"

After a traffic accident in 2010, Dong Thien Duc, then a programmer, had to close his web design company and do all kinds of jobs to make a living - writing code, designing, filming and editing music videos, working as a singer's assistant, and selling fish and snails at the market.

Buying used items from Ho Chi Minh City to sell in Binh Duong , he confided to VietNamNet: "The price difference between the two places is due to the standard of living. I just need to be 'thick-skinned' and 'stubbornly bargain' for the lowest price possible to make a profit of 200,000-300,000 VND."

Turning to being a musician, Dong Thien Duc sold his only motorbike to buy “decent clothes” to meet artists and music teachers. With no means of transportation, he walked nearly 20 kilometers from Hoc Mon district (old) to Phan Xich Long, Phu Nhuan district to study music theory with teacher Dien Trong Nguyen. For 7 months, he mainly ate instant noodles to save as much as possible on living expenses.

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Dong Thien Duc frankly shared about the incident that left him with 'nothing left to lose'.

Looking back on his career change journey, Dong Thien Duc said that this was a period of life that happened as quickly as a blink of an eye but was full of events: "During that period of being crushed, a man had no right to choose the path he took. There was no other way but to live and try."

Once he was financially stable and "able to decide his own life", he affirmed that pursuing his passion for art was obvious.

Dong Thien Duc is frank about the most difficult period of his life - broken marriage, ex-wife took the child away. "Over 30 years old, career is uncertain, family is broken, in front of me, behind my back, all the gates of relationships with brothers and friends are closed. To me, this is a failure.

I have nothing left to lose, except my 'unfinished' writing career, no one would regret losing it. However, I regret it because this is the only thing I own. Sometimes the profession throws me 'bad pieces', sometimes 'bad pieces'. All are delicious! That is the result of my achievements, helping me overcome difficulties," he said.

Dong Thien Duc and MC Quyen Linh, Nguyen Tran Duy Nhat at an event.

Dong Thien Duc admitted that he came to music with “empty hands and some debt”, with nothing but patience and forbearance. He was straightforward about his principles in the profession: “I have no experience, no connections, and nothing to trade or negotiate. The only thing I can do is show my value, so that my partners do not hesitate in their first contact and work.

The world is small, showbiz is even smaller. Artists’ temperaments sometimes go up and down. They sometimes can’t control themselves. Even if they make us ‘dislike’ we have to endure, even if they do us wrong we have to endure. Let’s not think about bigger things. Artists also want to work with people who are patient and can tolerate their temperament.”

Dong Thien Duc duet with Dam Vinh Hung:

"I listen to whatever my wife says!"

Dong Thien Duc admits that working in the same field with his wife, singer Le Thuy Anh, sometimes causes disagreements. However, art can mend everything because those who are passionate will always do their best.

He said: "Many nights, my wife was grumpy because she was pregnant, and I was also stressed about work, which led to arguments. When we both worked on a song together, everything was smooth as music."

The male musician admitted that his wife pointed out many weaknesses in his music: "I listen to whatever my wife points out! I'm not better than my wife in any way!"

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Dong Thien Duc and singer Le Thuy Anh had a baby last year. He has two children from previous marriages.

Regarding creative motivation when achieving certain successes, Dong Thien Duc believes that it is not difficult to maintain balance. Artists and creative people in general are misunderstood as living by emotions. However, only those who are rational enough can understand how to exploit the flow of intense emotions and not let themselves "wander" too far.

The male musician admitted that men's emotions sometimes surge due to many catalysts. At that time, besides his wife, no one, no reason can help him balance. He plans to make 2 EPs Red Love, Green Love for his wife.

Dong Thien Duc (Dang Huu Duc) was born in 1987 in Binh Dinh, has outstanding compositions such as: Tomorrow people get married, Lock of separation, All or nothing, One more time of pain ... His new projects are: 3 songs for the album Youth is not to cry - Dam Vinh Hung, live show celebrating 30 years of singing in November 2025 by Dan Truong, theme song Cha mot doi vi ta for the movie Hai Muoi...

His composition One Round of Vietnam will be performed by divo Tung Duong with the Sun Symphony Orchestra at the National Concert Forever 2025.

Divo Tung Duong sings the song "One Round Vietnam":

Photos, videos: NVCC, collected

Ngoc Son's adopted son and Dong Thien Duc sing a soulful ballad duet . S Quang Ngoc - Ngoc Son's adopted son - collaborates with close friend, musician Dong Thien Duc, in a new product.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tai-nan-khien-tac-gia-mot-vong-viet-nam-mat-tat-ca-chiu-mat-day-kiem-song-2428855.html