NSND Dương Kim Ngân recently shared her experiences with a delegation from the General Staff of the Ministry of National Defense, visiting and performing for soldiers and local residents on Trường Sa Island.
Colonel, NSND Dương Kim Ngân, is affectionately known as the “nightingale of Vietnam’s North” by colleagues and audiences. (Photo: Provided by subject).
On April 20th, she will participate in rehearsals and a performance of the “A Nation of Joy” art program at Independence Palace in Ho Chi Minh City, marking the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and reunification of Vietnam (April 30, 1975 – April 30, 2025).
The female singer proudly wears the uniform of a soldier, using her talent and voice to serve people across the nation.
“I’m fortunate to have a warm, evocative, and powerful voice that allows me to sing many sentimental and revolutionary songs. I also sing many familiar folk songs from the people of Vietnam’s northern region. This allows me to confidently perform on stage,” said NSND Dương Kim Ngân.
From a young age, she displayed a talent for music, which caught the eye of the Army Culture and Arts Troupe 1 during a local talent search. Currently, she is the head of the Army Culture and Arts Troupe 1, holding the rank of Colonel.
Before her current position, she studied vocal performance at the Army College of Culture and Arts (now the Army University of Culture and Arts).
Audiences and colleagues often call her the “nightingale of Vietnam’s North”. Explaining this nickname, she said: “While working with the Army Culture and Arts Troupe 1, I frequently performed for soldiers and people throughout the provinces and cities of Vietnam’s northern region, including Cao Bằng, Bắc Kạn, Lạng Sơn, Hà Giang, Thái Nguyên, and Tuyên Quang, with songs deeply rooted in the folk music of Vietnam’s North. As an artistic leader, I’ve worked alongside artists and actors to bring art to the soldiers and people of the Vietnamese northern highlands,” she said.
Under NSND Dương Kim Ngân’s direction, the Army Culture and Arts Troupe 1 has made significant marks with quality art programs, including “The Origin of Vietnam’s North,” “The Sounds of the Thousand Winds,” and “The Colors of Vietnam’s North.”
These programs have earned the troupe accolades, such as the Gold Medal at the National Music and Dance Festival in 2015, the Gold Medal at the All-Army Professional Arts Festival in 2018, and the Gold Medal at the All-People’s National Defense Arts Festival in 2023.
Beyond her career, NSND Dương Kim Ngân has a strong family foundation. Her husband is a soldier, and they have three children. Her eldest daughter also follows in her parents’ footsteps.
NSND Dương Kim Ngân and her husband met through song. (Photo: Provided by subject).
She shared that during performances, she usually sings 3-4 songs, and after each one, the soldiers would cheer and sing along. Her career brought her and her husband closer together.
“In the past, when I was performing at the 2nd Regiment, while singing the song “Whispering to the River,” I asked, ‘In the afternoon, when you return home, will you wait for me?’ Her husband stood up and said, ‘I will wait for you, Ngân.’ Later, we became husband and wife. Art brought us together, guiding us on our journey through life,” the artist recounted.
