What happened to the "heartthrobs" of Southern Vietnamese TV dramas?

Hanoi [Vietnam], July 24: A familiar face on the southern screen with his roles as dashing, romantic "prince charming," actor Thanh Thuc has just finished filming a television drama project shot in the southwestern provinces of Vietnam.
According to Thanh Thuc, he cannot reveal the specific character he will play in director Truong Dung's film "Like Falling Raindrops ," but behind-the-scenes images show that the actor continues to maintain a steady pace of work even in his 40s. Amidst the constant appearance of younger faces on screen, Thanh Thuc still holds his own unique position as a familiar "heartthrob" in Southern Vietnamese television dramas.
A long and dedicated career journey and a private life.
With over 20 years of dedicated artistic activity, the actor, born in 1984, entered the entertainment industry as a model, possessing a height of approximately 1.81 m, a chiseled face, and a masculine demeanor. Before becoming a well-known actor, he made his mark on the fashion runway, then transitioned to film, starting with small roles.
Thanh Thức's good looks often landed him roles as sophisticated, successful, or well-off characters. However, relying solely on his appearance would have made it difficult for him to maintain his screen presence for over two decades. The actor's resilience stems from consistently accepting film roles, both leading and supporting, and avoiding confining himself to a single type of role.
Thanh Thức has appeared in many television dramas known to audiences in the South, such as " The Ugly Girl," "Blog and the Beauty," "When in Love, Don't Look Back," "The Rose Circle," "Beautiful Woman," "Sticky Rice and White Rice," etc. Among them, " When in Love, Don't Look Back" brought him attention when he starred opposite Ngân Khanh in a mysterious love story.
Over the years, Thanh Thức's on-screen image has often been associated with the image of a calm, kind, and emotionally rich man. This is both an advantage and a limitation. His role as Nghĩa in " Life's Challenge" is an example of this familiar image. Nghĩa is so gentle and kind that he constantly suffers disadvantages, causing many viewers to feel both sympathy and frustration. The character demonstrates Thanh Thức's ability to create a positive impression, but also reflects the fact that he has been "typecast" for too long in the role of a long-suffering, upright man.
The actor once shared his desire to play villains or characters with different personalities to step outside his comfort zone.
A notable turning point in Thanh Thức's film career came from director Lý Hải's " Lật Mặt " (Face Off) series. In "Lật Mặt 6: Tấm Ve Định Mệnh" (Face Off 6: The Fateful Ticket), he played An, a member of a group of friends who shared a winning lottery ticket. The character's journey wasn't long, but he was a crucial link, uncovering conflicts and secrets behind their seemingly strong friendship.
The role of An caught the audience's attention and helped Thanh Thức get nominated for the 29th Mai Vang Awards. The film's success also brought him more opportunities in cinema after many years of being primarily known through television.
In "Face Off 7: One Wish, " Thanh Thuc was once again invited by director Ly Hai to participate, but with a completely different character. He played the son-in-law of Mrs. Hai, and the husband of Nam Thao in the flashback scenes, further affirming the director's trust in him.
In 2025, Thanh Thức gained attention for his role as Biển in the television series " Mother Sea" directed by Nguyễn Phương Điền. Although he only appeared in the final episodes, the character played a crucial role in resolving the biggest plot twist of the series. He once shared that he didn't prioritize whether a role was leading or supporting; what mattered was that the character was compelling enough to contribute.
In the film industry, Thanh Thức participated in the horror film Út Lan: The Vengeful Spirit Keeping the Treasure in June 2025 , directly performing some dangerous stunts. After that, he appeared in Chị nga em nâng as the father of the two main characters in flashback scenes.
Off-screen, Thanh Thuc leads a rather private life. He rarely shares details about his love life and seldom appears in the spotlight of the entertainment industry. The actor's personal social media accounts mainly feature behind-the-scenes photos, workouts, and travel pictures.
Even in his 40s, Thanh Thuc maintains a youthful appearance and good looks. He trains regularly to meet the increasingly diverse demands of his acting career.
Thanh Thuc's career hasn't followed the path of explosive fame, but has been built on perseverance and seriousness. The project "Like Falling Raindrops," recently completed after three months of filming in the Mekong Delta, once again demonstrates his dedication to his craft.
The title "Southern TV heartthrob" may have originated from his appearance, but what has made Thanh Thuc memorable to audiences for over 20 years is his perseverance, meticulous work ethic, and ability to evoke emotions through each role.
Source: Thanh Nein Newspaper