Movie star enjoys married life with chef husband

Ngo Thanh Van (R) and her husband Huy Tran at the premier of "The Creator" in HCMC in September 2023. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Luong

At the end of September, Van played a supporting role in "The Creator," a Hollywood movie about the war between humans and artificial intelligence. Van said this was the only project she took part in this year.

"I’m enjoying the new chapter of my life after getting married, spending all the time for myself and my husband. Maybe in three or four years, I will return to acting," she said.

The 44-year-old actress doesn’t feel the traditional pressure of not having any children yet.

For Van, her marriage is full of other successes and interests with her husband. In her free time, the couple often cook together and discover new recipes. She said Huy pays close attention to healthy eating and nutrition. Every day, he asks her what she likes to eat and then prepares it according to her taste.

Huy, an overseas Vietnamese-German who opened a restaurant before getting married, has a knack for cooking European dishes. But to please Van, he also learned how to cook dishes from other parts of the globe, including Vietnam.

The also often create vlogs together of shared precious moments in their daily lives and post them on Facebook and TikTok. They share a passion for traveling and exploring new places. Last year, they spent six months traveling through many European cities and going to famous destinations such as Polignano a Mare, one of the most popular beaches in the world, as well as the resort paradise Sardinia. Van said she likes to rent cars and drive around foreign countries to explore local cultures by herself.

Van said that even though Huy is 11 years younger than her, he always makes her feel loved and protected. Colleagues often praised Van for being a strong and independent woman, but said that it’s only Huy who really knows her the best.

"Very few people can see the weaker side of me. I’m just like every other woman, sometimes I feel lonely and weak. Huy understands me best in that aspect," she added.

Ngo Thanh Van and Huy Tran travel to Europe in late 2022. Photo courtesy of Ngo Thanh Van

Before getting married, Van worked relentlessly and sometimes forgot to take care of themselves. Thanks to Huy , she realized that she should spend more time on her own health and emotional well-being.

During their more than a year of marriage, Huy has taken care of her every meal and provided her with consistently positive energy that has helped her rearrange her sleep patterns and create more healthy habits. Van said that her friends often compliment her these days for looking more comfortable and lively.

Her husband has also accompanied her during many charity activities. For Van, her husband is "a great source of encouragement," who makes her feel happier by giving away some of their riches rather than holding on to everything for themselves.

In March 2022, after two years of dating, Huy proposed. She said yes.

Van was born in Vietnam but moved to Norway with her mother when she was 16, before returning to Vietnam and starting her career in the entertainment industry in 1999.

She has appeared in various domestic and Hollywood movies, including "Dong Mau Anh Hung" (The Rebel), "Bay Rong" (Clash), "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny," and "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

In 2015, she started working as a movie producer.