Visiting HCMC in 2019 for a work trip, the late actress attended an event, during which she met her fans and shared with them her knowledge about lifestyles. Along with Chow (L), several Vietnamese celebrities, including actress Viet Trinh (R), singer Huong Giang, model Hoang Thuy, also attended the event.
Chow was experiencing walking difficulties around that time, as her feet were swollen, and she had to have her assistant accompany her all the time. Despite that, the actress always appeared smiling brightly and enjoying her time in the city.
The trip was also Chow’s last time traveling abroad before she passed away on Monday because of illness, as her management agency and family has recently announced.
According to Chinese news site St Headline, Chow was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus. Her condition was not publicly revealed, so only a few people knew the reason why the actress could not move easily.
People suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus also suffer from inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs as their immune system attacks its own tissues. It can affect the joints, skin, brain, and lungs.
A close friend of Chow, director Tin Kai-man, revealed that despite her illness, Chow always maintained a positive attitude and tried her best to enjoy her life.
Chow’s assistant asked an acquaintance, who is a local resident of HCMC, to show the actress around the city after the event.
The actress visited a cafe, Tan Dinh Church, bookstores on Nguyen Van Binh street, and Buu Long Pagoda.
Chow favored youthful outfit style as she wandered HCMC streets. She signed for several local residents who recognized her.
Chow did online research about tourist attractions in HCMC ahead of her trip and suggested she be taken to Tan Dinh Church as she was impressed with the place’s architecture.
Chow was accompanied by her personal guard throughout her trip.
Actor Simon Yam, a close friend of hers, said Tuesday as speculations about Chow’s critical conditions started surfacing on the Internet. Her friends did not dare touch her as her body got bruised easily, and she also suffered from a low platelet count.
Vietnamese cuisine left a good impression on Chow. She tried out various local dishes including clay pot rice, hotpot, and coconut water. She and her entourage also purchased dried fruits and coffee to bring back to Hong Kong before they departed from Vietnam.
In a 2019 interview with VnExpress, Chow said she enjoyed traveling to different parts of the world, talking to young people and learning from them.
She considered herself a “simple, optimistic, and honest woman who feels satisfied easily.”
As the actress remained single throughout her life, many asked her if she felt lonely or sad, to which she replied she did not.
“I do not have anything to regret,” she said during a livestream in 2022. “I have numerous achievements, people recognize my career, and I have many people treating me well. My life is fulfilled.”
Her fans have left many comments on her Weibo account saying they feel bad for her and would remember her prime after her death.
Born in 1966, Chow was well-known for her lead roles in drama series produced by TVB, a television broadcasting company based in Hong Kong.
She rose to stardom with her role Zhou Zhiruo in the 1994 TV series “The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber,” which was adapted from a novel of the same name by Chinese wuxia novelist Jin Yong.
