Singer Ngoc Linh talks about the incident and the reason for her 11-year 'disappearance' from showbiz
Apr 20, 2026
Hanoi [Vietnam], April 20: As a singer beloved by many, Ngoc Linh once went through a period of absence to focus on her personal life. That was also the time she faced health challenges.
Singer Ngoc Linh admits that her artistic path has been "paved with roses." The 70s-era singer shared that she entered the Ho Chi Minh City Children's House at the age of 3, and later rose to fame with a series of songs such as " Em đi chơi thuyền" (I Go Boating), "Những la thuyền ước mơ" (The Dream Boat Leaves), "Ngay đầu tien đi học" (The First Day of School), "Mùa xuân yeu thương" (Spring of Love)... At the age of 14, the female singer had the honor of performing with Michael Jackson in Thailand . Speaking about this milestone, the artist confided: "That is the most meaningful mark in my singing career."
In 2002, Ngoc Linh released the album "Choosing a Star," which was also the only album in her singing career. While achieving significant success, Ngoc Linh unexpectedly put aside her fame to focus on her personal life. In 2005, the singer got married and almost completely disappeared from the music scene. She confided: "For a woman, when you get married and have children, you must return to the noblest role of being a wife and mother. That's why I chose to retire, much to the regret of many."
Ngoc Linh admitted that she is still passionate about singing. However, during this period, the singer feels that she no longer enjoys singing as much as before. "If you want to pursue this career, you have to be serious and passionate, but when the passion fades, then it's time to stop. But when people still mention my childhood songs, that's a joy for me," she shared.
During her hiatus, Ngoc Linh worked for her family's company. She admitted that sometimes, when watching performances, she wondered where she would be in the art world if she were still singing. In 2016, she surprised everyone by appearing on the game show " Masked Singer ." "For 11 years, no one could find me. Everyone thought I was living abroad, but actually, I chose to live a peaceful life, taking on the role of human resources director," she revealed.
Sharing more about her return to the stage after 11 years, Ngoc Linh said she realized that during that period of silence, she had lost all her emotions and experience. At that moment, she burst into tears because of the warm reception from everyone. However, when advised to return to singing, Ngoc Linh had to refuse because "if I wanted to, I would have returned many years ago."
"But when I read comments on social media, people said it was okay if I stopped singing, but that I should occasionally return to perform old songs so that the audience could hear my voice and know that Linh is still healthy and safe. That's why I came back, occasionally accepting shows to sing with friends or participating in music-related game shows to show my gratitude to those who love me," she said.
Ngoc Linh recalls the incident.
Speaking about the biggest challenge in her life, Ngoc Linh admitted that in 2006, after giving birth, she discovered she had cancer in her nose. Recalling that time, the artist confided: "People said that if I survived, it would only be for a few months. My child was lying there, and if I died, what would happen to my child? I don't understand why God was so kind to me, giving me the strength to face and overcome it," the singer of " First Day of School" shared.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper