About a month before filming "Brother Overcoming a Thousand Obstacles 2026," Tung Mint was run over by a pickup truck on the set of " Human Trafficking Camp ," fracturing his S1, S2, and S3 vertebrae and pelvis. His wife, stylist Pong Chuan, was present at the scene.
I only cry when everything is alright.
- Being present when her husband had the accident, what did she see and what did the two of them say to each other at that time?
When I ran downstairs, everyone had already flipped the car over. The scene was so shocking, it felt like I was in a movie. Tung was lying in the middle of the pile of earth, covered in wounds, some real, some fake. When he saw me, he looked up. He was breathless, but somehow, in the way we looked at each other, I understood exactly what he wanted to say: "I'm sorry, what should we do now?" That made me want to stay calm because I had to be there for my husband.
- The doctor told you about your husband's risk of paralysis, and with him lying in bed for almost two months, what did he fear most?
Initially, the doctors didn't mention the risk of paralysis, only the fracture. The treatment plan everyone gave was that he had to lie still for at least two months, and only in the third month could he sit up and do light exercise; playing sports would have to wait a year. Later, I found a private doctor. After a thorough MRI scan from multiple angles, the doctor said we were lucky, because if the broken bone had shifted by just half a centimeter, it would have compressed the nerve and caused paralysis.
Mr. Tung was someone who never shared his true feelings. At that time, my wife and I just encouraged each other to stay optimistic, and I searched for every possible treatment method and the best doctors for him. Fortunately, we were both strong and positive, with family and friends by our side. Perhaps that's why he recovered much faster.
- Tung Mint recounted that throughout her recovery, she never once let him see her cry, yet nearly half of her hair turned gray in just one month. Where did she hide her tears?
He was just lying there, how could he see me cry! On television, I can get teary-eyed over small things, even cry while watching Korean dramas. But when a crisis hits, I understand I have a job, children, and my whole family depends on me. With big problems, I only cry when everything is settled, when I have time to reflect. Then I cry because I feel sorry for my husband.
- When their father had the accident, Mo was 8 years old and Nghe was 7. How did you explain it to your children?
I only told the children that their father had been in an accident. I think not only did my hair turn gray, but the children also seemed to have grown up considerably. One morning, I was still half-asleep when I saw Mỡ come into the room, bringing a towel and warm water to wipe my face, doing it silently. Normally, I do that when I wake up, but that day Mỡ probably did it so that I could sleep a little longer. Sometimes the two of them would even come back to comfort and encourage their parents.
The husband was tied up in misery, while the wife, dressed in her finest clothes, stood and watched.
- "Human Trafficking Camp" - First Time Pông Chuẩn is acting in a film, and she's even facing off against her husband. What motivated her to take on the role, and which scene was the most challenging?
I never thought I'd act in a movie, let alone a feature film. I accepted the role because I wanted to understand my husband's work better. As an actress, I finally understood why Tùng always puts his whole heart into his character whenever he takes on a new project. During filming, we didn't talk much at home, but the atmosphere remained normal.
The hardest scene for me was looking up at the 45-seater bus and smiling. That scene had no dialogue, no action, and was very short, but I had to smile over and over again in countless ways just to get those three seconds. My wife and I were on different film projects, so our schedules rarely overlapped; there was only one scene near the end where we were in the same frame. That day, the whole crew laughed and teased us because my husband was tied up in such a miserable state, while my wife, dressed up, just stood there staring.
- Why did you call letting him participate in "Brother Overcoming a Thousand Obstacles" the most difficult decision?
He was a regular exerciser, and with the goal of participating in the program just over a month after the accident, his progress had to be measured in days and hours. I was very afraid that when he exercised intensely, the broken bone would move to an unsafe area, so letting him compete was the hardest decision I ever made. Currently, he can walk and do light sports, but he can't jump or play strenuous sports like boxing, swimming, diving, or surfing, and probably won't be as strong as before.
- When Tùng had to stop his journey after overcoming countless obstacles, who was sadder at home?
Of course, Tung was much sadder than I was. In recent years, he'd been working quietly, partly because he was afraid that if he returned, people would pay more attention, and harsh negative comments about the past would hurt his family. He felt insecure and didn't dare express himself. Meeting his colleagues from the show and those who love him, he felt like he was reborn. So this summer has actually been wonderful for both of us.
From love to kinship
- In 2017, your public statement about wanting to "adopt" Tùng Mint's sperm to become a single mother caused a stir. Nearly nine years later, how do you look back?
Everyone has a youthful phase with immature thoughts. Looking back at my words at that time, I feel ashamed and regretful. After 9 years together, I realize that nothing is happier than children having a complete family. I may have done things wrong, but the fact that Tung is a wonderful father, a man who loves his family, is never wrong.
Having witnessed her giving birth to Nghệ via C-section, this year it's her turn to care for him in the hospital bed. Tùng Mint once admitted to feeling "unsettled" during his wife's pregnancy. How have those experiences changed their marriage?
I think it's not just us; any couple who witnesses a loved one go through life and death or personally cares for each other in the hospital bed will become more bonded. When they realize they are the first to be responsible for the other person, they become more mature. From love, it's now familial love. Perhaps that's the meaning of marriage.
Every family is different, and no marriage is perfect. The fact that we're still together is a clear answer. What happens in the future is for the future; for now, we're working together to improve ourselves and learn lessons to grow.
- Your family used to have a role reversal: the husband stayed home while the wife worked to earn money. Did that arrangement create any pressure?
During that period, Tùng didn't exactly quit his job; he just temporarily set aside his passion for art so that I could go out and freely do what I liked. He understood that for a woman who loved her work like me, staying home too long after giving birth would cause pressure and stress. Going back to work was a remedy for me, and the opinions of others were never a problem.
- The couple had an "unwritten rule" that neither of them could leave the house after arguing. Has that rule ever been broken?
Even with such a law, I was once so angry with Tung that I left the house because of marital conflicts, just like most other families. When I was angry, I didn't make a fuss; I just needed space to calm down and sort myself out. On the third day, he insisted on coming to pick me up and apologize. But sometimes, couples need quiet time, giving each other time to seriously reflect on their marriage.
- Your father is an actor and dancer, and your mother is a stylist and model. Would you like your children to pursue careers in the arts?
I don't prioritize my children pursuing art, but I still let them try drawing, piano, drums, and dance classes on weekends. During the rest of the summer break, they attend regular classes. Because I play the "bad cop" role, sometimes when their father lets them play video games or watch too much TV, all three of us get scolded. This has caused a lot of disagreement between us, and we still haven't reached a compromise.
Hilarious behind-the-scenes moments of Tung Mint in the movie "Human Trafficking Camp":
Photos, videos : FBNV
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/he-lo-thu-vi-ve-cap-vo-chong-dong-trai-buon-nguoi-2559935.html
