Vietnamese Actor Phùng Ngọc’s Enduring Legacy and Johnny Trí Nguyễn’s Film Set Injury

Phùng Ngọc, remembered as “thằng Cò,” achieved lasting fame from the 1997 television series Đất phương Nam, a classic of Vietnamese drama. Although he appeared in only that one production, the role remained iconic for nearly three decades. In later years his personal circumstances have been modest, marked by financial strain, debt and ordinary work, yet he continues to receive affection and recognition from audiences who still call him by his character’s name.

Action director Johnny Trí Nguyễn is overseeing the historical epic Hộ linh tráng sĩ. The film required intensive martial‑arts preparation for actors such as Tuấn Trần and Thiên Tú, who had little prior training. During shooting Tuấn Trần suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament, prompting the crew to modify several action sequences. The movie is scheduled to open on 28 August in standard and IMAX formats.