| “ | Nhung, why did you leave me when Thu was just two years old. Why did you turned your back on me when I still... Love you... | „ |
| ~ Minh's emotional breakdown as he find out about his wife's betrayal of him and Thu. |
Đặng Hoàng Minh, also known as Bạch Hải Đường, is the titular anti-villainous protagonist of the Vietnamese play Tướng Cướp Bạch Hải Đường.
He was a serial thief who kills people and stealing their money to support his wife's gambling. As his wife knew his secret, she betraying him and his daughter, Thu, by reporting him to the police officer Bằng, who is his childhood friend.
Portrayals[]
He has been portrayed by several actors in the Cải Lương theater. Notable ones include:
- The late Hùng Cường
- Trọng Hữu
- Minh Vương
- Kim Tử Long
- Tuấn Châu
- Trọng Phúc
Biography[]
Đặng Hoàng Minh was the childhood friend and classmate of Bằng, an police officer. Minh was falling in love with Nhung and marrying her. They had a daughter named Thu. Due to his wife's gambling, Minh become Bạch Hải Đường, a serial thief and murderer, so he can support his wife's gambling habits. Nhung was unfaithful to him as she had a secret affair with Hai Cang.
Minh and Nhung were invited by Bằng and his wife Liên for the party of friendship reunion. Nhung was having an conflict with Trung, who is also a childhood friend of Minh. As Liên invited Nhung for Liên's room, Nhung begin to stealing Liên's ring from her and Liên discovered that the ring is stolen, informed Bằng about it. Trung begin to accusing Nhung of stealing Liên's ring causing Nhung having a fight with him and berating Minh for not defending her. Minh became feeling embarrassed and apologize to his friends for his wife's behavior. Nhung walk out of the party after she challenged Trung to examining her handbag to see if the ring is there.
Bạch Hải Đường running away from the police, left a bloodied shoe, which is find by Cang, who knew that Minh is Bạch Hải Đường. Cang visited Nhung while she take care of her daughter and reveals to her that Minh is Bạch Hải Đường. She was very shocked to hear his revelation, but agreed with Cang to report Minh to the police so they can live together happily. Cang is hiding while Minh is returning after having a run off from the police. After Nhung confronted him about being Bạch Hải Đường, he finally admitted that he is Bạch Hải Đường and tell her how she would do to him, she stated that time will come if he is in a prison. Minh went on to sleeping alone after Nhung refuses to sleeping with him. As Minh is sleeping, Nhung begin to betraying him by reporting him to Bằng, that Minh is Bạch Hải Đường. She abandoning Minh and Thu by going out with Cang.
Thu, who was two months old, crying every night so Minh had to take care of her. While taking care of her, he saw the letter and was in shock discovering that Nhung reporting him to the police, feeling emotionally betrayed and heartbroken as he was holding his daughter, thinking about his daughter's future without him and Nhung. Bằng was arrived to arrest him, but was shocked to hear that his childhood friend turned out to be Bạch Hải Đường. Minh confessing to Bằng and Liên about his marriage and motive behind his crimes, gave his daughter to the couple so they can raised her as their daughter. Minh was arrested and sent to prison.
Eighteen years later, Thu live a happy life with her adoptive parents while the relationship between Nhung and Cang becoming abusive and Minh is serving in a prison. Due to Cang's health issues, Nhung returned to blackmailing Liên and Bằng for 2 million đồng. Upon hearing Nhung's blackmail plan, Trung went to visit Minh in prison and informed him about it, causing Minh begin to escape from the prison. Nhung returned home and Cang begin to beating her for not having enough money, Nhung tried to easing his anger by having him read a newspaper. It was nearly unsuccessful until Cang was very excited to hear that Minh, known as Bạch Hải Đường, has escaped. Cang went to the police station while Nhung became stricken with guilt for her betrayal of Minh.
Minh returned to get revenge on Nhung, confronted her about her betrayal and stealing Liên's ring. Nhung, feeling guilty, begging him to forgive her but Minh left a knife so he is about to kill Cang and Nhung. Cang returned home, causing Minh to hide from him as Nhung do her best to deal with him. Cang beat her and hit her head in the bed, bleeding. In self-defense, Nhung grab a knife to stabbing Cang, but Cang stabbing her to death and strangling her until Minh finally killed him, stabbing him to death twice. Nhung, lying on her deathbed, pleading him to meet Thu at the last moment as well as forgiveness from both. As Bằng has arrived, Nhung taking the blame for Cang's murder and died in Minh's arms, declaring herself a criminal. Minh mourning her and planning to met his daughter at the last moment.
Before meeting Thu, he did not want Bằng to tell Thu that he is her father, so Bằng agreed to meet Minh's wishes and order the police to bring Liên and Thu to see Minh. Bằng tell Thu that Minh is her master until Trung came here to tell Thu that Minh is actually her father and tell the story about what Nhung did to Minh. Feeling sympathetic for her father, Thu hugging her father and mourning her mother. Minh, in his plead, tell Bằng and Liên to take care of Thu and farewell to his daughter as he went back to the prison.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Nguyễn Ngọc Truyện, a serial thief who was active between 1970-1982, was named "Bạch Hải Đường" after the character by the police.