Illustration: Chen Xia/GT

The night falls, and several girls are waiting outside a studio in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province, in the hope of seeing one of the sisters on the popular show Ride the Wind 2026. Faces lit by the glow of phone screens, their voices buzz with excitement whenever anyone walks out of the studio. They clutch flashlights and chant the sisters' names into the cool air.

One of these sisters helping propel the hit show to the top of China's social media platforms is Vietnamese singer and actress Trang Pháp, known in China as Zhuang Fa.

In an exclusive interview with the Global Times shortly after the intense first stage, the artist opened up about her mixed emotions, the heavy pressure of high expectations, and her heartfelt desire to foster cultural understanding through her performances.

As a Vietnamese artist stepping onto the Chinese stage, Trang Pháp sees her participation as more than a personal challenge - it is a sincere effort to use music as a universal language that builds bridges between China and Vietnam. She has already invited her Chinese "sisters" to visit Vietnam and encouraged Vietnamese artists to explore opportunities in China. 

"The most beautiful thing we artists can do is build these connections," she said. Vietnam's Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has also offered official encouragement, framing her participation as "conveying the message that music is a universal language transcending all borders."

Trang Pháp rose to prominence in Vietnam as a soloist in 2012 with the album Runaway, followed by Chocolate, and later releases such as Infinity8. She proved her strength on survival shows by winning the Vietnamese version of Ride the Wind (Sisters Who Make Waves). 

Her decision to join the 2026 Chinese edition was far from easy. After a five-year hiatus from singing between 2017 and 2022, she made a powerful comeback in 2023 through the Vietnamese edition of the show. 

"It was actually a very risky decision," she told the Global Times. "After achieving success in Vietnam, returning to the same format in China carried a lot of pressure. But we don't stay in our comfort zone. I came here with the mindset of wanting to learn more, experience more, and grow."

This season introduced a groundbreaking format: fully live performances with no autotune, editing, or delay - a first for the long-running series and one of the earliest global live broadcasting experiments of its kind. The stakes rose dramatically, with eliminations possible from the very first stage.

In her solo round, Trang Pháp stunned audiences with the song "Moonlight." In roughly 90 seconds, she seamlessly combined piano playing, singing, multi-language rap (incorporating Vietnamese, English, and Chinese elements), and dramatic pole dancing - including an upside-down pole maneuver while hitting high notes. Chinese netizens hailed it as a "breakthrough," praising the creativity and intensity. 

On Saturday's stage, Trang Pháp's team performed "The Great Artist," a hit song by Jolin Tsai. The performance impressed with its black and white swan concept, elaborate staging, and synchronized moves.

To handle the challenge presented by the dense Chinese lyrics, she developed a practical method: translating sentences into similar Vietnamese phrases first, then switching back to Chinese to aid memorization. Yet language and choreography were not her greatest source of pressure.

"The real pressure comes from expectations," she explained. "In Vietnam, people have high hopes because I won the local version. If a newcomer scores seven or eight out of 10, it's good. But for me, seven or eight is considered normal - I feel I have to deliver nine, 10, or even more. That's the actual weight on my shoulders." 

Despite initial worries about language barriers, Trang Pháp was pleasantly surprised by the warm atmosphere. "All the sisters are so welcoming and supportive. Even those who don't speak much English find creative ways to communicate. Having the same goal helps us connect deeply."

Both Vietnamese and Chinese audiences have embraced the show's empowering philosophy: strong women supporting one another, shining regardless of family responsibilities or life's hardships. 

In Vietnam, families across generations now gather to watch together, turning the program into a warm bonding experience. Trang Pháp hopes to take this further by incorporating traditional Vietnamese elements - folk melodies or instruments - into future performances, with the production team showing openness to the idea. 

On a personal note, the journey has strengthened family bonds. Although her parents initially wanted her to follow a stable career path, her success on the Vietnamese version earned their approval for the first time in years. This season, the whole family sent encouraging messages: "You came here to learn. If you learn something, that's already a win." 

For aspiring young artists, Trang Pháp offered thoughtful advice drawn from her own path: "Don't be afraid of stepping out of your comfort zone. That's the only way to grow. It's never too late to learn, so seize every opportunity. And if you have a passion, follow your heart fully."

She maintains her high standards through disciplined self-care for physical and mental health, combined with deep respect for the stage and audience. "This job is demanding. Sometimes we shoot for 36 hours or more without sleep. But when you have determination and you're doing what you love, the hardship becomes something you enjoy."

Looking to the future, Trang Pháp aims to create meaningful songs, contribute to a more diverse and internationally recognized Vietnamese music industry, and eventually establish a music label to nurture younger talents. She also hopes to foster more cross-border cultural moments in an era of globalization.