PANO – The Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has submitted a dossier to the Prime Minister and then State President for posthumously bestowing late musician Van Cao with the Ho Chi Minh Order.

The dossier describes the revolutionary activities of the late composer, his contributions to the Vietnamese music industry, and milestones in his music composition career.

Late musician Van Cao. (Source: motthegioi.vn)

Born in Lach Tray ward, Hai Phong, on November 15th 1923, Van Cao actively took part in revolutionary activities from 1944 and was admitted to the Communist Party of Indochina in 1948. The musician, one of the greatest Vietnamese composers, created many valuable works, especially revolutionary songs including “Tien Quan Ca” (March to the Fronts), the Vietnamese national anthem.

Van Cao died on July 10th, 1995.

For his great contributions to the Vietnamese music industry, after his death the talented composer was presented with the Ho Chi Minh Prize in 1996 and other noble orders.

Van Cao was also an artist and a poet with many valuable works. Beautiful streets in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, Hue, Da Nang, and Nam Dinh were named after him. 

Translated by Son Ca