Farewell to musician Lu Nhat Vu at his final resting place

Musician Lu Nhat Vu's portrait was brought to his final resting place.

From the early morning of March 31, many audiences and artists came to the Southern National Funeral Home waiting for the time to send him off to his final resting place at Hoa Vien Binh Duong Cemetery.

In addition to family and friends, many artists, singers, and intellectuals came to see him off, such as: People's Artist Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports, Meritorious Artist Tran Vuong Thach, Poet Tu Le, Choreographer Le Nguyen Hieu, singer Bich Phuong, Meritorious Artist Bach Yen, singer Dao Duc, journalist Tran Nhat Vy, writer Bich Ngan, writer Tram Huong, journalist Thuy Nga... who arrived early.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong - Secretary of Thu Dau Mot City - Binh Duong read the eulogy to bid farewell to musician Lu Nhat Vu

The artists recalled many unforgettable memories of musician Lu Nhat Vu, Meritorious Artist Bach Yen (VOH) cried: "Every trip to collect folk songs from the southern provinces, I followed my grandparents. Each trip left so many memories, then after the trip, we sat down, summarized, took notes, and discussed to create the original arrangements of the collection. At that time, he was as happy as if he were attending a big festival."

People's Artist Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Ho Chi Minh City, burned incense to bid farewell to musician Lu Nhat Vu.

Everyone was moved and shed tears during the farewell ceremony for musician Lu Nhat Vu to his final resting place. Singer Bich Phuong was moved to tears when she heard People's Artist Trong Phuc sing the song "The Song of the Southern Land" during the funeral. She was the lucky one to receive the song "My Kien Giang is so beautiful!", which he and his wife, poet Le Giang, composed based on "Ly cheo dua ca ong".

From left to right: Writer Tram Huong, Ms. Nguyen The Thanh - former Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City, poet Tu Le - former Vice President of the Union of Literature and Arts Associations of Ho Chi Minh City, writer Bich Ngan (President of the Ho Chi Minh City Writers Association) bid farewell to musician Lu Nhat Vu.

Mr. Nguyen Van Dong - Secretary of Thu Dau Mot City - Binh Duong read the eulogy, in which he noted: "Comrade Le Van Gat - Musician Lu Nhat Vu, member of the Communist Party of Vietnam, received the 45-year Party membership badge, former Director of the Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts, has left us forever, entering the eternal world at 9:30 a.m., March 29, 2025, at the age of 89.

Musician Nguyen Quang Vinh - Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Music Association, Ms. Ngoc Diem - Deputy Head of the Department of Science, Culture, and Arts, Ho Chi Minh City Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department, burned incense to bid farewell to musician Lu Nhat Vu.

Today, March 31, 2025, in infinite sorrow, we - comrades, teammates, colleagues, close friends, family and audiences who admired the musician's talent are here to hold a memorial service to bid farewell to the talented musician who left behind many excellent works: comrade Le Van Gat - stage name Lu Nhat Vu".

Musician Lu Nhat Vu was born on April 13, 1936 in Phu Cuong Ward, Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province; growing up in a country still divided, he soon showed his patriotism when he was still in school (1953-1955). At that time, the boy Le Van Gat actively participated in the struggle movement of Saigon - Cho Lon students at Nguyen Trai private school.

Singer Bich Phuong and Meritorious Artist Bach Yen bid farewell to musician Lu Nhat Vu

In July 1955, responding to the call of the Saigon - Cho Lon Peace Protection Movement, he was assigned to cross the border to the North to continue studying, preparing for the journey of dedication to the Fatherland.

"The army marched on the forest road,

Dawn sparkles on the distant horizon.

The deep blue border,

Dew drops glisten on leaves.

From the high mountainous border,

The soldier crossed hundreds of streams and thousands of passes.

Listen to the lullaby of mother

Day and night urging me to march…."

Perhaps from the enthusiasm of youth, from the days when he joined the Central Youth Union, participating in construction work on many large construction sites (August 1955 to October 1956), he was instilled with the spirit of songs, so that later when he became a music composer, and when he sent his son to join the army in the campaign to protect the Southwest border (1978), at the moment of parting, Le Anh Trung said: "Mom and Dad, please rest assured about me". The words reminded him of his youth, when he faced his son's ideals, so he wrote the song of his life "Please rest assured, Mom".

Artists and singers in Ho Chi Minh City burn incense for musician Lu Nhat Vu

Musician Pham Minh Tuan recalled: "...On May 1, 1975, in the joy of the great victory of the nation, he was present in the delegation taking over Can Tho city, witnessing the historic moments of the country. This was the period when he composed powerful revolutionary songs, creating a new spirit in building the country after the unification day, those songs were: Morning to the construction site, Sending to Algerian friends, Checkered scarf, Remembering Tran Van On...".

Associate Professor, Dr. Thế Bảo said that from May 19, 1975 to 1997, musician Lư Nhất Vũ returned to Saigon - Ho Chi Minh City and continued to contribute to the country's music industry, taking on many important responsibilities. In all positions, he was always a close, thoughtful, cheerful and sociable leader with colleagues. In particular, in his role as Director of the Vietnam Institute of Culture and Arts in Ho Chi Minh City, he always upheld the spirit of responsibility, dedication, creativity, and daring to innovate for the development of the country's culture and arts industry.

Artists of Ho Chi Minh City, leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and Binh Duong bid farewell to musician Lu Nhat Vu

Ms. Nguyen Thanh Mai - daughter-in-law of musician Lu Nhat Vu - expressed the family's gratitude to the agencies and departments that cared, expressed condolences, and encouraged the family during the funeral of musician Lu Nhat Vu.

In 1997, the song "Song of the Southern Land", a song co-written with his soul mate, poet Le Giang, was born, carrying the Southern folk melody, praising the beauty of the Mekong Delta and the deep affection of the people here. In particular, he was the one who brought the pentatonic music with "ho, xu, xang, xe, cong" into his compositions in a sweet and profound way, like his own soul and breath. The legacy of musical works and research works, folk song collections of musician Lu Nhat Vu and poet Le Giang is not only the pride of Vietnam's revolutionary music, of his hometown Binh Duong and Ho Chi Minh City, but also a precious revolutionary musical heritage left for future generations."

• Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Van Nen visits the funeral of musician Lu Nhat Vu

• MUSICIAN LU NHAT VU: A lifetime of dedication to folk music

With his tireless contributions to the Party's revolutionary cause and the country's construction and development, musician Lu Nhat Vu was honored to receive many noble titles from the Party and the State: First-class Anti-American Resistance Medal; First-class Labor Medal; Second-class Victory Medal; First-class Anti-American National Salvation Medal; "For the Young Generation" Medal; "For the Cause of Vietnamese Literature and Arts" Medal; "For the Cause of Music" Medal; "For the Cause of Culture and Information" Medal; Confirmation of the record "Having the most research works on Southern Folk Songs in Vietnam"; State Prize for Literature and Arts; "Dat Phuong Nam" Song Award; 45-year Party membership badge and was awarded many noble titles and prizes by the Central and local Ministries, Branches.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/tien-dua-nhac-si-lu-nhat-vu-ve-noi-an-nghi-cuoi-cung-196250331095402015.htm