 The UNESCO Executive Board agrees to include the collection of Vietnamese composer Hoang Van in the Memory of the World Register on April 10, 2025. (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs) |
Hoang Van’s music collection consists of more than 700 works composed between 1951 and 2010. It offers profound reflections on the nation's historical transformations and the evolving spirit of its people across generations.
By harmoniously combining European classical music with traditional Vietnamese music, they serve as invaluable resources for cultural, social, and historical research on Vietnamese music.
Hoang Van’s “Thanh dong To Quoc” (Fortress of the Fatherland) is Vietnam’s first symphonic poem. In addition, he created dozens of chamber, choral, and orchestral works that laid the foundation for Vietnamese symphonic music, bridging it to international music.
composer Hoang Van (File photo) |
Hoang Van was also renowned for his revolutionary music, particularly songs about socialism building, which express patriotism and love for the homeland. His music reflected key historical events and celebrated the beautiful spirit of the Vietnamese people during turbulent times.
Conductor Le Phi Phi and musician Nguyen Tien Manh, Vice President of the Hanoi Musicians Association, commented on Hoang Van’s music:
“His instrumental compositions were written with a high degree of professionalism and structure. He skillfully integrated classical music elements into his songs, blending them with folk melodies and lullabies that resonate deeply with listeners.”
“More than 700 musical works of Hoang Van transcend time and space, becoming timeless songs, connecting with the hearts of music lovers in Vietnam and beyond. Hoang Van’s compositions always embody the spirit of the time, vividly reflecting the society in different development periods.”
To prepare the dossier for the World Documentary Heritage, after Hoang Van passed away in 2018, his children compiled, restored, and systematized his entire musical works.
It had been a long and heartfelt journey. His daughter and son gathered materials and contacted related agencies and devoted fans, recorded stories and memories shared by the musician’s family, friends, colleagues, and journalists, and collected articles, books, tapes, CDs, and digital files from libraries and archives.
“We spent 20 years collecting materials. I’m deeply grateful to the many friends who helped us. Then it took another 10 years to organize, systematize, and find out the context in which these works were created. We spent about 4 to 5 years preparing the dossier. The biggest challenge was to prove the international significance and influence of the music collection,” Dr. Le Y Linh, the daughter of musician Hoang Van, told us.
 The collection of musical works by composer Hoang Van is officially inscribed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register on April 10, 2025.(Photo: National Archives Center III) |
This recognition is not only an honor for composer Hoang Van and his family, but it also encourages artists to create high-quality works and preserving valuable archives.
“This is a pioneering step by artists and especially their families—those who carry on their legacy—in preserving precious musical documents. This effort not only enriches the national music archive but also promote it to global audiences,” said musician Nguyen Tien Manh, Vice President of the Hanoi Musicians Association.
Hoang Van’s music now can be reached on the website: hoangvan.org in Vietnamese, English, French, Spanish, and Russian.