These days, it is difficult to meet Luong Dinh Dung. When he was in Da Lat pursuing the project "Ao Lac Emperor", when he returned to Hanoi to complete the upcoming movie "Doi Ha Co" in theaters, sometimes he reported that he was abroad to make sound and lighting with his partner. When asked if Dung was tired, he smiled gently and said: "The body is used to it, I can't stand it if I can't do it".
Throughout his nearly two decades of artistic journey, Luong Dinh Dung has never stopped to explore the borders of Vietnamese cinema - both in genre and opinion. From the emotional scenes of " Cha con con con", to the fierceness of "578: Shooting of the crazy People", the obsession in "N hit City", or the spiritual darkness of "Doi hanh bang", and the upcoming wildlife "Anh Hung", Luong Dinh Dung has proven that he is not only a director, but an unlimited storyteller, carrying in him the desire to promote Vietnamese cinema to the world and preserve the core of national culture.
The dream of traveling between cinema and the wings of a flying army
Born in 1973 from the countryside of Tuyen Quang, who used to work as a worker, even wandering around joining groups of golden peach and red stone, when trying to reach out to touch art, Luong Dinh Dung did not have a flashy starting point or any supportive relationships. He self-study, self-experience, self-conclusion and moves forward with all the most authentic things in his life. For Luong Dinh Dung, cinema is his big reach, the only thing that captivates him with the belief in good cinema to contribute in a volatile world.
Luong Dinh Dung was a scriptwriter for many films, including the film Saturday Afternoon Cinema on VTV such as "Banh Da, Banh duc", "Nguoi chieu den", "Ban gia"... but was really noticed when he took on the role of director and scriptwriter for " Cha con don" released in 2017. A family romantic film, simple, not big, not affecting the market, but making domestic and international audiences cry. "Bringing the child" is not only a touching story of father and child, but also a symbol of the way Luong Dinh Dung makes a film: from the heart, with life, and with a pure cinematic spirit, chosen as the representative of Vietnam to attend the 2018 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film category.
Although praised by experts and the press, after " Cha con con", not choosing a safe way, Luong Dinh Dung recklessly fell into the unpredictable darkness of human psychology. "S sleeping City" (2019) is a proof. This is a work stained with crime, realism and darkness, clearly demonstrating the breakthrough in cinematic language, not following the path of wear and tear.
Then, in 2022, he tried his hand at a more thorny genre: action films. "578: The Man's Bullets" is not only a journey of revenge for the father but also an adventurous experiment in the Hollywood action film genre. Luong Dinh Dung has included international action scenes in the film, invited a Korean action crew and had unprecedented large-scale clashes and chases in Vietnam, with the first scenes in action cinema witnessing containe racing on the steep passes of the Northwest mountains and forests. "578" was once again chosen to represent Vietnam in the 2022 Oscar nomination, continuing to affirm international recognition with the dedicated efforts of director Luong.
In 2025, Luong Dinh Dung returned to the spiritual horror genre through the work "Doi hanh Nam - Ta Truyen Den" returning. This is a pure Vietnamese ghost - horror film, inspired by folk legends, indigenous elements, interwoven with modern stories. With "Body of a dead body", Luong Dinh Dung not only exploits the usual deterrent but also raises questions about faith, price action and undying mysteries of humans in their relationship with invisible forces.
In 2026, Luong Dinh Dung will start his career's biggest project - "Anh Hung", a film with the genre of drama, war and action that he has been nurturing for nearly 10 years. Not just a historical drama, "Anh Hung" is a declaration of identity, patriotism, and the power of Vietnamese culture. This is a very difficult and expensive genre, but the director affirmed that he will do it to the end because there are many supporters of him to have a truly historical documentary of the Vietnamese people, by the Vietnamese people, and for the world.
Director of Borderless Dreams
The special thing about Luong Dinh Dung is that no matter what genre he makes a film, he does not accept the line of "working for the market" or "working for the professional world". He makes films for himself - and gives dreams that cross borders.
His films have always appeared at many major film festivals around the world, from the US, Europe to Asia. It is the determination to pursue a unique, unique and uncompromising art that has helped Luong Dinh Dung become one of the few Vietnamese directors known and respected by the international community. "The Carrying Child" won the "Best Asian Film" award at the International Film Festival of the Iranian Government, Spanish Film Festival, Vietnam National Film Festival and was honored at Film Festivals such as tallinn Black Nights (top 14 World Film Festival), the 48th International Film Festival of the Indian Government (GOA), Bangkok Asian Film Festival and screened in more than 30 countries around the world.
"S sleeping city" - a metaphorical art film, reflecting a violent, transformed society, praised for its unique visual style and storytelling, helping Luong Dinh Dung continue to surpass thousands of films to enter prestigious international film festivals such as the Nouveau cinem film Festival (49th Canada), nominated for the "Best Asian Film" award at the Kolkata International Film Festival (India), nominated for the "Best International Film" award at the 23rd Black Nights Film Festival...
"578" received a nomination for the "Best International Film" award at the 26th Black Nights Film Festival (top 14 A-list films in the world). After many years of absence from the Moscow International Film Festival, the film "578" was unexpectedly included in the "Wild Nights" category at the 45th Moscow International Film Festival and was later released in more than 50 countries around the world. Although controversial when released domestically for its "strange" and fast-paced style, "578" is recognized by international experts as an effort to elevate the action genre of Vietnamese cinema.
Passion for folk culture - "Red Xam" and immortal values
Not only a film director, Luong Dinh Dung is also an artist with a deep national spirit. He is the person behind the artwork "Xam Do" - a project combining traditional music and contemporary images, to commemorate and honor the late artist Ha Thi Cau - the "living human treasure" of Vietnam. Through the frames, Xam, and voices of Mr. Cau, Luong Dinh Dung once again clearly demonstrated the spirit of 'conservation by creativity' - both preserving the traditional soul and bringing it into the modern context.
Luong Dinh Dung is a special case of contemporary Vietnamese cinema - a storyteller with a hot heart, a cold head, sharp eyes and an indomitable spirit. Not content to limit himself to any genre, he always finds new paths, even sometimes at a cost.
But it is these tireless efforts that have contributed significantly to raising the level of Vietnamese cinema, spreading Vietnamese culture to the world, and preserving the soul of the nation through each film.
Luong Dinh Dung is not just a director. He is an artist with a mission.
