Van Cao - A talented painter
Few people know that the author of the National Anthem - musician Van Cao has made many contributions to the history of Lao Dong Newspaper, including the role of a painter. Former Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Lao Dong Newspaper Tran Duc Chinh commented: I am a postgraduate, having been a journalist for 50 years but still not a nail compared to the time of Mr. Van Cao as a journalist. He said that in 1945, the headquarters of Lao Dong Newspaper moved to the house of 51 Hang Bo. This is also the headquarters of the Party's 4th Bac Ky Party Committee's Mass Mobilization Committee. Mr. Van Cao is multi-talented, writing articles, editing, drawing illustrations, arranging words and printing newspapers. Honestly, no journalist has done that much work for a weekly newspaper.
Although not classified as a famous artist, the contributions of musician and artist Van Cao in the field of painting are undeniable. Especially in the field of book cover painting and illustration for paper newspapers, he left a strong impression. According to art critic Thai Ba Van: It is possible to say that musician and painter Van Cao and a few others (Bui Xuan Phai, Sy Ngoc, Duong Bich Lien, Nguyen Sang...) in the 60s opened a new aesthetic direction for illustration and graphics... It can be said that Van Cao has established an illustration school and book covers.
Notably, since the 70s, musician and painter Van Cao has focused more on painting the covers of Tet and Spring newspapers. In 1974, musician and artist Van Cao appeared in Van Nghe weekly, illustrating the cover of Xuan Giap Dan publication. Since then, he has returned more regularly to newspapers and has remained an illustrator. The newspapers he collaborated with were Van Nghe (report from the Writers' Association), Lao Dong (report from the Vietnam General Confederation of Labor), Dai Doan Ket (report from the Fatherland Front) and Hanoi People (report from the Hanoi Arts Association). In 1982, Lao Dong Xuan Nham Tuat newspaper published a newspaper cover painted by musician and artist Van Cao. This is a very Van Cao Tet cover painting: Simple but also full of freedom and sophistication.
Do Phan - Fate with Lao Dong at the weekend
Do Phan's paintings are special, recognizable immediately and very suitable for the newspaper's illustrative paintings. Former Head of the Culture - Sports Department of Lao Dong Newspaper Do Quang Hanh had a time to invite artist Do Phan as a special collaborator for the newspaper, especially Lao Dong Cuoi Thuc in the pen-based and poetic fields.
Writer Pham Ngoc Tien once shared: "I have no knowledge of painting, so I am blind to painting. However, I am very passionate about painting. At home, many paintings are hanging. Many artists gave their paintings and I also had the opportunity to take the paintings to give back to the people. Meanwhile, the things I don't understand are extremely controversial but relevant. I follow the philosophy: If you want to, you can...
Do Phan is a famous and multi-talented painter. He even wrote the script before he got scared. Novels, short stories, especially prose, Do Phan wrote very well. Or to the point of jealousy. Lao Dong Newspaper only published one section a week, Do Phan was almost monopolized so he could not let himself get involved. Just joking, I know Do Phan wrote out of passion, because to express the moods that paintings cannot convey, he had to use language.
I used to print short stories in Lao Dong Newspaper. Not because the pencil profit here is high, but just because Lao Dong illustrates the story very quickly. When I send a story, I make an appointment with Do Quang Hanh that Do Phan should paint an illustration. I respect and respect Do Phan. He is a talented person, has a lot of delicious wine, is affectionate, and likes to treat his friends.
My collection of illustrative paintings for short stories is quite large and I really like them. Every corner of my house has Do Phan paintings. The beautiful, colorful color paintings are just deep memories of the stories you have written without being able to love them. Do Phan's collection of illustrative paintings is considered as souvenirs. Many people ask, but I never give to anyone. That is the principle, but friends know that they are only generous when they are drunk, so they cheat them into being candy and making them look good. Many photos have not flown at these times. When I woke up, I felt so sorry for myself that I got sick. Now there are only ten, it hurts".
Le Thiet Cuong - Simple and profound
In mid-July 2025, the news that "after a period of serious illness, painter Le Thiet Cuong passed away at his home" shocked and saddened many people. He is considered one of the leading painters of the renovation period. For Lao Dong, Le Thiet Cuong is a special collaborator.
For special newspapers, especially Lao Dong's Spring publications, the presence of Le Thiet Cuong, whether just a small illustration for a poem or a non-fiction article, also gives the newspaper a special "respect" feature. artist Le Thiet Cuong's paintings use any style because of their simple but profound beauty, with many philosophical layers.
More than 10 years ago, the cover of the Tet issue - edited by journalist Le Thanh Phong - was a painting by artist Le Thiet Cuong painting a Bo Bo tree on a very "unique" and "strange" golden background. That has been one of the special Spring newspaper covers of Lao Dong for nearly 100 years.
Journalist and photographer Tran Viet Van commented: "It was a very... Le Thiet Cuong cover. He is a passionate lover, or rather, worship art. largely influenced by Buddhist ideology, his works touched the emotions and hearts of viewers, expressing the law of causation and abnormality quite clearly.
He is persistent and brave, single-handed with minimalist painting in Vietnamese fine arts. The universal quality of his ideas, his open, soaring lines create interesting reminders, as well as gaps in the painting that stimulate the imagination, making viewers want to participate in the work. Not to mention the long or short volume, no matter the size of the painting, each article, each painting and sculpture clearly shows his fingerprints and dedication to every detail.
From Hoang Dang to Dan
For a long time, readers of Lao Dong Newspaper have been familiar with the open-minded, humorous and very trendy drawing, appearing on the front pages of newspapers, even the cover of newspapers. Under each illustrative painting is a small line Bright painting: Dan. But many people commented that there is no need to look at the small letters, no need to look at the handwriting in each painting, just look at the color and block to immediately know Dan's painting.
Who is Dan? The Danish artist's real name is Hoang Dang, born in 1951 in Hue. Before 1975, he was a journalist when he painted illustrations for Tuoi Ngoc, Van... before studying at Hue School of Fine Arts.
In many memories with Lao Dong, artist Dan often mentions the story of the first time he painted a play for a newspaper in 1998 after being introduced by artist Trinh Tu to keep a playground, when artist Choe had just passed away.
He shared: After meeting painter Choe at his solo exhibition in Da Nang coastal city, I was extremely impressed by the tragic paintings of this talented tamarind tree No. 1 in Vietnam. And that time, he suddenly discovered that he was also capable of disaster. Painter Choe encouraged me to replace Choe's tragic corner in Lao Dong Newspaper when he went to see a doctor. Unexpectedly, painter Choe had passed away! And since then, my biographical paintings have appeared regularly in this newspaper under the pen name Dan. In Lao Dong Newspaper, my cartoons and satirical paintings appeared under the pen name Cop. I have become a "rich" satirist since then.
Although I entered the "project" late, I was very excited because unlike the types of artists who were slow to learn, in general, Lao Dong Newspaper has maintained a regular disaster column since I first started studying. The tragic painting focuses on hot issues, negative aspects of society, touching the thorny stories of life that are happening every day. That clearly demonstrates the fighting spirit of revolutionary journalism. In my opinion, mythology is a unique art, currently present in most of the major and prestigious newspapers in the country.
Dan still painted when Lao Dong needed him, still creating unique newspaper pages, not mixed in.
