Vietnamese revolutionary music star Tuong Vi passes away

Chairman of the Vietnam Musicians Association Duc Trinh said the singer's son announced her passing on Saturday. Her funeral is scheduled for May 14 in Da Nang.

From the U.S., Ngoc Anh, Tuong Vi's former daughter-in-law and fellow singer, shared a heartfelt post on social media. She uploaded a photo with the caption: "Goodbye, my beloved mother. Thank you for always loving me and your grandson. We cannot return in time to say goodbye. I love you very much."

Tuong Vi was a leading figure in the realm of revolutionary music. Born in central Quang Nam Province, she showed a strong inclination for singing from an early age. Following the death of her grandmother in the war, she enlisted as a military nurse at 16.

In 1956, Tuong Vi joined the musical division of the General Political Department of the People's Army, where she honed her skills in vocal music, showcasing her distinct, clear soprano voice. She graduated from the Vietnam National Academy of Music in 1967 and furthered her studies at the Bulgarian State Conservatoire in 1974. During the war, she performed at numerous battlefronts, bringing her music to the front lines.

She is remembered for iconic songs like "Tieng Dan Ta Lu" (The Sound of Ta Lu), "Nguoi Con Gai Song La" (The Woman of La River), and "Co Gai Vot Chong" (The Woman Who Sharpens the Spikes), which immortalized her in the genre.

In 1992, Tuong Vi opened a music class for orphans and later founded the Center for Compassionate Arts to support disabled and orphaned children in their musical and artistic education.

Tuong Vi received numerous accolades, including the title of Merited Artist in 1984 and People's Artist in 1993. She also holds the distinction of being one of the few artists featured in the Vietnam Military Encyclopedia, published in 1996.