Thanh Tung was born on September 15, 1948 in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa. He moved to the north with his parents and grew up in Hanoi. He graduated from the Pyongyang Conservatory in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea at 23.
Between 1971 and 1975, he was the conductor of the Voice of Vietnam’s orchestra and then moved to Ho Chi Minh City where he worked for the city’s Music Association and contributed to the establishment of Ho Chi Minh City Television's orchestra and ‘Bong Sen’ (Lotus) music company.
He wrote his first song in 1975 and over 200 songs during his life, of which many have accompanied the careers of such famous singers as My Linh, Hong Nhung, Bang Kieu, Ngoc Thuy and Thanh Lam.
In 1978, he joined the musicians’ group ‘Nhung nguoi ban’ (Friends) of such well-known artists as Trinh Cong Son, Ton That Lap, Tran Long An, Thanh Tung, Tu Huy, Nguyen Van Hien and Nguyen Ngoc Thien.
He has two sons and one daughter who are successful businesspeople in the country. He himself was a businessman with investments in many sectors. In 1998, he opened a restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City named ‘Sinh doi’ (Twin).
In 2008 he was suddenly hit by a stroke and paralysis. During the past eight years, he struggled with the illness but kept optimistic.
He will be buried at Thien Duc Cemetery in Phu Tho province.
Beloved songs by Thanh Tung include ‘Hat voi chu ve con’ (Singing with little cicada), ‘Trai tim khong ngu yen’ (Heart without deep slumber), ‘Loi to tinh cua mua xuan’ (Spring’s love confession) and ‘Chuyen tinh cua bien’ (Sea’s love story).
