Composer Phan Nhan.

HA NOI (VNS) — Veteran composer Nguyen Phan Nhan died on Monday in HCM City following a long illness. He was 85.

The composer was born in the southern An Giang Province in 1930. His most popular songs included Ha Noi Niem Tin Va Hy Vong (Ha Noi - Belief and Hope) and Chu Ech Con (Little Frog).

Nhan composed the song Ha Noi Niem Tin Va Hy Vong in December 1972. At that time, Ha Noi had been attacked by the largest-ever bombing campaign of the United States. Nhan saw Hanoians run out of shelters to cheer loudly as the B52 aircraft burned.

He was very moved and wrote the song Ha Noi Niem Tin Va Hy Vong quickly, expressing his love for Ha Noi and his country, and a desire for peace.

"Phan Nhan was a famed composer of Vietnamese music. I met him in 1970 and saw his elegance and chivalry," veteran singer Quang Ly said. "The song Ha Noi Niem Tin Va Hy Vong is a generous song about Ha Noi. I feel emotional whenever I sing it."

After joining the army in the French resistance war, Nhan travelled and worked with artistic troupes. He worked at the Radio Voice of Viet Nam's branch office in HCM City till his retirement.

He was awarded the State's Prize for Literature and Arts in 2001. Nhan's funeral was held today at the HCM City Funeral Parlour. — VNS