HA NOI — An artwork by the late Vietnamese painter Bui Xuan Phai is to go up for auction in Singapore on July 28.

The drawing entitled Nong Thon (Countryside) is expected to bring bids of US$41,000-54,000.

Paintings by four other artists, Le Pho, Vu Cao Dam, Hong Viet Dung and Pham Luan, will also be on offer at the Traditional, Modern and Contemporary Art Auction in Singapore.

One of Viet Nam's best-known artists, Phai (1920-87) was born and lived all his life in Ha Noi. He was a graduate of Indochina Fine Arts College (1941-45).

For most of his life he worked in his studio at 87 Thuoc Bac Street. He left a huge art heritage, among which pictures of the ancient streets of Ha Noi, are the most famous.

He also drew cheo (traditional opera) and countryside.

Phai had only one solo exhibition in his lifetime.-VNS