Composer Lê Đăng Vệ was born in 1947 in Xuân Trường district, Nam Định province (now Ninh Bình ). His songs address many thematic aspects, especially the Quảng Ninh mining region, the miners, and Hạ Long, where he lived, worked, and was deeply connected to his entire life.
Composer Lê Đăng Vệ began composing at a very young age. As early as 1968, he wrote his first song, "Singing About the Line Workers," for the Quảng Ninh Post Office , where he worked. This was followed by "Singing with the Postman," "The Postman's Song," and more. Not only did he write for the Post Office, but he also authored many songs commissioned by other units and companies to be used as traditional anthems.
But Lê Đăng Vệ truly is himself when he senses the pulse of life in the mining region, when he listens to the sounds emanating from his own heart. This emotion stems from two recurring themes: "the sea" and "coal." Of course, these themes aren't unique to him, but it must be said that for Lê Đăng Vệ, they have become the main theme, his very blood and flesh, just as the lyrics in one of his songs say: " My love spans two halves of life / One side is coal, the other is the sea " and " Oh, the sea and coal, bound together for generations / Have become love, have become longing ."
When writing about coal, he believed: " To be a piece of coal, to contribute fire to life." Perhaps that's why his compositions always have a fiery quality? They have a fast, vigorous rhythm, brimming with vitality. Some notable songs include: "Sending You a Song of Coal," "The Glory of Vietnamese Coal," and "The Song of the Vietnam Coal and Mineral Corporation"...
Conversely, when writing about the sea, Le Dang Ve's songs are gentle, subtle, and imbued with the boundless lyricism of the waves of Ha Long Bay. Many songs are remembered by the people of Ha Long, such as: "Listening to the Sea Sing at Night," "Ha Long Moonlight Night," "Ha Long, a Love Story," "Listening to the Sea's Song," "Ha Long Melody," and "From Ha Long, Dreaming of Thang Long." Sometimes, these two themes are not separate but intertwined in a single song. This is the case with songs like: "Spring Comes to My Homeland," "Electricity Comes to Co To," and " Quang Ninh, My Homeland"...
Besides themes of the sea and coal, and songs about the Party, composer Le Dang Ve has songs such as: "The Party is like the sun, like a beloved person" and "Miners sing about the Party". Le Dang Ve is known for many beautiful and meaningful songs about love for his homeland. During his field trips, he also composed many songs about different regions such as: "Singing at the Sa Pa Love Market", "Remembering Nam Cao", and songs for sports such as: " The Song of Quang Ninh Football", which was chosen as the official song of the former Quang Ninh Coal Football Club.
In the genre of wounded soldiers and martyrs, he also has some excellent songs such as "Vũng Đục, a land of spirituality," "Beside the grave of an unknown soldier" set to Vysotsky's poetry, and "Song of the Fatherland" set to a poem by Trương Thiếu Huyền.
Speaking about the song "Beside the Grave of the Unknown Soldier," composer Le Dang Ve once shared: "The theme of soldiers and revolutionary war has been explored by many composers, but the topic of unknown graves, of martyrs whose burial places have not been found, is rarely written about. Therefore, when I came across the poem by Vysotsky, the Russian poet, about a mass grave, I was deeply moved and empathetic, so I quickly set it to music."
The lyrics of the song include the lines: “A shared grave where many have fallen/ Unknown soldiers rest peacefully here/ The wind's song erodes the stone surface, fresh flowers are placed here every evening/ The eternal flame shines brightly on the grave.” The song was performed very successfully by the female singer Thanh Truc.
In addition, composer Lê Đăng Vệ also wrote the song "Vũng Đục, a Spiritual Realm" about the sacrifice of martyrs in the resistance war against the French. The song was first performed by singer Phương Anh, and later by singer Tân Nhàn. Composer Lê Đăng Vệ once recounted: "I wrote this song to commemorate the revolutionary soldiers who sacrificed their lives when I visited the martyrs' shrine which displayed photographs of our soldiers. They were very young, later drowned in the swirling waters of Vũng Đục by the French colonialists, but they remained steadfast with the spirit of revolutionaries, which deeply moved me..."
Throughout his career, composer Lê Đăng Vệ left behind many songs that are widely loved by the public. Many of his works have been performed in major art programs and arranged in various forms. His songs have been performed by the Vietnam Symphony Orchestra, alongside many renowned artists such as Quang Thọ, Thanh Thanh Hiền, Tân Nhàn, Hoàng Tùng, Ngọc Anh, Tuấn Anh, and many other singers. This demonstrates the artistic value and enduring vitality of his compositions in the musical landscape.
Composer Nguyen Xuan Nhat, Chairman of the Vietnam Musicians Association branch in Quang Ninh province, assessed: “ Composer Le Dang Ve has a burning passion for music. He rose from a postal worker, from a grassroots movement to a professional musician, receiving State awards. Composer Le Dang Ve has many successful songs, some of which have been performed very successfully by People's Artist Quang Tho – all are excellent songs .”
For his enduring contributions to Vietnamese music, composer Le Dang Ve has been awarded numerous prizes. Many of his works have received awards from the Vietnam Musicians Association, central ministries and agencies, and Quang Ninh province. In 2022, composer Le Dang Ve was awarded the State Prize for Literature and Arts for the song "Beside the Grave of the Unknown Soldier" (poem by Vysotsky).
Most recently, at the Gala Awards Ceremony for the songwriting contest "Song of Unity" commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of Southern Vietnam and the reunification of the country, composer Le Dang Ve won second prize (there was no first prize) with his work "My Love for Vietnam". He wrote music until the very last days of his life while battling illness. This affirms the enduring creativity of an artist who dedicated his entire life to music.
It can be said that composer Le Dang Ve wrote in many genres and on a wide range of themes, but listening to his music, one still recognizes a passionate love for Ha Long. Ha Long is where he was born and raised, the place that left the deepest impression on him. His notable songs include "Ha Long Moonlight Night," "Listening to the Sea Sing," "From Ha Long Dreaming of Thang Long," "Hon Gai: Love and Nostalgia," and "Ha Long - A Love Story"...
According to public opinion, one of his best songs about Ha Long Bay is "Ha Long Bay Moonlight Night". The song is beautiful because of its gentle and captivating lyrics: " A moonlit night on Ha Long Bay, the waves push our boat far from shore. Far out at sea, the night with the moon, returning to a dreamy harbor, a captivating place. The boat drifts aimlessly, the mountains stand still as if gazing at the clouds. The rocks sing their song, the caves are like a fairyland… A bright moonlit night, the sea sings a song. With countless waves, the boat sails out to sea. Hooray, we pull in the nets, the sails are full of fresh wind. The hold is full of fresh fish, returning to the harbor tomorrow… ".
Composer Le Dang Ve breathed his last in the early morning of March 16, 2026, bidding farewell to the musical notes he had devoted his life to. His passing leaves a quiet void in the hearts of music lovers. Although he has departed from this world, the melodies he left behind will continue to resonate in the musical landscape and in the memories of many generations.
Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/nhac-si-le-dang-ve-tu-ha-long-mo-ve-3400047.html
