Farewell to Trương Hoàng Xuân – Composer of "Thề Không Phản Bội Quê Hương" Passes Away in Saigon at Age 85

Calitoday (07/05/2025): Trương Hoàng Xuân, the composer of the patriotic song "Thề Không Phản Bội Quê Hương" ("I Swear Not to Betray My Homeland"), passed away on May 3, 2025, in Saigon at the age of 85.
Though not as widely recognized as some of his contemporaries, his compositions have resonated deeply, especially among overseas Vietnamese communities.
Born in 1940 in Saigon, Xuân studied music in church from a young age and began performing in restaurants by the age of 16 to support his family.
In 1960, he graduated from the Pedagogical Institute and started teaching in Long Khánh, Bình Tuy province.
By 1968, he joined the military and worked at the Army Radio Station alongside notable musicians like Tô Kiều Ngân, Đỗ Kim Bảng, and Trầm Tử Thiêng.
In 1972, he was appointed by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Vietnam to teach music at Nguyễn An Ninh High School in District 10.
After 1975, Xuân faced challenges due to his association with the former regime.
In 1978, he was dismissed from his teaching position and subsequently worked in the postal service's cultural department until his retirement in 2000. Following a divorce, he lived alone in Phú Nhuận District.
Xuân composed several dozen songs, sometimes under the pseudonym Thy Linh. Notable works include "Hái Hoa Rừng Cho Em," performed by Chế Linh and Thiên Trang, and "Bạc Trắng Lửa Hồng," sung by Đan Nguyên and Phi Nhung. His most renowned piece, "Thề Không Phản Bội Quê Hương," became an anthem among Vietnamese expatriates advocating for freedom and justice.Saigon Nhỏ
His cremation ceremony is scheduled for May 8, 2025, at Bình Hưng Hòa in Bình Tân District, Saigon.
We respectfully bid farewell to m

usician Trương Hoàng Xuân. His stirring compositions remain a testament to his dedication to his homeland, even as they echo the tumultuous history of the Republic of Vietnam.
TRAN CHI PHUC, COMPOSER