In the mid-20th century, the establishment of multiple music publishing houses positioned Hue as a vital hub of Vietnamese music. As the former imperial capital, the city was both a magnet for prominent composers and a pioneering cradle that shaped the professional contours of Vietnam’s modern and traditional music through its distinguished publishing system.

Artist Dang Thi Thu An is one of the prominent faces among the promising generation of 1980s artists from Hue. With works deeply characterized by traditional culture, especially depicting women figures and áo dài, she has contributed to creating a unique impression in contemporary Vietnamese painting.