Van Tho began his artistic life as one of Vietnam’s socialist realist painters, his works are still displayed in many government ministry buildings. After 2000, he moved away from large-scale official lacquer and oil paintings to develop a more personal style. Now, his works often feature portraits of people and faces in large, abstract, and almost primitive ways. When painting, he forgoes brushes and instead uses a trowel to paint, highlighting the primitive and folksy quality of his work.
As a graduate of Hanoi Fine Arts University, he is also a member of the Vietnamese Fine Arts Association and Hanoi Arts Association. Van Tho’s works are part of many private collections in France, Singapore, Hong Kong, USA, Germany, and more.