Nguyễn Thanh Tùng (born October 20, 1979) is a Vietnamese monochord music performer and composer. He is well-known not only for his moving monochord performances and compositions, but also for his inner strength and perseverance as a blind Agent Orange victim. Thanh Tùng has performed Vietnamese traditional music and masterpieces by Brahms, Chopin, etc., in many countries, such as France and Belgium, and received worldwide notice. Early life Nguyễn Thanh Tùng was born on October 20, 1979, in Hanoi, Vietnam. Affected by Agent Orange or dioxin inherited from his father, a Vietnam War soldier, Tùng was born with one blind eye. His other eye was very weak. However, since an early age, he has shown his musical talent. In a talent competition for children held in 1986–1987, he earned the Special Award. When Thanh Tùng turned 12, he became totally blind. Nevertheless, his love for music has never died. He applied to a special two-year music course in the Vietnam National Music Academy. There he proceeded to study Vietnamese traditional music, majoring in Monochord Performance. Despite his illness, in 1997, Nguyen Thanh Tung continued to study Music composition and piano as well. Thanh Tùng went through much hardship in his years at the Vietnam National Music Academy. He received great support from friends and professors such as Prof. Đặng Xuân Khải, music composer Đỗ Hồng Quân, Prof. Minh Khang, etc. and many philanthropists Personal life Nguyễn Thanh Tùng's family plays an important part in his performance and composition career. Thanh Tùng was born to Nguyen Thanh Son, a Vietnam War veteran and currently a photographer, and Pham Thi Duc Hoa, a tailor. In 1972, Mr.Son's squad was deployed in Quảng Trị and he got affected by Agent Orange ever since. His two children are inherently affected by the poisonous dioxin. Thanh Tung's older sister, Nguyen Thi Phuong Thuy is more severely affected than him. She is totally paralyzed, epileptic, blind, deaf and dumb. After the end of the Vietnam War, Mr.Son has been working as a photographer to make ends meet. He is an example of determination and perseverance for his son, Thanh Tung. Thanh Tùng's mother is a devoted and loving wife and mother. Her love and sacrifice for the family gives Thanh Tùng more strength to get over the difficulties and pursue his dream as a musician. The piece "Moon and River" was composed by Thanh Tùng to