Nguyen Trong Quyen was born in 1876 (Binh Ty lunar year) and died in 1953 (Quy Ty lunar year) at Chau Doc Hospital because of cerebral haemorrhage and stroke. He was born at Thanh Hoa Village, Trung Nhut Commune, Thot Not District, Long Xuyen Province (now Trung Nhut Ward, Thot Not District, Can Tho City). His father was Nguyen Van Tuong and his mother was Truong Thi Thanh.

 When he was a child, Nguyen Trong Quyen learnt well and was fond of Tai Tu Music. After finishing studying Confucianism and graduating from a French primary school, he worked as a clerk for Phuoc Hiep private winery owned by Vuong Thieu. Vuong Thieu previously was an artist of Tieu (Chaozhou) Music Troupe. After leaving his career as an artist, he started his wine business; therefore, on the occasion of the musical performance organized by Phuoc Hiep winery, Master Vuong usually invited his former colleagues in the Tieu Troupe to perform music at his business. Mr. Quyen had the opportunity to get acquainted with various performing artists because he was good at Chinese. He could speak the languages of Chaozhou and Cantonese. He started learning to play Nhi instrument ( Vietnamese two-chord fiddle) and sing Tieu music with them.

 That was the thriving period of music troupes such as Sir Nam Tu, Nam Dong Ban (Hai Cu, Ben Tre). Mr. Vuong Thieu also set up his own troupe named Tap Ich Ban and invited Mr. Quyen to work as a playwright and his playwright work started since then.

 It was Nguyen Trong Quyen who founded the art of Tuong Tau (Classical Drama). He wrote Vietnamese lyrics for the plays and changed Chinese pronunciation into Vietnamese one, adapting Chaozhou or Cantonese style in his own songs. These songs became Vietnamese Vong Co (a typical kind of Southern traditional music) although their names sounded like Chaozhou or Cantonese like: U U Liu Xang, Xang Liu Xu, Liu Xang Xang, Khoc Hoang Thien ...

 In addition to the application of Hat Boi style which was symbolic and commonly agreed upon, he got experience from Chaozhou style and Chinese Hy Khuc (Yuan Dynasty), combined them and then produced a completely new Tuong Tau for Vietnamese artists.

 In his 50 years of working as a playwright, he made enormous contributions to the musical treasure, particularly the Southern Cai Luong theater including many works in different genres: 85 Cai Luong plays, 7 collections of Tuong poems, 12 moral books, over 100 poems and several published books (Trung ma phu giam, Phu the ngu luan, Hat doi dap). In particular, the two plays - San Hau and Phung Nghi Dinh - have been used as typical traditional Southern Cai Luong works in the art and stage schools. He deserved to be honored as one of leading contributors who laid the foundation of the construction and development of Southern Cai Luong theater.

 These preeminent heroes passed away, but their names have remained everlasting over time. Their life of quiet devotion to the fatherland has been imprinted in each humane lesson for young people of today in Can Tho. Recognizing these typical heroes’ services rendered to the country is to inspire the present generation. This shows the interest of the city leaders at all levels in forming the typical modern type of Can Tho people in the new era: intelligent- dynamic - kind - generous - elegant and hospitable, ...