Considered to be influenced by three world-famous painters, Picasso, Van Gogh and Matisse, Van Tho is considered one of the pioneers Vietnamese painters for the Western contemporary art style in his works, both in the subject and in the expression. The Westernized style permeates in each of his lines. The painting "Old friend" is a familiar image in Van Tho paintings, the painter is often inspired by the familiar people in his life to tell the story in a unique and smart way which expresses love life and human beings and care about human life more than ever.