The characters in Van Tho's paintings have a fascination and astonishing appeal, although his brush strokes often have decisive, definitive and dramatic lines, but his paintings are always smart to pull the deep emotions inside "a small soul, bearing angelic" in the picture. The painting "Old friend" is one of such excellent works. The painter sometimes confides in the reasons for his portrayal of human portraits. He argues that life and painting are two concentric circles whose focus is on human beings., it is a way to praise life, to live a true life as a normal man and an artist.