Nguyen Tu Nghiem is often referred to as the great Vietnamese quartet of Nghiem-Lien-Sang-Phai, the other three being Duong Bich Lien, Nguyen Sang and Bui Xuan Phai, whom he studied together at the Indo-China Fine Arts College in 1941-1946. This drawing celebrated friendship using the faithful dog analogy. Nguyen Tu Nghiem combined folklore with the contemporary in his lacquer works, incorporating ancient dance and Vietnamese zodiac signs, and paeans of the countryside. He won the Ho Chi Minh Prize for art in 1996. He was very much influenced by Nguyen Do Cung and To Ngoc Van. His literature Temple Guard won the 1st Prize at the Salon Unique in 1944. He took part in the anti-French Resistance war and the land reforms in 1953. He taught at the Hanoi Fine Arts University from 1959-1960, and also the Hanoi Industrial Fine Arts University.