Loan was born in Van Hoan Hamlet, Nga Linh Commune, Nga Son District, Thanh Hoa Province in 1916, receiving his high-school diploma in 1943. He worked as a teacher before joining the Viet Minh. He was the vice chair of the uprising committee in Nga Son District during the August Revolution. Before 1945, he was a freelance writer for the Van hoc (Literature) newspaper.

After 1945, he was appointed as a member of the Thanh Hoa Province administration, in charge of culture,
education, trade and administration.

During the French war, he joined the People’s Army, serving in Battalion 304. After 1954, he worked at the
Van nghe (Literature and Arts) newspaper and after retirement, returned to his hometown.

Loan is known for a poem titled “Deo Ca” and especially “Mau Tim Hoa Sim,” the latter written in 1949 after his first wife died. Tan Binh Electronics Company bought the copyright for this poem for VND100 million in 2004.

The poet suffered severe rheumatism in the last two years of his life. His funeral rituals took place on March 19.