He was most notably the author of two South Vietnamese national anthems: Giải phóng miền Nam (Liberate the South) of the Việt Cộng-led Provisional Revolutionary Government and Tiếng gọi thanh niên (March of the Youths), whose lyrics was later changed to become Tiếng gọi công dân (March of the Citizens) and used as anthem by the State of Vietnam and the Republic of Vietnam despite his protest.

[1] Lưu Hữu Phước attend the Petrus Ký highschool in Saigon (now is the Lê Hồng Phong High School for the Gifted) in about 1935.

During this time he compose many famous patriotic song including Bạch Đằng Giang (Bạch Đằng River), Ải Chi Lăng (Gate of Chi Lăng), Hát Giang trường hận ("Long hatred on Hát River", later revised as Hồn tử sĩ, "Soul of the Matyred Soldier"), and Hội nghị Diên Hồng (Diên Hồng assembly).

[4] On 1944, under the instruction of Viet Minh, Lưu Hữu Phước took part in campaign calling Vietnamese student to left the academic life for patriotic movement.

The First Indochina War began in December 1946, Lưu Hữu Phước and other patriotic artists evacuated to Việt Bắc together with Vietnamese government.

During this time, Lưu Hữu Phước composed some famous music including Ca ngợi Hồ Chủ tịch (Song for Praising President Ho Chi Minh), Khúc khải hoàn (Triumph Song), Thiếu nhi thế giới liên hoan (International Children Festival), Nông dân vươn mình (The age of twenty), Henri Martin, Em yêu chị Rây-mông (I love elder sister Raymond), Cả cuộc đời về ta (All the life belong to us), etc.

[7] Lưu Hữu Phước traveled to South Vietnam on Feb 1965 and was appointed as the Chairman of Arts and Literature Association of the National Liberation Front.

He composed several songs during this time, including Dưới cờ Đảng vẻ vang (Under the Party Flag), Bài hát Giải phóng quân (Song of the Liberation Army), Tình Bác sáng đời ta (Uncle Ho's love enlightens our life), Hành khúc giải phóng (Liberation march), Xuống đường (To the street).