A place that preserves a part of Vietnam's fine arts heritage.

The Phan Thi Ngoc My Fine Arts Museum (or simply the Phan Thi Ngoc My Museum) is a special artistic destination established out of love and a desire to preserve Vietnamese culture.

Artist Phan Thi Ngoc My introduces the art museum space bearing her name.

In the tranquil land of Xu Doai, where the bells of Thuy Pagoda resonate through the years, there is a space that quietly preserves the soul of Vietnam through painting and heritage: the Phan Thi Ngoc My Fine Arts Museum (or simply the Phan Thi Ngoc My Museum) - a special artistic meeting place established with love and a desire to preserve Vietnamese culture.

One day at the end of May, amidst the scorching sun, we traveled to Sai Son (Quoc Oai commune, Hanoi ) to refresh our souls with the artistic colors of the Phan Thi Ngoc My Museum. Admiring the paintings on display, it felt like stepping through layers of accumulated time. Some paintings possessed a classical beauty, others a contemporary feel, some carried the rustic charm of the countryside, while others were imbued with profound contemplation…

The nearly ^500m² space currently displays hundreds of valuable paintings, but this is only a very small part of the museum's total collection of thousands. Among them are many valuable works associated with the names of the famous "quartet" of artists in the history of Vietnamese art, such as: "Tri-Van-Lan-Can" (Nguyen Gia Tri, To Ngoc Van, Tran Van Can, Nguyen Tuong Lan); "Sang-Lien-Nghiem-Phai" (Nguyen Sang, Duong Bich Lien, Nguyen Tu Nghiem, Bui Xuan Phai), or "Nhan-Hoa-Hau-Kiem" (Luu Cong Nhan, Le Huy Hoa, Tran Luu Hau, Nguyen Trong Kiem).

This collection not only showcases the collector's refined aesthetic taste but also creates an interesting dialogue space for Vietnamese art, where the imprints of many generations of renowned painters are present. Notably, the museum also dedicates space to displaying hundreds of antiques and artifacts made of earthenware, ceramics, bronze, stone, wood, etc., along with many ancient calligraphy works.

Captivated by the beauty of the precious paintings, we were even more impressed by the dedication and persistent efforts of artist Phan Thi Ngoc My, who has devoted over 40 years to collecting and preserving the finest values ​​of Vietnamese art. Welcoming us into her small room – where dozens of certificates, awards, and commemorative medals for her contributions to Vietnamese art and heritage are proudly displayed – Ms. My shared that 2026 marks the 20th anniversary of the museum bearing her name.

At 80 years old, the petite woman still exudes intelligence and agility. She says that throughout the years, she has cherished each painting and artifact, not only for their artistic value, but also because they are witnesses to an era, carrying cultural stories that need to be passed down through generations.

Born in 1947, artist Phan Thi Ngoc My is a 15th-generation descendant of the Phan Huy family – a renowned scholarly family of the Doai region with many prominent figures such as Phan Huy Can, Phan Huy Ich, and Phan Huy Chu… Growing up in an atmosphere rich in culture and art, Phan Thi Ngoc My developed an early love for beauty, painting, and traditional national values. This is why, even after studying economics , that love remained intact.

Her passion for painting didn't begin in formal art school, but rather came naturally, nurtured within the cultural environment of her family. She recounts that around 1985-1986, while living at 66 Ba Trieu Street (Hanoi), during a visit to paint a portrait of artist Manh Kiet, she spontaneously borrowed his brushes and paints to try her hand at painting a still life of lotus flowers. This work astonished many in the art world when they learned the artist was an amateur. It was from this experience that Phan Thi Ngoc My was motivated to explore and self-teach on her path to artistic creation.

Currently, her museum features a small space showcasing her personal creations. Primarily using pastel and oil paints, Ms. My's paintings possess a fresh, clear, and vibrant quality, brimming with love for life and joy.

She has a particular fondness for themes related to the countryside and Hanoi. From landscape paintings of her homeland in the Đoài region with Thầy Pagoda, village ponds, banana groves, and the blooming kapok flowers, to sketches of the ancient and poetic beauty of Hanoi with its Old Quarter, Hoàn Kiếm Lake, and crape myrtle blossoms, all of them reveal the artist's deep affection, attachment, and love for her homeland and country.

To date, she has had more than 10 solo exhibitions, since her first one in the 1990s. Besides solo exhibitions, she also regularly participates in group exhibitions and periodic displays organized by the Vietnam Fine Arts Association or the Hanoi Fine Arts Association…

One interesting fact that anyone following Phan Thi Ngoc My's artistic journey knows is that she became a painting collector before she started painting. Even in the 1980s, when economic conditions were still difficult, she began collecting paintings. She loved beautiful paintings so much that she once sold a house on Kim Lien Street to fund her passion.

For her, collecting paintings is also a way to preserve the essence of Vietnamese art. Not only does she seek out many sources to bring back valuable paintings by renowned artists, but she also opened her own art gallery at 66 Ba Trieu Street, creating a space for art appreciation and a meeting place for artists. She connects with them with respect and sharing.

During those difficult times, when many artists struggled to make ends meet, Ms. My often provided financial support, buying paints and materials so they could focus on creating, quietly becoming a bridge to bring their works closer to the public.

Driven by decades of passionate collecting, in 2006, Ms. My decided to establish the Phan Thi Ngoc My Artist Museum in her hometown of Sai Son, considered the first private art museum in Vietnam. Although permitted to charge fees to maintain operations, the museum remains open free of charge to the community.

To date, this place has become a familiar cultural meeting point for the people of Sai Son, as well as Vietnamese art lovers and a large number of students who come to research, visit, and study. Artist Phan Thi Ngoc My said that there have been offers to buy her museum at very high prices, but she resolutely refused.

She has always wished that the museum space could be expanded, so that it could forever be a place to preserve and protect a part of Vietnam's fine arts heritage, awakening a love of art and an awareness of preserving heritage for future generations.

DAC LINH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/noi-luu-giu-mot-phan-di-san-my-thuat-viet-post966206.html