THE ARTIST, ALMOST
The Artist, for a dream held close.
Almost, for the harmony of passions still to be written.
My childhood was filled with days spent with my grandparents. Since they were older, they couldn’t often take me down to the playground. So, I found joy in what was around me at home. With my dad working in finance and banking, we always had stacks of A4 paper and plenty of pens lying around.
I started doodling, making my first scribbles on paper. What began as random, innocent lines gradually grew into a "collection" of my drawings—a simple start that eventually sparked my love for art and became my way of exploring the connection between art and finance.
Co-Founder of the "Khoi Nguyen" traditional fashion brand
Khoi Nguyen wasn’t just a business idea; it was a mission to bridge the gap between Vietnam's rich artistic heritage and modern accessibility and to spark a deeper appreciation for our cultural identity. Initially, I was filled with excitement but also an overwhelming sense of responsibility.
Could we make ancient art relevant in today’s world?
In my role as Co-Founder, I discovered the profound interplay between creativity and financial acumen. Starting with a vision to reintroduce Vietnam’s traditional art to modern audiences, I was met with the challenge of ensuring cultural preservation
could be financially sustainable.
Our Tu Linh collection, which features Vietnamese folk icons "Long - Lan - Quy - Phung" (Dragon, Unicorn, Tortoise, and Phoenix), sold 300 units, generating revenue of 53.5 million VND. This success of a 200% ROI was beyond merely about numbers;
it validated that cultural products could thrive in competitive markets.
Beyond sales, I applied financial strategies to scale our impact. Profits were reinvested into cultural workshops like Hoa Do and tours to Duong Lam Ancient Village, which not only expanded our social media reach by 120% but also solidified a long-term connection between customers and our brand.
Managing budgets for these initiatives taught me the importance of balancing financial growth with social responsibility.
.jpg)
Through Khoi Nguyen, I’ve learned that finance isn't just a tool for sustaining operations—it’s a vehicle for creating meaningful cultural impact.
This experience solidified my belief in the power of sustainable entrepreneurship to preserve heritage while fostering economic viability.
Curator Of The
“Vietnamese Souls In Art” Exhibition
As Curator and Art Director of Lumiere de Laque, I organized the “Vietnamese Souls in Art” exhibition at Aqua Art Gallery in Hanoi, featuring a collection of over 40 traditional-themed artworks from 25 artists across Vietnam.
I collaborated with 12 traditional artists from Đường Lâm, Sình, and Ha Thai Lacquer Village to create exclusive merchandise, achieving strong sales. We directed part of the proceeds to community support, splitting donations between the craft villages and the Vietnam Fatherland Front for Typhoon Yagi relief, underscoring our dedication to both culture and community aid.
Hosting a week-long exhibition for around 1,000 visitors wasn’t just about organizing an event; it was about curating a space where the art I’ve been pursuing since 6th or 7th grade could stand alongside other incredible pieces, each piece carrying its own narrative yet spoke together an appreciation for the artistic heritage of Vietnam. As I stood there, explaining to a foreign visitor the intricacies of lacquer painting, I realized how deeply personal this art form has become to me. I shared how each layer of lacquer is carefully revealed through a process of diligent sanding, a method that exposes the hidden beauty underneath. With the heartfelt presentation, I secured a deal with a Muong Thanh Hotel representative who purchased my entire 10-piece lacquer painting collection.
What struck me most was witnessing how mesmerized people were by the techniques behind each medium—lacquer, wood panel, and woodblock. Together, these works created a dialogue between mediums, each reflecting a different facet of Vietnam’s artistic heritage. I could see the fascination in the visitor’s eyes, a moment that reassured me that this form of traditional art still has the power to captivate, even across cultures and generations.
It wasn’t just the visual appeal of the art but the craftsmanship behind it that seemed to intrigue them. The common ground, despite the differences in medium, was the deep-rooted connection to Vietnamese culture. Through these pieces, we were not just presenting art but preserving and celebrating a cultural heritage that has withstood the test of time.
_JPG.jpg)
