For anyone headed to Hanoi, we recommend a visit to the revered Art Vietnam Gallery and home of Suzanne Lecht, an American national who is well regarded as one of the first Western ‘pioneers’ to propel the reputation of Vietnamese art among collectors worldwide. A former contributor to Asia Art Magazine, a visit to Suzanne’s gallery and house in the Old Quarter is a destination onto itself.

Suzanne Lecht, Art Director

Living and working in Asia since 1982, with a lifelong commitment to working in the arts worldwide, Art Director Suzanne Lecht is recognized as a leading authority on contemporary art in Vietnam. Dedicated to discovering exceptional artists who are singular and passionate in their expression, Suzanne has been an advocate in educating the world about the arts of Vietnam. A pioneer in her field, Suzanne has been working with Vietnamese artists since the day she moved from Tokyo to Hanoi in January 1994– a year and half before diplomatic relations were restored between Vietnam and the U.S.

The Gallery

The story of Art Vietnam Gallery and its Director, Suzanne Lecht, is as dramatic and transformative as the recent history of Vietnam itself.

When Art Vietnam opened its first gallery in a traditional Vietnamese “tube house” in Hanoi’s ancient quarter of “36 Streets,” it blended the old with the new and quickly established an international reputation as the authoritative source for contemporary art in Vietnam. With a track record of identifying and developing exceptional new talent, Art Vietnam became a destination for art tours of the world’s leading cultural institutions, private collectors and diplomatic visits.

Having outgrown the original gallery, Art Vietnam recently moved from its “tube house” on Hang Than to just around the corner at 7 Nguyen Khac Nhu. Visitors to the new space will find that the evolution of Art Vietnam’s style mirrors the breathtaking pace of change of Vietnam itself– a country steeped in tradition which stands poised on the leading edge of the international art world. Now housed in a large contemporary space, Art Vietnam Gallery has three floors of video, photography, painting and sculpture, a piano bar and a large outdoor terrace. With international tours and invitations, Art Vietnam Gallery is recognized both in Vietnam and abroad as an avant-garde voice of Vietnam today.