With its richly diverse culture, a vibrant art scene as well as a very young and bold attitude towards life, Ha Noi can offer plenty of things to contemporary art lovers.  You can easily find a trait of modern art in various tiny galleries or on a random, deserted, old moldy wall while strolling along busy streets of Ha Noi’s Old quarter. Otherwise, if you are a contemporary art enthusiast, make sure to follow locals and a great bunch of expats to visit these following art spaces where you will be surprised by the strong flow of contemporary art in the over 1,000 year old capital city.  

Nha San Collective

Nha San Collective is the younger version of Nha San Studio, the first artist-led and non-profit contemporary art project in Viet Nam before 2010. The art space is run by a group of young and talented local artists who wish to greatly contribute to the rapid growth of contemporary art in Viet Nam. Nha San Collective is located in the heart of Ha Noi in Ly Quoc Su Street, making it a perfect place for young, hip and cool people to gather and talk about something new. The space also provides financial and emotional supports to local contemporary artists, as well as to host exchange programs between Vietnamese and international artists.

An exhibition in Nha San Collective (photo: soi)

A corner of Nha San Collective (photo: nhasancollevtive)

Work room four

Work Room Four was founded in 2013 by four expats from the UK who share the same vision about an energetic contemporary art space for the capital city of Ha Noi. Situated on the 23th floor above the lively Ha Noi, the studio has been proved to be an ideal place for artists, educators and learners with a wide array of arts and culture related activities, including exhibitions, talks, seminars, classes etc. Visitors to Work Room Four will also be inspired by a small corner in the studio where modern and edgy art products are for sale.

An exhibition in Work Room Four (photo: hanoigrapevine)

l’Institut Français de Hanoï

Not only the most prestigious French language training school in Ha Noi, l’Institut Français de Hanoï has also been regarded as one of the most active art spaces in the city. Locals often come to l’Institut Français de Hanoï for a great variety of arts and cultural exchange events, such as concerts, performances, exhibitions, talks, film screenings, lectures, seminars etc. Situated in a five-floor building within walking reach from Hoan Kiem Lake, the institute offers weekly programs which are quite diverse and extensive.

An exhibition in I'Institut Francais de Hanoi (photo: cinet)

Goethe Institut Hanoi

Another language school with the mission to boost the arts and cultural exchange, as well as stimulate the art scene of Ha Noi, Goethe Institut Hanoi plays a major role in the local visual arts community. Located in a beautiful villa, just a few steps from Viet Nam Fine Arts Museum, Goethe Institut Hanoi’s little garden is an ideal place for outdoor concerts, exhibitions alongside with a wide selection of art and culture events often held indoor. The institution is also home to DOCLAB, an exhibition/cinema space that focuses on video art and experimental documentary film-making. Founded in 2009 and currently supported by Goethe Institut Hanoi, DOCLAB offers workshops, courses, talks for students and visitors who are interested in contemporary video works.

Street view of Goethe Institut Hanoi (photo: goethe hanoi)

Manzi

Manzi is an exhibition space/ a café/a cinema/a lecture space and many more. Situated in a quiet corner in Ha Noi’s Old Quarter, the space provides its visitors a relax feeling within an arty atmosphere. Manzi aims to promote local arts and culture by hosting events of local artists, academics, writers and social activists. Numerous famous faces of Vietnamese contemporary art have exhibited their works here, including Nguyen Manh Hung.

Welcome to Manzi (photo: rustycompass)

Inside the cafe art space (photo: manzi)

National Times