Rhythm of Saigon caught in watercolor

The exhibition takes place between March 18-24 at Ho Chi Minh City Fine Arts Association in District 3, featuring over 100 works by different artists. Besides landscape paintings, the event also boasts works depicting slices of modern life in HCMC and its China Town, which straddles districts 5, 6, 10, and 11, and for generations has been well known as a place where Chinese families selling wonton soup.

‘Binh Minh Tren Ben Bach Dang’ (Sunset On Bach Dang Wharf) by Luc Ha Kim.

A painting of Hue Nhiem Pagoda in District 6, also by Kim.

Kim’s painting of a new residential area on Truong Dinh Thao Street in Tan Phu District.

Kim’s drawing of people performing the dragon dance during Tet Nguyen Tieu or Lantern Festival, known as the biggest and most important festival of the year among the Vietnamese-Chinese community, marks the final day of the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) celebration.
It is observed on the 15th day of the first lunar month, the first Full Moon day of Lunar New Year.

Tran Vu Bang recreates the bustling scene of vendors and shoppers in front of Binh Tay Market in District 6.

A painting by Bang depicts a street corner in District 5.

Bang also made a painting of low-income housing by a canal in District 8, far from the city center.

Truong Lo’s painting showcases the lives of residents living by Tau Hu Canal on a single morning.

The top painting depicts a scene inside Binh Tay Market while the bottom artwork captures the intersection of Trieu Quan Phuc and Tran Hung Dao. Both paintings belong to Truong Gia Tuan.

Tuan (L) introduces his artwork about a rural area inside HCMC’s Thu Duc City.
“I made this painting during a field trip with my art class as I was fascinated by the countryside scenery within the urban expanse,” the 26-year-old artist said, noting he completed it in a week.

“Each painting draws viewers’ attention for having its own beauty and charm. The exhibition boasts many landscapes and slices of life. But they all have their own liveliness and unique take,” Nguyen Truong Yen Ngoc, 34, commented.