As someone who has lived in Vietnam, I was happy to discover the origins of the country’s street names. Three-word, sometimes two-word, names that were once a challenge to pronounce suddenly became meaningful as I learned the Vietnamese language.
Vietnamese streets, I learned, often carry the names of iconic and important figures in the nation’s history. This is how I first encountered the name Nguyễn Du. It was a later realization that the same person had authored the world-famous literary masterpiece, The Tale of Kiều.
To fully grasp the exhibition’s concept, it helps to have some knowledge of its central subject: The Tale of Kiều. According to various sources, Nguyễn Du was inspired by the Chinese text The Tale of Kim Vân Kiều (Kim Vân Kiều truyện) by the writer Thanh Tâm Tài Nhân. Nguyễn Du masterfully wove Confucian ideologies with Vietnamese literary elements, notably by composing the piece in lục bát, the 6-8 verse form familiar to Vietnamese society at the time.
The epic poem tells the story of a young woman named Vương Thúy Kiều. A symbol of elegance and beauty, Kiều was born into a well-educated family and was newly betrothed to the young Kim Trọng. However, a disaster struck her family, forcing her to sell herself into prostitution to ransom her father “from the clutches of a mandarin and a merchant.” The poem’s 3,254 verses follow Kiều’s harrowing journey, as she endures 15 years of continuous misfortune and injustice before finally returning to her family. With this tragic plot as a backdrop, exhibit attendees are immersed in a dramatic and beautiful reinterpretation of the poem’s events. They are also treated to an artistic reflection on the changing roles of Vietnamese women in modern society.
The Journey with Kiều
My journey through the exhibit began as I stepped inside, welcomed by an installation of colorful draping creatively adorned with a horse lantern. A smiling volunteer greeted me and offered guidance. I chose to explore the exhibit with her to better understand its narrative.
The exhibit is divided into three areas: Tài (Talent), Mệnh (Fate), and Tâm (Heart), each representing an integral part of Kiều’s story. In the first area, Tài, visitors are greeted by a collection of photography and installation art showcasing Kiều’s four feminine skills—music, chess, poetry, and painting. Other features include interactive art where visitors weigh silver pieces, reminiscent of a woman’s worth in the olden days, and an intriguing AR-enhanced digital piece embodying the four traditional virtues.
Additionally, a piece depicting Kiều’s encounter with Đạm Tiên, another symbolic character from the poem, was a standout. This digital artwork, with its light hues and springtime setting, provided a thematic contrast to Kiều’s ill fate. The serene setting was completed with ambient sounds played to evoke the visitor’s innermost thoughts.
The Talent area is where I lingered the longest, particularly drawn to the Chess installation. Complemented by a masterful photograph of the same chessboard, this piece struck me as a thought-provoking interpretation of Kiều’s life as a woman, a daughter, and a lover.
In the same area, two stations allowed visitors to create their own woodblock paintings. I enjoyed this activity as it gave me a chance to personally take part in creating an artwork. The woodblock activity featured images of a maiden performing different actions, which visitors could complete as they moved through the other areas of the exhibit.
A personal favorite among the art activities was the Kiều Fortune-telling. With 3,254 verses in the poem, it seemed plausible that one could speak to the present and offer guidance on where I was headed. In this station, I picked up the book and let the page speak for me. I think it is a novel idea for immersing the audience even more deeply in the exhibit’s themes.
Going further into the heart of the Kiều: Reimagined exhibit, I discovered more creative visualizations of the poem, including a video game. Every wrong answer to the question adds a year to her misery a doomed gamification of her existence.
The final section of the exhibit featured contemporary Vietnamese women from Central Vietnam, a digital painting of Vietnamese women’s accomplishments throughout history in fields like theater, science, and technology, and a gorgeous silk painting depicting a Vietnamese woman that flowed like air. There were many more artworks I have not described in detail. In such a vast space with four distinct areas, an article is certainly not enough to capture its full worth. It is clear the organizers are as remarkable as the works they have showcased.
A Dialogue on Culture and Collaboration
After touring all four spaces, I had the chance to meet the Project Manager of Da Nang Tui, the exhibit’s main organizer. Ms. Hiếu Nguyễn, or Veronica as she introduced herself, asked me what I wanted to know from the interview.
With a few questions in mind about the scale of the exhibit and their chosen subject, I wasted no time in asking them. She explained that the concept had been in development for over a year, from brainstorming and research to securing funding and executing the project in a timely manner.
With Ms. Hiếu’s seven years of management experience, having studied Business Management in the UK, Da Nang Tui has successfully produced three exhibits, all focused on presenting Vietnamese culture. Through her past work, she has built a network of artists and collaborators who were essential in making Kiều: Reimagined possible.
I asked Ms. Hiếu if her UK education had influenced her approach to the exhibit and the general vision for Da Nang Tui. With an earnest smile, she replied that studying abroad had made her realize how much she truly loved her culture. When I asked how this exhibit differs from Western ones, she explained that the narrative composition of Kiều: Reimagined enabled a unique collaborative environment where the Art Director, team members, and artists were all at the forefront.
While there are differences in the types of art displayed, there is also a unity in theme that makes the experience special. For Vietnamese visitors, it allows them to explore their connection to a literary classic and relate to the societal changes that have been welcomed. The Tale of Kiều is not merely an old poem studied in schools; it is a cultural and social reflection of the indomitable Vietnamese psyche.
Kiều: Reimagined is available for viewing until September 21, 2025, in partnership with Xi-Nê Bistro & Jazz.
Do not hesitate to visit! The exhibit is not just for experts and artists, but for the general audience to enjoy. At the end of the exhibit, merchandise and collectibles are available for sale, an effort by Da Nang Tui to become more sustainable and, of course, to make art more accessible to everyone.
References
Pham, H. V. (2024). “THE TALE OF KIEU” – THE CHOICE OF VIETNAM VALUES. TNU Journal of Science and Technology.
Tale of Kiêu. (n.d.). Asia Society. Retrieved September 7, 2025, from https://asiasociety.org/education/tale-ki%C3%AAu
