Art and more art

Started with a trip to the National Fine Arts Museum with its collection of lacquer paintings and paintings on silk. Fine examples of both. Then on to the
contemporary arts center to meet printmakers studying with a Boston printmaker. The workshop participants were professors at the local fine arts university who produced strong work, especially for first time lithographers. The instructor, Carolyn Muscat, received the Medal of Art from the Vietnamese government. We were there to watch the ceremony. Many speeches first in Vietnamese and then translated into English. And, of course, the government official was late, the speeches droned on, more small talk before we could leave...Long cab ride at rush hour. We split up into 3 cabs and we reported 3 different fares back to our hotel.

The highlight of the day was a visit to the studio of Le Quoc Viet. He generously shared his work with us and it was terrific.

The Tet new year is at the end of January so every one is getting ready. Shops are all lit up for the occasion.