Since then, she has returned every year, continuing her journey to discover and connect with traditional Vietnamese cultural values as a way to express her deep attachment to the land and people here.
In her capacity as president of the Association of Vietnamese Quintessence in France, she played a key role in introducing Then folk singing to French audiences.
When art becomes a mission
Dominique Des Miscault began photographing Vietnam in 1994. Her emotional images capture the simple yet vibrant moments of Hanoi's streets, the contemplative Long Bien Bridge, and the bustling rhythm of working people's lives. Her love for Hanoi opened a journey of discovery along Vietnam, during which she recorded realistic portrayals of the landscapes, people, and cultures across various regions.
She has set foot in most provinces and cities across Vietnam, from bustling urban centres like Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang to peaceful countryside areas such as Bac Giang, Quang Binh, and the vast Central Highlands.
Her photographs are consistently filled with life, not only capturing beautiful natural landscapes but also portraying Vietnamese people with authenticity and emotion. For her, each person and place holds a unique story, and she aims to tell these stories through photography.
 |
Artist Dominique Des Miscault and her paintings on Vietnam's landscapes and people (Photo: baothainguyen.vn) |
With her authentic photography style without using effects, Dominique aims to recreate Vietnam in its most rustic and intimate form.
Beyond photography, she employs painting as another medium to express her love for Vietnam. Through delicate brushstrokes, she has brought images of Vietnam's landscape and people closer to international audiences.
In 2024, she participated in an exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Accords in Switzerland, showcasing her work about President Ho Chi Minh — a testament to her profound interest in Vietnamese history.
Dominique has developed close friendships with many Vietnamese artists and writers. She translated poetry by renowned poets such as Nguyen Dinh Thi, Bang Viet, and Tran Dang Khoa into French, helping to spread Vietnamese literary values to the international community.
Additionally, she has dedicated significant passion to her research on Buddhism.
A bridge connecting Vietnamese culture to the world
Dominique Des Miscault has actively contributed to promoting cultural exchange between Vietnam and France. Together with Dr Hoang Thi Hong Ha, she co-founded the Vietnam Essence Association in France and serves as the organisation's financial director. The association was established with the mission of preserving and developing traditional culture, particularly the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities in Vietnam.
One of the association's most significant accomplishments came in 2024 when they brought a group of Then folk singing artists from Vietnam to perform in Paris, France. The programme not only attracted attention from the Vietnamese community in France but also made a strong impression on traditional art enthusiasts.
This event marked a major step forward in promoting Vietnam's ethnic minority cultures to the world, while also opening numerous opportunities for future cultural cooperation and exchange.
Not limiting herself to artistic activities, Dominique also aims to create stronger “bridges” between artists from both countries. She proposed the establishment of annual art exchange programmes between Vietnam and France for artists from both nations to meet, learn from each other, and promote creativity together.
She believes that the intersection between traditional and contemporary art from both cultures would create unique works that breathed the spirit of friendship. She also hopes to develop more projects that bring the cultures of ethnic minorities to France.
Xuan Bach, a lecturer at the Vietnam Viet Bac Culture and Arts College, was one of artists who participated in the Then singing programme in Paris in 2024. Sharing his initial impression of Dominique, he noted her simplicity and friendliness — qualities that belie her profound passion for Vietnamese culture.
 |
Participants at a programme on introducing Vietnam's Then folk singing in France in 2024 (Photo: vannghethainguyen.vn) |
Unlike many foreigners who visited Vietnam merely to enjoy its natural beauty, Dominique has delved deeply into each aspect of local culture, listening, learning, and spending many years to fully comprehend the values that Vietnamese people preserved.
She has consistently contemplated how to make Vietnamese culture, especially precious heritages like Then folk singing, become more appreciated and widely spread.
“With a profound love for Vietnamese culture, Dominique has, for many years, quietly served as a vital bridge, contributing to the enrichment of the Vietnamese cultural heritage. She has fostered a deeper global understanding of Vietnam's cultural essence,” Xuan Bach said.
He stressed that cultural connection was a formidable challenge, demanding perseverance, dedication, and a strong sense of responsibility.
“It was not an easy task, but individuals like Dominique have proven that with genuine love, all boundaries can be transcended,” emphasised Bach.
I hope to have many more opportunities to visit Vietnam, to organise more exhibitions and connection activities so that people of both countries can grow understanding and appreciation of the cultural values of each other.
French artist Dominique Des Miscault
As a companion to Dominique on her journey of connecting Vietnamese-French cultures, Dr Hoang Thi Hong Ha, Vice President of the Association of Vietnamese Quintessence in France, affirmed that Dominique loves Vietnamese culture and regards it as part of her soul.
Ha, who is also a staff member of the Paris World Culture Institute, said that working with Dominique, she always feels her dedication and rare passion.
“She supports me in implementing projects and inspires me, providing additional motivation for me to persevere on the path of cultural connection,” Ha stated.
Sharing about Vietnamese-French cultural connection activities, Dominique said that Vietnamese culture's diversity has captivated her heart from her first days of arrival.
“I feel returning to Vietnam is like coming home, and from the bottom of my heart, I promised myself to do the best things possible for the development of Vietnamese culture in France.”
“The memories of Vietnam through the photographs I've taken and the books that my Vietnamese friends have given me are always priceless treasures to me. I hope to have many more opportunities to visit Vietnam, to organise more exhibitions and connection activities so that people of both countries can grow understanding and appreciation of the cultural values of each other.”
