This is an international-level art award established for the first time exclusively for Vietnamese fine arts students, with the aim of supporting and encouraging a new generation of young artists to integrate into the global art scene.
The event will take place at Nguy Nhu Kon Tum Hall of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, with the participation of representatives from media organisations, art professionals, collectors, and artists, as well as a large number of fine arts students from training institutions nationwide.
The “Mandarine Road Prize” was founded by Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, President of the Asian Artists Association in Paris and Deputy Director and Head of Asian Fine Art and Asian Art at Aguttes auction house (France), on the occasion of the centenary of Viet Nam’s first fine arts training programme, which was initiated by painter Victor Tardieu in collaboration with the École des Beaux-Arts de l’Indochine.
The name “Mandarine Road” evokes the historic cultural and transportation axis once known as the “mandarin road”, where Viet Nam’s first fine arts school was built at 121 Thien Ly Street. From this very space, modern Vietnamese fine art took shape, laying the foundation for generations of prominent artists such as Le Pho, Mai Trung Thu, Vu Cao Dam, and Trinh Huu Ngoc, who helped define the face of Vietnamese art in the 20th century.
The prize is open to students majoring in fine arts who are enrolled in art schools during the 2025–2026 academic year. Two prize-winning artists will have the opportunity to exhibit their works in Neuilly-sur-Seine (Paris, France) in early April 2026, when Paris enters its peak season for contemporary art. They will also receive sponsorship for return air tickets, take part in an in-depth artistic immersion programme in Paris, and be provided with accommodation support worth 1,000 euros per person.
According to Charlotte Aguttes-Reynier, the prize offers young artists a “key” to access international art fairs, exhibitions, and professional networks, thereby laying a solid foundation for sustainable steps along their creative paths.
The prize’s jury brings together reputable experts, artists, curators, and collectors from Viet Nam and France, ensuring academic rigour, professional standards, and strong connectivity with the international art market.
The inaugural season features 13 contestants from leading fine arts training institutions in Viet Nam, mainly the Viet Nam University of Fine Arts and the Ho Chi Minh City University of Fine Arts. The participants represent a wide range of creative approaches, reflecting the dynamic landscape of contemporary young Vietnamese art.
The “Mandarine Road Prize” is expected to become a meaningful milestone in contemporary fine arts life, helping to connect the Indochina fine arts tradition with global artistic currents, while opening new creative journeys for young Vietnamese artists in an era of international integration.
