A visual tribute to Viet Nam’s history, culture, and everyday life
The bilingual Vietnamese–French photo book is a curated collection of photographs previously exhibited by Dominique in France during the 1990s and 2000s.
Rather than following a narrative or chronological order, each image captures a piece of Dominique’s memory — streets, faces, postures, hands, light — that may seem ordinary yet embody the very soul of Viet Nam.
The book reveals intimate, serene, and resilient scenes across Viet Nam: a sculpted portrait of President Ho Chi Minh at a friend’s house; a flag-raising ceremony at President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum early one morning; historic Long Bien Bridge; the solemn Turtle Tower; Sai Gon streets; the weathered hands of farmers in Hue.
The photo book is not only an artistic collection but also a testament to the power of cultural soft diplomacy — where personal memory, photography, and cultural narrative unite to preserve and promote Viet Nam’s values to the international community.
Published to coincide with the 80th anniversaries of the August Revolution (August 19, 1945) and Viet Nam’s National Day (September 2, 1945), this photo book is not only an artistic collection but also a testament to the power of cultural soft diplomacy — where personal memory, photography, and cultural narrative unite to preserve and promote Viet Nam’s values to the international community.
Speaking at the launch, organised by the Association of Vietnamese Quintessence in France, sculptor and artist Dominique de Miscault expressed her hope that, through her photo book, readers worldwide would experience the beauty and humanity of Viet Nam — a nation both steadfast and compassionate, always aspiring to peace and the future.
“I have travelled to many countries around the world, but Viet Nam is the country that moves me the most,” she said.
The book is the fruit of over 30 years of visual archival work, experience, and reflection on Viet Nam through the lens and sensibility of a Western artist, complemented by cultural commentary from a Vietnamese perspective.
Connecting cultures of Viet Nam and France
For Dominique de Miscault, Viet Nam is not only a source of inspiration but also a spiritual homeland. She captures the genuine beauty of a continually evolving country, leaving behind profound artistic imprints rich with emotion, memory, and boundless love.
Dominique recalled that she first visited Ha Noi in 1992 as a visitor. However, when she stood before Ba Dinh Square, facing President Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, she no longer felt like a stranger.
“Before President Ho’s Mausoleum, I sensed something beyond politics or time: a deep respect from an entire nation towards a person they trust absolutely.”
Upon the visit, she had no specific photography projects — only a clear feeling that Viet Nam was awaiting her, so she began capturing images that captivated her with their simplicity, spiritual depth, and human warmth in everyday life.
Through her lens, Viet Nam appears not as a tourist destination or a majestic land, but as a space of memory: simple, quiet, and profound.
Sharing with Nhan Dan Newspaper, Dominique revealed that “Viet Nam – Un voyage mémoriel” gathers photos from the time before the internet or mobile phones through to today’s dynamic, modern Viet Nam, which remains true to its traditional values.
“I hope that through this book, readers around the world will experience the beauty of Viet Nam and its people — a country that is both resilient and compassionate, always looking towards peace and the future.”
“What always moves me about Vietnamese people is their sincerity and loyalty in relationships”, she said. “My Vietnamese friends have nurtured our bonds over the years. This is why I created this book—as a gesture of gratitude and to help my international friends better understand Viet Nam.”
The book’s preface is penned by Dr Hoang Thi Hong Ha, a Vietnamese cultural researcher based in France, creating a delicate conversation between Western and Vietnamese perspectives.
I hope that through this book, readers around the world will experience the beauty of Viet Nam and its people — a country that is both resilient and compassionate, always looking towards peace and the future.
French photographer Dominique de Miscault
Sharing at the launch event, Ha said that when she first saw de Miscault’s work in Paris, she realised that “a unique cultural story was conveyed in each frame”. “Dominique and I met through our shared deep connection to Viet Nam”.
Their collaboration involved months of curating, writing, and bilingual translation to balance artistic vision with cultural context.
“With her memories, photos, and affection, we have crafted an authentic book that helps readers grasp a Viet Nam of bygone years and spreads Vietnamese cultural and spiritual values worldwide. The book offers a unique foreign viewpoint, showing that Viet Nam’s people and land are greatly cherished internationally.”
For Ha, “Viet Nam – Un voyage mémoriel” serves as a bridge between past and present, between Viet Nam and France, embodying the profound affection international friends hold for Viet Nam.
“It is not merely a photo collection and commentary but a vivid fragment of memory lovingly captured by a French artist devoted to Viet Nam’s people and culture,” she stressed.
The book will be introduced to readers in Ha Noi on August 19, in celebration of the 80th anniversaries of the August Revolution and National Day.
Dominique has held more than 20 solo exhibitions on Viet Nam in France, Viet Nam, and Russia. Her works document not only visible beauty but also the deeper layers of a transforming Vietnamese society — from rural villages to vibrant cities, traditional customs to folk practices among ethnic communities.
She is also the author or co-author of significant arts publications, including the Paris Peace Accord commemorative plaque at Choisy-le-Roi and the documentary “Ho Chi Minh – Aspiration for Peace”.
Among her notable contributions is her involvement in major public art projects in Viet Nam, such as the Ha Noi ceramic mural recorded in the Guinness World Records.
Serving as co-president of the Association of Vietnamese Quintessence in France, Dominique has actively connected artists, researchers, and craftsmen to promote Viet Nam’s culture abroad.
