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appear on the streets of Hanoi. Many of these are no more than souvenir shops selling paintings of variable quality but usually at affordable prices, while many of the big galleries, such as Apricot Gallery, 40b Hang Bong (www.apricot-artvietnam.com), and Viet Fine Arts Gallery, 96 Hang Trong (www.vietfinearts.com), are essentially commercial concerns. However, there are a number of galleries showcasing more experimental work and promoting promising newcomers; www.hanoigrapevine.com is one of the best sources of up-to-date information. Now and again the Alliance Francaise (See "") and the Geothe Institute (See "") also put on interesting exhibitions. At the other end of the spectrum, you can watch artists running up bootleg “masterpieces” in broad daylight at a number of shops at the north end of Hang Trong. In recent years, a few photographers have also set up shops which double as exhibition space.

Art Vietnam Gallery 7 Nguyen Khac Ngu www.vietnamesefineart.com. Stunning exhibition space on three floors featuring varied works from leading contemporary artists. Gallery owner Suzanne Lecht also organizes cultural events and arranges studio tours on request.

Centre for Exhibition & Art Exchange 2f/43 Trang Tien www.ceae-artgallery.com. This government-run gallery combines a small rental space, which changes every month or so and may be showing something of interest, with a regular, commercial gallery at the rear.

Dien Dam Gallery 4b Dinh Liet. Shop-cum-gallery of award-winning photographer Lai Dien Dam.

Duc’s House on Stilts Dock 82, Duong Buoi, Ba Dinh District 04/3762 5452. Nguyen Manh Duc is one of Vietnam’s most innovative installation and performance artists. His studio, a Muong stilthouse relocated from Hoa Binh, has become a focus for cutting-edge arts.

Fine Art Exhibition House 16 Ngo Quyen. It’s worth popping into this rental space to see what’s on offer.

Gallery Mai Hien 99 Nguyen Thai Hoc 04/3846 9614. Famous lacquer artist Bui Mai Hien exhibits in her second-floor gallery, at the back of the courtyard. By appointment only.

Green Palm Gallery 110 Hang Gai www.greenpalmgallery.com. Big, well-established gallery showcasing the big names alongside lesser-known artists.

Hanoi Studio 13 Trang Tien. Commercial gallery hosting three or four interesting and well-displayed exhibitions a year promoting young local artists.

Life Photo Gallery 39 Trang Tien. Showcases the work of Do Anh Tuan, one of Vietnam’s leading photographers.

Mai Gallery 113 Hang Bong www.maigallery-vietnam.com. Commercial contemporary art gallery which also fosters new talent.

Ryllega Gallery 1a Trang Tien 04/3933 2878. A few times a year this tiny gallery is the venue for experimental video and performance art.

Salon Natasha 30 Hang Bong. Pioneering private gallery, set up in 1990, where Russian-born Natasha and her artist husband Vu Dan Tan live, work and act as an informal meeting place for Hanoi’s more experimental artists.

Studio Dao Anh Khanh To 19, Gia Thuong, Ngoc Thuy Village, Long Bien 04/3827 1216, www.daoanhkhanh.com. Dao Anh Khanh’s Muong stilthouse in landscaped gardens makes a wonderful exhibition space and is also a centre for performance and installation art. By appointment only.

Suffusive Art Gallery 2b Bao Khanh www.suffusiveart.com. One-room gallery hosting exhibitions by young artists.

Trinh Tuan–Cong Kim Hoa Studio 2f/17 Ly Quoc Su 04/3824 5975. Vietnam’s leading lacquer artists live and work in this small studio-gallery. By appointment only.

Thanh Long Gallery 41 Hang Gai. Exhibits leading contemporary artists and hosts the occasional avant-garde exhibition.

Young Gallery 28 Dao Duy Tu. Small new gallery promoting a broad range of young artists, including video and installation arts, in its monthly exhibitions.

Hanoi and around |

Listings

Airlines Aeroflot, 4 Trang Thi 04/3825 6742; Air Asia, 30 Le Thai To 04/3726 2262; Air France, 1 Ba Trieu 04/3825 3484; Asiana Airlines, 360 Kim Ma 04/3771 4094; British Airways, 25 Ly Thuong Kiet 04/3934 7239; Cathay Pacific, 49 Hai Ba Trung 04/3826 7298; China Airlines,