Dominique Des Miscault: French Artist Bridging Vietnam and France Through Culture

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Since then, she has returned every year, continuing her journey of discovery and connection with traditional cultural values to express her deep attachment to Vietnam and its people. As President of the Vietnamese Essence Association in France, she has facilitated the introduction of then singing performances to France.

Dominique De Miscault (far left) visits a 114-year-old then singing artist in Binh Lieu, hoping that more people will learn about local culture. (Photo: VOV)

When art becomes a mission

Dominique Des Miscault began photographing Vietnam in 1994. Her emotionally rich photographs capture simple yet vibrant moments of Hanoi’s streets, the solemn presence of Long Bien Bridge, and the bustling rhythm of hardworking locals. Her love for Hanoi led her on a journey throughout Vietnam, where she documented realistic depictions of the country’s landscapes, people, and culture.

aving traveled to almost every province and city in Vietnam, from bustling metropolises like Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang to peaceful rural areas such as Bac Giang, Quang Binh, and the vast Central Highlands, her photographs vividly reflect the essence of life. They depict the country’s breathtaking scenery and offer authentic and emotional portrayals of the Vietnamese people. To her, every individual and every place has a story, and she strives to tell those stories through her photographs.

With a realistic photography style, devoid of artificial effects, Dominique aims to present Vietnam in its most natural and intimate form. Beyond photography, painting is another medium through which she expresses her love for Vietnam. With delicate brushstrokes, she has brought images of Vietnam’s landscapes and people closer to international audiences. In 2024, she participated in an exhibition in Switzerland commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Geneva Agreement, showcasing a work on President Ho Chi Minh, an affirmation of her profound interest in Vietnam’s history.

Dominique has cultivated deep friendships with many Vietnamese artists. She has translated poetry by renowned Vietnamese 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 devoted considerable effort to studying Buddhism.

A bridge for Vietnamese culture to reach the world

Dominique Des Miscault actively contributes to promoting cultural exchange between Vietnam and France. Alongside Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha, she co-founded the Vietnamese Essence Association in France and serves as its Financial Director. The association was established with the goal of preserving and developing traditional culture, particularly the heritage of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities.

One of the association’s most significant achievements was bringing a group of then singing artisans from Vietnam to perform in Paris in 2024. The event attracted the attention of the Vietnamese community in France and left a strong impression on audiences who appreciate traditional arts. This milestone marked a significant step in promoting Vietnam’s ethnic minority culture on the global stage and opened new opportunities for cultural collaboration and exchange in the future.

She has proposed establishing annual art exchange programs between Vietnam and France, providing a platform for artists from both countries to meet, learn, and co-create. She believes that the fusion of traditional and contemporary art from both cultures will lead to unique works that embody the spirit of friendship. She also hopes to initiate more projects that bring ethnic minority cultures to France.

As a then singing artisan who participated in the 2024 performance in Paris, a major event organized by the Vietnamese Essence Association in France, Xuan Bach, a lecturer at the Viet Bac Art and Culture College, shared his first impression of Dominique as a simple, friendly woman with an intense passion for Vietnamese culture.

Unlike many foreigners who come to Vietnam merely to admire its external beauty, Dominique delves deep into local cultural traditions. She listens, learns, and spends years comprehending the values that Vietnamese people cherish. She is constantly preoccupied with how to ensure that Vietnamese culture, especially invaluable heritage like then singing, is appreciated and more widely recognized.

“With her profound love for Vietnamese culture, Dominique has quietly played the role of a cultural bridge for many years, enriching the country’s heritage. She brings new values that help the world better understand the essence of Vietnam. Cultural connection is a challenging mission that demands perseverance, dedication, and a deep sense of responsibility. It is not an easy task, but people like Dominique have proven that with genuine love, all barriers can be overcome,” emphasized Xuan Bach.

Dr. Hoang Thi Hong Ha, Vice President of the Vietnamese Essence Association, has accompanied Dominique on her journey of cultural connection. She affirmed, “Dominique loves Vietnamese culture and considers it an integral part of her soul. Working with her, I always feel her dedication and enthusiasm. She has supported me in realizing projects and has been a source of inspiration, motivating me to persist in pursuing cultural connections.”

Sharing her thoughts on cultural exchange activities between Vietnam and France, Dominique expressed that Vietnamese culture is diverse, rich, and captivating, drawing her in from the very first time she set foot in the country. “Returning to Vietnam feels like coming home, and from the bottom of my heart, I am committed to doing my best for the development of Vietnamese culture in France.

The memories of Vietnam captured in my photographs and the books that my Vietnamese friends have gifted me are invaluable treasures. I hope to have more opportunities to visit Vietnam, organize more exhibitions, and engage in activities that foster deeper mutual understanding and appreciation of each other’s cultures.”

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