An original Vietnamese painting is one of the most thoughtful gifts you can give. It is not something the recipient will find in a department store, or receive from anyone else. It is a work of art made by hand over months, carrying the visual heritage of one of the most distinctive artistic traditions in Southeast Asia. And it will be on the wall – seen every day, talked about, remembered – long after other gifts have been forgotten.

But choosing the right painting as a gift requires a little thought. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know.

Who is the Gift For?

The starting point is always the recipient. Think about:

Their relationship with Vietnam: Have they lived or worked there? Travelled there? Do they have Vietnamese heritage? For someone with a personal connection to Vietnam, a landscape by Dinh Viet or a figurative lacquer work by Dinh Quan will carry particular resonance – it will feel like home, or like a memory of a place that mattered to them.

Their interior style: A bold, gold-heavy lacquer work by Thanh Chuong is a statement piece – it works best in a space that can give it room to breathe. A quieter, more atmospheric landscape works in almost any setting. Oil paintings on canvas tend to integrate naturally into Western interiors. If you know the recipient's home, think about where the painting might hang.

Their taste in art: Some people are drawn to figurative work – faces, figures, recognisable subjects. Others prefer landscape or abstraction. Our team can help you navigate the collection with a specific recipient in mind.

Occasions That Call for an Original Painting

Housewarming: An original painting is one of the finest housewarming gifts imaginable. It is personal, lasting, and transforms a space in a way that flowers or wine cannot. For a new home, consider a medium-format lacquer or oil work that can anchor a living room or hallway.

Wedding or anniversary: A painting given at a wedding or significant anniversary becomes part of a couple's shared story. It will move with them through houses, cities, decades. For this occasion, we often recommend works with warm, harmonious palettes – pieces that feel celebratory without being loud.

Corporate gifts: An original Vietnamese painting is an exceptional corporate gift for a senior client, partner or colleague – particularly one who has a connection to Vietnam or Southeast Asia. It signals genuine thoughtfulness and cultural awareness in a way that generic luxury gifts do not. We can provide formal gift certificates and arrange direct shipping to the recipient's address anywhere in the world.

Farewell gifts: For someone leaving Vietnam after a posting, assignment or extended stay, an original painting is the most meaningful farewell gift possible. It is a piece of the country they can take with them.

Choosing the Right Size

Size matters more than people often realise. A painting that is too small for its wall disappears; one that is too large overwhelms. General guidance:

  • Small works (30x40cm to 40x60cm): ideal for desks, shelves, or smaller wall spaces; easier to carry as hand luggage when travelling
  • Medium works (50x70cm to 80x100cm): the most versatile format; works in living rooms, studies and hallways
  • Large works (100x120cm and above): statement pieces for significant wall spaces; always shipped, never carried

If you are buying as a gift and are unsure about the recipient's space, medium format is almost always the safest choice.

Lacquer or Oil on Canvas for a Gift?

Both work beautifully as gifts. The choice depends on the recipient.

Lacquer paintings are the more uniquely Vietnamese choice – there is nothing quite like them anywhere else in the world, and recipients who have never encountered son mai are almost always astonished by the surface. They are also more durable, requiring less care than oil on canvas. If the recipient appreciates craft, depth and cultural specificity, lacquer is the stronger choice.

Oil paintings are more immediately familiar to Western recipients and tend to integrate more easily into a wide range of interiors. If the recipient is less familiar with Vietnamese art and you want something that feels welcoming rather than challenging, a strong oil painting is an excellent choice.

Presentation and Documentation

Every painting from Hanoi Art Gallery comes with a signed Certificate of Authenticity. For gift purchases, we can also prepare a short written note about the artist and the work – context that helps the recipient understand what they are receiving and why it is significant. We can arrange gift wrapping and, for international shipments, direct delivery to the recipient's address with a personalised message.

Not Sure Where to Start?

Tell us about the person you are buying for – their connection to Vietnam, their taste, the occasion, your budget – and we will put together a curated selection for you to choose from. We have helped hundreds of customers find the right painting for the right person, and we are happy to do the same for you.

Contact: hanoiart36@gmail.com | WhatsApp/Zalo: +84 984 589 999