From Sacred Sculpture to Socialist Propaganda and Contemporary Art is a new art tour in Ho Chi Minh City from Old Compass Travel
More than a decade ago our old friend Sophie Hughes started running art tours in Ho Chi Minh City. Putting Vietnamese art at the centre of Saigon’s story was her unique idea and we were intrigued.
Sophie’s approach and personal style were fresh. Vietnamese art had tended to be a secondary consideration for most visitors. Her tour quickly became a success and elevated Vietnam’s cultural tourism offerings. The Old Compass Cafe was a privileged collaborator. Sophie’s tour presentations were conducted in our cafe.
Sophie has been pursuing new projects outside Vietnam since 2020 and her art tour no longer operates.
Vietnam’s art scene continues to evolve however and Duong, our Ho Chi Minh City based co-owner, began exploring possibilities for a new tour – bringing the approach and expertise she has developed with our other successful Ho Chi Minh City experiences.
Duong has been involved in Saigon’s art scene since university so an art tour project had special resonance. Sophie’s groundbreaking work was helpful. Duong was also able to add her own insights and lessons learned from years running Saigon’s most highly regarded specialist tours of history.
In 2024, Duong began testing her own tour. In 2025, the tour launched. Now our Saigon art tour is up and running and creating lots of interest.
Duong says her tour is “a journey through beliefs, aesthetics, and resilience — showing how art has mirrored Vietnam’s transformations since pre-colonial times to the present.”
One of the big changes in Saigon in recent years has been the opening of new private galleries featuring established and new artists. It’s adding a new dynamism to the Vietnamese art scene.
We’re pleased that our new tour is able to incorporate these recent trends.
If you enjoy using art as a lens for your travels, check out our new Saigon art tour – From Sacred Sculpture to Socialist Propaganda and Contemporary Art.
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