Boi Tran Garden, an Artistic Space Imbued with the Spirit of Hue
Ngoc Anh, Harper's Bazaar Vietnam
Boi Tran Garden is situated on Thien An Hill, nearly ten kilometers from the center of Hue. It has long been a familiar address for artists of the former imperial city, as well as for many international visitors arriving in Hue.
The first impression upon entering Boi Tran Garden is the gentle sway of lush green trees in the wind, fresh, tranquil, and deeply relaxing. In that moment, it feels as though all worries are left behind. The garden paths are meticulously tended, embracing architectural forms that seem almost painterly. The entire space unfolds like a refined pastoral symphony.
The owner of this garden is painter and collector Boi Tran. In Hue, her garden house is widely known, and within artistic circles, her name needs no introduction.
Born in 1957, she embodies a certain grace associated with Hue’s women, gentle, composed, yet warm and deeply spirited. Amidst the natural surroundings, she welcomes her guests in a refined áo dài, her presence at once elegant and inviting.
Boi Tran Garden is an architectural space imbued with poetry, set amidst the windswept hills
In creating this garden, Boi Tran has woven into it her dreams, her love, and her childhood longings. Spanning over 5,000 square meters, the estate brings together traditional nhà rường wooden houses with elements of modern European architecture.
At the heart of the quiet landscape stands a century-old nhà rường built of ironwood, now used to display her paintings. Nearby, a colonial-style house serves as another space devoted to art. A long, open corridor welcomes artists and friends from Vietnam and abroad. Notably, the garden also features a traditional Muong stilt house, transported from Hoa Binh and reconstructed here a decade ago.
Boi Tran was among the first to establish a garden on Thien An Hill. The structures are crafted from natural wood, intricately carved in the manner of traditional Hue architecture. Toward the end of the garden lies a more intimate living space, where Gothic-inspired windows introduce a subtle European note, an environment entirely conceived by the artist herself.
Within this expansive and poetic setting, every corner is cherished. As she reflects:
“When I wake and place my feet upon the ground, every corner feels tender and full of meaning. The passing breeze, a lingering fragrance, even the rain, whether in anger or in comfort, all become something gentle to me. From these moments, my works are born. And in those instants, I often find myself in quiet conversation with my own paintings.”
Her daughter, Thuc Doan, Executive Director of Boi Tran Garden, speaks of her mother with deep affection:
“This garden has given me a sense of love, from each branch and blade of grass, from the morning light, from every slow step and birdsong. Each day brings new experiences, rich with feeling. Our family lives in a quiet sweetness, shaped by my mother’s generosity.”
She hopes to continue her mother’s dream, carrying forward what remains yet to be fulfilled.
Gallery & Atelier: A Life Devoted to Art
One immediately noticeable aspect of Boi Tran Garden is that every structure serves as a space for display. At times, it houses paintings, sculptures, ceramics; at others, antiques, archival materials, or art books. With each step, visitors encounter new layers of beauty. The owner’s refined aesthetic reveals itself in the harmonious dialogue between Eastern and Western architecture, and in the careful arrangement of objects.
Boi Tran Gallery resembles a small museum. Beyond paintings, it offers a remarkable collection of antiques, diverse in both origin and form. Scattered throughout the garden are original Central Highlands funerary sculptures, rare pieces seldom found even in ethnographic museums. There are also gilded wooden statues traditionally worshipped in northern communal houses and temples, including figures such as Emperor Tran Nhan Tong and General Tran Hung Dao.
Boi Tran has devoted considerable time and resources to collecting. One of the defining achievements of her gallery has been the establishment of relationships with the world-renowned auction houses Christie's and Sotheby's.
The interplay between architecture, antiques, and paintings creates a unique identity for Boi Tran Gallery. As Hue continues to position itself as a cultural destination, spaces like this are increasingly vital.
More than a meeting place for artists, both Vietnamese and international, Boi Tran Garden is also a point of quiet retreat for visitors to Thien An Hill. It serves as a distinctive destination for researchers, students, and those engaged in the study of culture, history, and art.
Text: Ngoc Anh. Photo Courtesy: Boi Tran Garden
Harper’s Bazaar Vietnam