Testimonials

VOLKER WISSING
General Secretary; Federal Minister of Digital Affairs and Transport of Germany; President of Rhineland-Palatinate (2016-2021)
I would like to thank you for your hospitality and warm welcome in your home Boi Tran Garden. We were very impressed with your paintings and especially the beautiful garden that you have created. My companion and I really enjoyed the contented evening spent with you thanks to your presence and kindness.

WILLIAM DREA ADAMS
AMERICAN SCHOLAR, CHAIR OF NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES, PRESIDENT OF COLBY COLLEGE AND BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY
Bem. Thank you for the lovely dinner and the honour of spending time in the home and art gallery of Madame Boi Tran. It was a very memorable evening and we are very grateful. It will be certainly one of the highlights of our trip.

LEAH TAYLOR ROY
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA, PARLIAMENT MEMBER
Thank you so much Bem. It was such a delight to meet you and your very talented mother. The meal at your home was a treat. I keep Boi Tran's two paintings in my house to remind me of the beautiful memories in the garden. Once again, our sincere thanks for welcoming us the day after Tet with no advance notice, and we are the lucky ones indeed.

THOMAS J VALLELY
Senior Advisor, Mainland Southeast Asia, Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center; Chair, Fulbright University Vietnam
I remember very fondly our meeting at your home. Mostly I shared a great respect for your pioneer-ship for making Hue’s artistic rebirth a reality.

TAZARTÈS MICHEL
FRENCH SURGEON; CO-FOUNDER, INTERNATIONAL OCULOPLASTIC AND ORBITAL INSTITUTE (IOOI)
I'm a collector of Boi Tran's paintings. I just want to share how happy and honoured I am to have your paintings in my collection. Keep up your magnificent work!

KENSON KWOK
Founding Director, Singapore's Asian Civilisations Museum, The Peranakan Museum
We were in such a lucky position to visit your garden and art gallery. What a memorable occasion! We were so caught up with the delicious and beautifully decorative cuisine, with the traditional handicrafts displayed at your place, and your magnificent paintings of your mother that I hardly had any photo of that afternoon. On behalf of the Delegation, thank you for beautifully nourishing our bodies and souls.

ANTHONY BOURDAIN
AMERICAN CELEBRITY CHEF, AUTHOR, TRAVEL DOCUMENTARIAN
Boi Tran is a painter and something of a throwback, an anomaly, a creature from another, earlier time in the life of the onetime Imperial City. She lives in an area called Thien An Hill, in a magnificently restored compound. These traditional wooden houses were once part of the regal style, with sloped grooves to handle the rainy Hue weather. But most importantly, she features a garden at the centre which follows the eastern philosophy that all things originate from a single source and expand in all directions. She also cooks, magnificently from a repertoire of Imperial Hue-era dishes numbering over 100. Small, flavorful, and beautifully presented. And that culinary tradition, which gave Hue its reputation as a food capital, continues today.

URI D HERSHER
American Rabbi, Academic; Executive Committee, WorkingNation; Founding President and CEO, Skirball Cultural Center
Dear Bem.
You treated us to such a joyful experience in the home of your mother surrounded by her portraits of beauty. You were a magnificent host. Your words came from your heart and entered ours and our words came from our hearts and were meant to enter yours. It was a perfect evening of companionship.

JEAN-FRANÇOIS HUBERT
Senior Expert, Christie's
Boi Tran knows that passion, this peppery spice of time, reveals the flavours of life but that the suffering which it engenders offers more slumber without night than nights without sleep. She lives and paints in her magic garden nestled on Thien An Hill in Hue, proud but comforting, where the wind frightens the centuries old pine trees, and the bashful, even prudish, flowers triumph over the rain. A place where Time's machine, this thief of joys, arrests itself... from time to time for the greatest happiness of the visitor.

TRAN LUU HAU
VIETNAMESE PAINTER
Boi Tran is the most charming and elegant lady in Vietnam, and as a painter, she is second to none. A woman artist Hue must be proud to have.

NGO MANH DUC
ARCHITECT, SON OF VIETNAMESE PAINTER LE THI LUU
I had the pleasure of contemplating your work which I found magnificent and I’m very happy to be able to express my admiration seeing your work. I know that you are amongst the great, very great artists, especially Vietnamese. And it is a great privilege and honour to send you a little friendly hello.

BUU Y
PROFESSOR, TRANSLATOR, AUTHOR
Boi Tran Garden
Representing the land of cultural, art tradition and tourism and various schools, Hue has given birth to numerous talents with her famous mountain and river, and said to itself "stand up", and gotten confidence from everybody. Once no art exhibitions have been organized with their actual sense, there would not have been any complete, conventional conformality to the land and her history.

TRINH CONG SON
VIETNAMESE MUSICIAN
Whether small or not, this art gallery, Boi Tran Garden, is a monument in the city; its appearance will be remembered for ever.
Returning to the old city…, to this art gallery, one feels that as one is coming back to see a sweetheart, who one will miss and love and never forget for a moment.

NGUYEN TRUNG
VIETNAMESE PAINTER
Boi Tran, with a sensible heart and the gifted talent of an artist, fully perceives the artistic and literary beauty of nature that comes right out from her magnificent garden and then conveys that beauty most aesthetically to her works. It can be briefly said that the art collection that Boi Tran showers us is to bring us a poetic picture of Hue, a poem composed by the talent in Hue.

NGUYEN TRONG TAO
VIETNAMESE AUTHOR
The first thing I feel when observing Boi Tran's work is the illustration of elegance—a transparent beauty of colour and pure innocence of figure. Instinctive charm appears before both technical virtuosity and experience. It is an ability that one cannot become an artist without. I described Boi Tran as a Hue talented woman; at that time, she had not exhibited her paintings. A person was ready for whatever fate offered to exist as a celebrity in the centre of the ancient capital.

BEN SELKOW
EMMY-NOMINATED DOCUMENTARY FILM/TELEVISION DIRECTOR, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER OF HBO, NETFLIX, CNN, GEO, DISCOVERY/PBS/WORLD CHANNEL
It’s such an honour to have an actual artefact from the artist who touched me so deeply while I was there. Your grace and hospitality were so appreciated for the television scene we filmed. I know Tony and the whole were very, very moved. When we returned one of the following days, that’s when I was able to really feel the weight and the love. I was so touched by your selflessness, grace, warmth, and infinite love as a young parent it is a model for me. Having your painting in my house, and keeping an eye on my young family and me is such a gift. Thank you. I’m so lucky to have the memories of the experience with you and a tangible artefact to keep in our home.

JEAN BAPTISTE HUYNH
PHOTOGRAPHER
I would like to express my deepest gratitude for your precious cordiality. It was such a great privilege and honour to be invited to stay in the magnificent garden and experience your graceful and delicious cuisine. The beauty of your paintings reminded me of my origin, a Vietnamese.
Bem. This is my latest works that I have done in Africa with the amazing “flower children” and incredible people I lived with. And I really want to invite you to Paris to see all these new works that I love, and I would love to see your works as well whenever you come, or I come to see you in Hue. So, let’s stay in touch. Big hugs. Big kisses. You are charming, young friend from Vietnam.

JEAN PIERRE GRIVORY
SINGAPORE FOOD AMBASSADOR, MANKASUTRA FOUNDER, PHOTOGRAPHER, TV HOST, AUTHOR; HAILED AS 'FOOD GUIDE MAVEN' BY NEW YORK TIMES, 'GURU OF GRAB' BY CNN
There was a visit to another dimension of food glory, a ride out to visit Boi Tran Garden to meet Madame Boi Tran herself, a living legend of an artist and chef. The place, the green, manicured and curated garden and yards with French and local Hue touches plus the food, served like how the Royals once ate (well almost, except we were too noisy and gushed at her platters). My late buddy Anthony Bourdain visited and featured it before, but I had to take the mickey out of his very staid visit “Yes, hahahahaha, that’s how he was, you are on point”, said a very warm and endearing Madame Boi Tran recalling his visit. Bless you Tony, you paved the way here.

GILBERT MONTAGNÉ
FRENCH SINGER
Back to Paris for a few weeks, my wife and I want to express the pleasure we took in being in your company. Thank you for opening your house to us but furthermore, your heart.
Love and regards to your talented self.

HAI NGUYEN
DIRECTOR OF GLOBAL VIETNAM WARDS STUDIES INITIATIVE, ASH CENTER, HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL
In an excellent state of preservation after these years, painter Luu Ly now bequeaths his precious treasure, Bui Xuan Phai's sketchbook, to painter Boi Tran. By a mere coincidence, the Fall-Winter art class held by painter Than Trong Su linked to the sketchbook and returned to Boi Tran eventually. Luu Ly believes that Boi Tran will take on the perpetuation and introduce these profound sketches to the world.

JEAN PIERRE GRIVORY
FRENCH BUSINESSMAN; PRESIDENT CEO OF COFINLUXE
I wish to tell you how much I appreciated the culinary experience we had at your place. The environment is so beautiful and elegant, the house is wonderful, the food is delicate and excellent and the waitress has a charming smile and is so cute in her nice Vietnamese dress. In a few words, it will remain as an excellent memory of our journey! I appreciate you and your art.

VOLKER WISSING
FEDERAL MINISTER OF DIGITAL AFFAIRS AND TRANSPORT OF GERMANY
We were very impressed with your paintings and especially the beautiful garden that you have created. My companion and I really enjoyed the contented evening spent with you thanks to your presence and kindness.

DAVID B MONK
COUNSELLOR FOR PUBLIC AFFAIRS, EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Thank you for a very fine exhibition.
Best of luck!

NG TECK HEAN
DEPUTY SECRETARY, ASIA-PACIFIC, SINGAPORE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
This is the finest cuisine, the most exquisite art gallery with a phenomenal collection and the most artistic architectural garden in Vietnam!

LEAH TAYLOR ROY
MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA, PARLIAMENT MEMBER
Thank you so much Bem. It was such a delight to meet you and your very talented mother. The meal at your home was a treat. I keep Boi Tran's two paintings in my house to remind me of the beautiful memories in the garden. Once again, our sincere thanks for welcoming us the day after Tet with no advance notice, and we are the lucky ones indeed.

KARINE KRISTINE MÉDECIN-LEMON
CONSULTANT FOR MONACO EMBASSY IN ITALY
Wonderful garden, gorgeous painter and exquisite cooking! I will keep many beautiful memories with me. Among friends, it’s common courtesy to offer a guest room when someone needs it. You elevated common courtesy to uncommon levels. You really made us feel welcome, as if we’d always lived in the house. Thank you so much for being such a gracious painter. We felt like we were members of this wonderful family.

TEWFIK ABADA
AMBASSADOR OF THE PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ALGERIA
Congratulations for this wonderful exhibition which lets us admire many paintings of the most famous artists of Vietnam. Thank you!

REBECCA BRYANT
CHIEF OF STAFF, MINISTER FOR AGRICULTURE FISHERIES AND FORESTRY AND MINISTER FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
Appreciate your hospitality and generosity. The amazing Hue culinary courses were marvellous! It was a pleasure to be included in such a lovely afternoon and to be able to contemplate your mother's work of art!

PAVEL VANOUSEK
MEMBER OF THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC, MAYOR OF CHEB
On behalf of all members of the Czech Republic Delegation, I appreciate your warm welcome and hospitality. I am happy to send you a small gift to commemorate our meeting.

CHOI YANG-SIK
GYEONGJU CITY MAYOR, REPUBLIC OF KOREA (SOUTH KOREA)
You have given me numerous reasons to be grateful - the gracious hostess, magnificent cooking, elegant paintings and beautifully architectural garden. Everything went above and beyond, for which I'll never be able to thank you enough. But this is just the beginning.

JIMMY CHUA TIN CHEW
CONSUL GENERAL OF SINGAPORE IN HO CHI MINH CITY
Appreciate your hospitality and generosity. What a wonderful gallery and a gracious hostess! The Mona Lisa of Vietnam!!