On September 19, at the invitation of the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Ho Chi Minh City, a delegation from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, attended the "Color of Saigon" art exhibition.
The delegation included Dr. Phan Thanh Dinh (Vice Rector), Prof. Dr. Phan Thi Hong Xuan (Director of the Institute of Social Sciences and Humanities Research and Chairwoman of the Vietnam-Southeast Asia Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City), Dr. Nguyen Thi Kim Chau (Head of the Thai Studies Department), along with other lecturers and students.
The Royal Thai Consulate-General organized the event to celebrate and strengthen the strategic diplomatic partnership between Vietnam and Thailand. It also aimed to broaden artistic perspectives between the two countries through the work of Thai artist Fuanglada Verdillon. The exhibition, which took place from September 19 to 23, welcomed numerous delegates, journalists, and representatives from Southeast Asian Consulates in Ho Chi Minh City.
The exhibition featured works by Fuanglada Verdillon, a Thai artist and designer known for her unique watercolor paintings. She has established a notable career in the textile and fashion design industries and also owns a fashion brand, JANFIVE. "Color of Saigon" marked Fuanglada's first solo exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City since relocating here with her husband and children.
With 33 artworks portraying the unique beauty of Saigon, Fuanglada used her art to convey her personal views on the culture and cuisine of the city. At the exhibition, she shared, "Color of Saigon is what I feel about Ho Chi Minh City. Our two countries have many similarities: from fruits and food to the long-standing bond between Vietnam and Thailand. Usually, my artworks are small paintings, and I rarely create large-scale ones. My main techniques are hand-drawing with pens, watercolors, and gouache—methods I love and continue to explore."
During the event, a representative from the Royal Thai Consulate-General stated that the exhibition also helps to foster friendship and the growing strategic partnership between Vietnam and Thailand. Ms. Wiraka Moodhitaporn, the Consul-General, said in her speech, "This exhibition takes place at a very important moment in Thai-Vietnamese relations. Our two countries have just upgraded our relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership—the highest level of bilateral cooperation. This is a significant milestone, not only in politics and economics but also in people-to-people connections and mutual understanding. Events like this further demonstrate how art and culture can deepen that friendship in a meaningful way."
After the introductory remarks, guests were invited to take photos and participate in a watercolor workshop to learn more about the artist's painting methods and artistic perspective. They also enjoyed traditional Thai snacks, which provided a deeper understanding of the country's food culture.
The presence and active participation of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Viet Nam National University Ho Chi Minh City, in these academic and cultural activities affirm its role in promoting people-to-people exchanges, educational cooperation, and cultural-academic connections between Vietnam and Thailand. This also looks ahead to the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries (1976–2026).
Some photos from the event:
