Sea & Soul: Vietnamese Art Set Adrift In The World’s Most Beautiful Bays
When Pham Luc’s Paintings Sail Between Sky and Sea
By Nguyễn Thị Ngọc Tuyết
From Ha Long and Lan Ha to the sun-kissed shores of Nha Trang, Vietnam’s most celebrated bays—recognized by UNESCO and revered by travelers worldwide—now offer more than just geological wonder. They have become floating sanctuaries of Vietnamese art. Aboard the regal yachts of Emperor Cruises®, part of the prestigious Lux Cruises Group®, the paintings of Pham Luc emerge not merely as visual art, but as soul, memory, and the living spirit of Vietnamese heritage—freed from the confines of gallery walls, carried by the wind, and reflected in the waves.
This is not a traditional exhibition. It is a statement of intent, a curated voyage of the senses. Featuring 25 selected plein air works from the LuxArts Collection®—a remarkable private collection of over 500 original paintings—this showcase represents less than 10% of Pham Luc’s immense oeuvre of more than 6,000 works. And yet, within this small selection lies a sweeping narrative: from war to peace, from personal pain to collective memory, from pastoral village life to the changing urban skyline—all painted in a signature style that is as authentic as it is inimitable.
PHAM LUC: A HISTORIAN WITH A BRUSH
Born in 1943 in Hue, a descendant of Vietnam’s literary titan Nguyen Du, Pham Luc is more than a painter. He is a storyteller whose medium is memory. A graduate of the Hanoi University of Fine Arts (1977) and a senior member of the Vietnam Fine Arts Association, Luc’s works have appeared in major collections and exhibitions across the US, France, Germany, Japan, Russia, and Australia—transcending borders, languages, and ideologies.
His art captures both realism and emotional resonance. Whether painted in oil, watercolor, ink, or pastel—on canvas, dó paper, or repurposed wartime burlap—Luc’s compositions echo a deep Vietnamese sensibility: thoughtful, resilient, sincere. The Flame from the Heart portrays wartime brotherhood. Where I Was Born maps the emotional geography of rural Vietnam. The Dream offers a quiet, universal prayer for peace and humanity.
ART THAT SAILS WITH HERITAGE
The galleries aboard Emperor Cruises Origin and Legend are not static displays. They are living exhibitions—immersive, emotive, and constantly in motion. As the sun sets over the bay, the artwork comes alive: shifting light, salt-kissed breezes, the soft clink of fine crystal, and the subtle hum of music intertwine with the art to create a multi-sensory experience.
This pioneering model of exhibition at sea dissolves the traditional boundaries of where and how art is viewed. It brings Vietnamese fine art into a global conversation—accessible, intimate, and surrounded by natural grandeur.
THE ARTIST ON HIS “FLOATING GALLERY”
“I love the boldness of bringing paintings onto a ship—where there is wind, sun, salt, and humidity. My works, like the vessel, drift along memory’s tide—telling stories of a Vietnam that was, and still is. I paint women, family, homeland. Bright colors are the light of life. I don’t paint to tell sad stories—I paint to offer hope.” — Pham Luc
THE COLLECTOR AS STORYTELLER
Behind this visionary concept is Dr. Pham Ha, Founder and Chairman of LuxGroup, and one of the foremost collectors of Pham Luc’s work. A pioneer in integrating fine art with luxury cruising, Dr. Ha curated the first Sea of Love exhibition in 2016 and has since elevated the experience into an art-in-motion legacy.
“I kept the name Sea of Love because it represents the harmony between people and the sea—between art, nature, and Vietnamese culture. These plein air works, painted in Nha Trang, reflect coastal beauty, warm and generous locals, marine heritage, and a philosophy of sustainable living. Deeply local. Deeply Vietnamese.”
For him, showcasing paintings on yachts is more than exhibition—it’s cultural storytelling. It is the visual retelling of Vietnam’s spirit and identity, presented in a way that engages all senses and defies convention.
A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
“Pham Luc’s emotional language is Vietnam itself. His paintings are portals into the soul of a people. Each time I return to Hanoi, I visit his humble studio—where history is quietly painted, one stroke at a time. I feel privileged to bring a piece of that Vietnam into my own home.” — Prof. Thomas J. Vallely, Harvard University
SEA OF LOVE: AN INVISIBLE LUXURY
Paint may fade. A dish may be forgotten. But a moment—a story—can live forever. For connoisseurs of meaningful travel, for those who savor the intersection of art, nature, and cultural integrity, Sea of Love is not simply an exhibition. It is an invitation to the soul, cast upon the waves of Nha Trang’s luminous bay.
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If there is a place to experience the essence of Vietnamese fine art in all its sensory richness, wrapped in luxury and guided by heritage—it is aboard Emperor Cruises, where the Sea of Love sails eternal.
